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Do you still cook a Sunday roast?

(176 Posts)
MrsPickle Sun 25-Sept-22 18:07:48

As the nights draw in and thoughts turn away from bbq and salads, hub requested a Sunday roast.
Eagerly, I acquiesced, nothing nicer!
However, now I'm in my 70s, the execution is far more arduous than I ever remember!
Pork with crackling, roasties, roast 'snips, steamed cauli, home made stuffing -and now he's requested apple sauce, as 'we have loads of Bramleys'.

Yes, we'll have left overs for later in the week, but thinking that this may be the start of easier roasts in future.
Any tips/hints please?

hereshoping Mon 26-Sept-22 15:29:30

I do cook a roast every week, himself insists. I used to hate making and eating a roast.
I find it much easier these days and dishwasher helps enormously.
Veg all goes in one saucepan usually carrots, cauli and runner beans, dropped in at correct time. Cabbage in separate saucepan. Shop bought frozen Yorkshire puddings, jar of apple sauce.
Use my mum's recipe for stuffing dry roasted in oven. I make one big batch and freeze rest in 2 person portions.
Gravy is one Oxo and some Bisto granules made in a glass jug.
I wouldn't do cauliflower cheese, too much hassle. We have that, with added leeks as a main meal,

granma47 Mon 26-Sept-22 15:14:19

I have just discovered whole roast chicken in the air fryer (sits in a silicone dish). It is deliciously moist with crispy skin and so much cleaner. Roast potatoes then follow whilst the veg are cooking on the hob. Not for Sunday lunch however as I just fall asleep in the afternoon.

Nagmad2016 Mon 26-Sept-22 15:12:26

During lockdown our local pub was offering Sunday lunch take-outs. We started to to order them to support our local, plus it was a bonus not to have to cook. This went on for almost 2 years. I recently started to cook my own again, as we had lots of garden vegetables. The novelty is wearing off now though and I can feel myself veering towards take-outs, which were excellent btw, and good value. Hardly worth all of the effort.

watermeadow Mon 26-Sept-22 14:34:50

I get a roast dinner once a year on Christmas Day, at my daughter’s. I’m vegetarian but love everything else.
I’d no more cook that for myself than I would make my own bread, butter and cheese.

Sharina Mon 26-Sept-22 14:28:21

Yes, almost every week. But I use frozen vegetables where I can, and if we’re on our own, frozen Yorkshires. If we’re on our own too, I like the Slimming World roast chicken breasts with lemon and thyme stuffing. Two chicken breasts rather than joints or whole birds. Make your life easier. Use mod cons.

Happysexagenarian Mon 26-Sept-22 14:27:02

We have a roast dinner every Sunday whatever the weather, and occasionally midweek if we fancy it. DH usually cooks, but I take charge of the roast potatoes as I like them roughed up and crispy on the outside and he doesn't do them that way. We're now starting to roast in our air fryer, so far chicken and lamb have turned out well, will try pork sometime as we have pounds and pounds of apples in the freezer.

Writing this is making me feel peckish now! roastchicken

Willitwork Mon 26-Sept-22 14:17:14

I would start with hubby picking those apples, then requesting that he makes the apple sauce from all those apples he mentioned. ?

GrammaH Mon 26-Sept-22 14:12:11

I don't really get why it's such a faff to cook a roast. We have one most Sundays - middle day if we're having a quiet day or in the evening if we've been busy at home or out & about. Apart from preparing some veg, it's just a case of putting the joint in the oven, adding some potatoes a bit later - I cut mine small & don't parboil at this time of the year - ,cook the veg & make a bit of gravy with the pan juices. Even making a simple casserole can take up more time! I do love a roast, it was pork yesterday with apples from the garden in the sauce and all home grown veg - runner beans, sprouts & potatoes. Delicious!

Lesley60 Mon 26-Sept-22 14:09:00

No I don’t, since we have both retired Sunday to us is like any other day, sometimes we get invited to my daughter, sometimes we go out for it but most of the time we just have a run of the mill meal in the evening .
I do sometimes make a roast in the middle of the week but it’s lazy cooking with pre packed or frozen veg, I do cook the chicken ? life’s to short to be in the kitchen all day if you don’t enjoy doing it, I did it for many years on a Sunday when my children were home though.

JaneR185 Mon 26-Sept-22 14:03:03

I love a roast but often cheat if it's just the two of us. I use a chilled cauliflower cheese and mashed swede. Definitely prefer home made to frozen roast potatoes but have some in the freezer in case! Yorkshires are fine as I make 12 and freeze 10. Vital to make sure the tin is spotless as otherwise they stick. Meat varies, dh gets fed up with chicken but prepared stuffed thighs are good and speedy as are lamb steaks but beef is his favourite. As with most things convenience food costs more.

Joy241 Mon 26-Sept-22 14:01:37

Since I was widowed six years ago I live alone but love it when family or friends are with me on Sunday and I get the opportunity to cook a roast for them. Every so often I treat myself to to a roast using a pork loin steak or chicken breast as the meat ingredient (I try to eat low fat)..

I love cooking and miss cooking for others and do most from scratch with the exception of the stuffing.

Wyllow3 Mon 26-Sept-22 14:01:23

Not since helping Mum cook before I went to Uni.

paddyann54 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:54:47

widgeon buy a pack of roasting bags,clean oven and very good results

She777 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:52:45

Sunday roast every week regardless of how hot it is outside. I do all the veg prep and DH cooks it and then I clean up after. It works for us because if it was the other way around we would be having a very burnt Sunday Roast.

Cossy Mon 26-Sept-22 13:48:12

Fernhillnana

Don’t you all find it incredibly boring?

Nope !! I don’t find cooking or eating boring !!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:44:55

It's far too much faff to cook a roast for oneself. I usually choose something instant - sometimes a pizza or a very simple dish.

madeleine45 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:38:05

As I am now widowed and live alone, I rarely do a roast, although do sometimes with a pork chop or a chicken leg. It is not worth getting a small roasting joint, as I dont think it cooks as well as the larger joints. So occasionally I will go out for sunday lunch to a decent pub or hotel, where you can get all the trimmings and well cooked, for a treat. So a complete change round from when I was cooking for a family and doing roasts most weeks

Cycorax Mon 26-Sept-22 13:31:59

No point in roasting a joint for two. Takes up two much of Sunday

SachaMac Mon 26-Sept-22 13:29:49

Like many of us I grew up eating lovely big Sunday roast dinners either at home or round at one of my Grandmas and when my DC were all still at home we cooked a big roast dinner most weeks but not anymore. I tend to do quick & simple meals now. I agree with grandMattie, it’s just not the same cooking when you are on your own.

I do go to my DS’s occasionally for Sunday dinner, he usually cooks & it’s always delicious, his gravy is so good. My DD’s husband is also a good cook & makes the best Yorkshires I’ve ever had.

suggsy1 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:23:10

Me too!

sharonarnott Mon 26-Sept-22 13:22:03

It's a no here sadly. My husband works most Sundays and sometimes these days I can't do it without his help. It's a shame because I used to love nothing more than a good Sunday roast

AreWeThereYet Mon 26-Sept-22 13:21:21

Yes we have a roast dinner occasionally. It's fairly straightforward and some of it comes from the freezer. Meat and honey parsnips in the oven, roast tatties and Yorkshires (frozen these days) in the air fryer, some steamed veg. Gravy made from veg water and meat juices. I have apple sauce and horseradish sauce made up in the freezer in ice cube trays if I want it. If we're having roast chicken these days that's done in the air fryer too. Surplus meat and gravy gets sliced and frozen together so the next Sunday roast will be easy-peasy. Or if it's chicken I make chicken and stuffing sarnies later in the week.

Ethelwashere1 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:20:53

I’ve not done a Sunday roast since 1990. My late husband loved it but never lifted a finger to help or wash up so in summer I make a salad bowl to dip into and winter anything . Sunday is too precious to waste in the kitchen.

Jb2022 Mon 26-Sept-22 13:15:55

I haven’t been able to stand very well for 21 years so DH has had to learn to cook. Basics only but he loves good food and traditional. He makes Sunday roast EVERY single Sunday, beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Has perfected everything with all the trimmings. But prep, cooking with different timings takes all day. It’s usually ready about 6.30 and he washes up after which takes another hour. Of course everything has to be washed before it goes into the dishwasher. He can’t concentrate on conversation while working. So that’s my Sunday. I suppose I shouldn’t be ungrateful but I hate Sundays now. I used to do it all for us and the two kids in about an hour of multitasking. Would go out but a bit awkward with wheelchair.

StephLauraine Mon 26-Sept-22 13:15:15

I live alone but love a roast so do it. Not every week and usually on a Sat evening while listening to Liza Tarbuck on R2. Favourite is half a chicken. Usually get three meals out of it so very economical. I also par boil a load of spuds and roast from frozen. Better than fresh IMHO. Crumble or pie to follow. I’m worth it ?