Confessions of an ex-Tudor King
Christmas dinner and its dishes has certainly evolved over the years. I was a carnivore child who would dine straight into the pineapple glazed gammon, scavenge for the best bits of turkey meat, and hogging the pigs in blankets – which I do not know if they were real of just a strong figment of my imagination.
Childhood me would create a pile of sausage stuffing, giant roast potatoes and overtly avoid anything green or orange. The exception might have been the year I had sprouts cooked in bacon, which slotted in nicely with the pile of meat.
It might surprise you now, that that child who mimicked a Tudor king in her Christmas dinner, is now a vegetarian. Shock horror! Out is the turkey on my dish, and it is a goodbye to the sausage rolls for evening snacking. An even bigger plot twist is that I now adore all the vegetables that lie about the table. I seriously cannot get enough of them; it is slightly worrying sometimes. Pass me those cauliflower, carrots, green beans and sprouts (now cooked with chestnuts). Douse them in gravy and eat with a dollop of mayo or cranberry sauce an i am in heaven.
The weirdest thing about this dinner though, has got to be the fact I feel weird if there is not some sort of meat dish on the table. While I may not be the one eating it – the table feels incomplete without it. The smells only adds to the traditional childhood Christmas I yen for in adulthood now.
However, the one thing that has never been on my plate, nor will ever be in the future, is a Yorkshire pudding. There is a time and place for them, and Christmas just is not it.
Words by Ellen Hollingshurst (@a_bakingmess)
Divisive dinner dishes
Not every dish deserves a seat at the table, even during the festive season. Of course, this is different for everyone, as each addition to a Christmas dinner has a dedicated fanbase.
Two related things uninvited from my Christmas dinner are herby bread stuffing and cranberry sauce. I have not tried them for years and have no plans on doing so anytime soon. Some might ask, “How do you know you do not like them now?” and I would say I prefer my turkey-and-gravy combo instead of forcing myself to revisit things that do not fit my palate.
Another rejected Christmas food is prawns—a standard starter in my family. I have been given these for years, and every time, I have hated the taste and, most of all, the crunch. However, this finally changed when prawns were replaced with a pear poached in wine, which is way more my style.
The last thing is eggnog, a drink made with eggs, milk, sugar, and frequently some distilled spirit. While I find the taste is quite pleasant due to an untamable sweet tooth, unfortunately, the texture is a no-go for me. However, I do find eggnog’s sentiment – the luxury ingredients like cream and alcohol were believed to bring prosperity in the upcoming year – quite charming.
Yet, I will let these foods sit at your table, even if they are uninvited from mine, because the season is about sharing in the spirit of Christmas.
Words by Alanah Blayney (@alanah.gr)
Sweet and Savoury dish debate
As I get older, gone are the days with a chocolate advent, and the date I put my decorations up on gets later. With age comes the flexibility of tradition, but one tradition stays the same in every household. A Christmas dinner. For some, this can manifest in the form of a takeaway and for others, it’s the classic roast. In my home, we begin our dinner by crossing our arms over and pulling Christmas crackers. The toys and trinkets inside are a bit of childlike fun that festivity is all about.
As for the food, I have become passionate about my traditions. Brussell sprouts are. A must. For me, the taste is sweet and something that is missing from roasts all year round. Moreover, the manifestation of sweetness in the cranberry and honey glaze that is drizzled over the roasted carrots rounds the meal out. Sweetness is the key to unlocking the perfect Christmas dinner. For my partner, however, nothing is more blasphemous. Sweet and savoury should always be divided. Cranberry and honey are his forbidden treasures at our dining table.
However, one thing is certain. The fundamental part to both of our December 25th roast. The Yorkshire pudding. Whether you despise the green colouring of veg on your plate or the delightful sweetness of the cranberry sauce, a Yorkshire pudding is an undisputed welcome on the Christmas dinner plate. The Yorkshire pudding is the white flag to our Christmas Day disputes.
Words by Lowri Player (@lauralusor3003)