Christmas turkey accompaniments

[Mad Cook]

Okay, since you lot are responsible for us Brits having to plough through enormous turkeys for the 12 days of Christmas (why do families with only 3 or 4 members buy turkeys that would feed a small city and leave left-overs?), has anyone got a different and interesting cranberry sauce recipe (You're responsible for that too!)

I cook cranberries, grated orange rind, sugar, water and the orange juice and add a splosh of port at the end. What do you do?

 

[CraigC]

There will be sides like mushroom bread pudding, but the "turkey" will be a standing rib roast (bone in, prime rib).

 

[Whiskadoodle]

My favorite quick cranberry sauce is to open a can of whole berry sauce, add as much grated ginger as you like. Alternatively, horseradish ( may not go good with turkey? ). You can cook cranberry sauce instead of opening a can.

Here's another good one.

2 cups cranberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and chopped)
3 tablespoons lime juice ( juice of one lime) plus some zest

Place the cranberries, orange juice and sugar into a sauce pan and simmer until the cranberries have burst, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in jalapeno and lime juice. Chill.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I would stick with the one that you described in your original post!

If you must make a change experiment with this raw version, just fiddle with it until it tastes right. I would make it the day before so the cranberries can mingle with the other flavor elements.

Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe : Tyler Florence : Recipes : Food Network

After your feast use some of that leftover turkey to make an American classic, the Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich!

The Hot Brown Signature Sandwich and much more at The English Grill in The Brown Hotel

 

[Whiskadoodle]

Aunt Bea, both good ones.

We just had US Thanksgiving turkey. Our family does a repeat performance for Christmas. Maybe different vegetables and salads, but pretty standard. Luckily, I likes it. Plus we put out plates of cookies on the hors d'oeuvres table , so we can get all sugared up before dinner.

 

[Cooking Goddess]

I've made this version of Cranberry Sauce with Apples & Port for years and it's a favorite:

Cranberry Sauce with Apples & Port

I've used different apples, depending on what was on hand, but it's always a crisp tart or sweet-tart variety. I've reduced the Port to 1/2 cup and reduced the sugar to a slightly generous 1/3 cup.


With having turkey at Thanksgiving, I don't remember ever having it again at Christmas. Mom usually did a ham or a capon. When I took over Christmas I would make a beef roast - but not yorkshire pudding since I usually use a tenderloin. Would make some excellent mushrooms as a side. The recipe is from a French Cooking edition of "Round the World Cooking Library" but a similar recipe is here: Mushrooms Country Style

 

[Addie]

I've made this version of Cranberry Sauce with Apples & Port for years and it's a favorite:

Cranberry Sauce with Apples & Port

I've used different apples, depending on what was on hand, but it's always a crisp tart or sweet-tart variety. I've reduced the Port to 1/2 cup and reduced the sugar to a slightly generous 1/3 cup.


With having turkey at Thanksgiving, I don't remember ever having it again at Christmas. Mom usually did a ham or a capon. When I took over Christmas I would make a beef roast - but not yorkshire pudding since I usually use a tenderloin. Would make some excellent mushrooms as a side. The recipe is from a French Cooking edition of "Round the World Cooking Library" but a similar recipe is here: Mushrooms Country Style

Since we had chicken on Thanksgiving, I always did a ham on Christmas. The kids never liked turkey until they got older and smarter.

 

[Mad Cook]

My favorite quick cranberry sauce is to open a can of whole berry sauce, add as much grated ginger as you like. Alternatively, horseradish ( may not go good with turkey? ). You can cook cranberry sauce instead of opening a can.

Here's another good one.

2 cups cranberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and chopped)
3 tablespoons lime juice ( juice of one lime) plus some zest

Place the cranberries, orange juice and sugar into a sauce pan and simmer until the cranberries have burst, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in jalapeno and lime juice. Chill.

Hm, the chili would be a change. The usual cranberry sauce here is mainly a sweet-ish one.

 

[Mad Cook]

I would stick with the one that you described in your original post!

If you must make a change experiment with this raw version, just fiddle with it until it tastes right. I would make it the day before so the cranberries can mingle with the other flavor elements.

Fresh Cranberry Relish Recipe : Tyler Florence : Recipes : Food Network

After your feast use some of that leftover turkey to make an American classic, the Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich!

The Hot Brown Signature Sandwich and much more at The English Grill in The Brown Hotel

Like the idea of the uncooked relish and the orange liqueur is one to bear in mind. It's gone in my recipe folder already.

And the hot brown sandwich sounds like a winner - not exactly in the quick snack sandwich meal but good for Boxing Day.

 

[Addie]

Like the idea of the uncooked relish and the orange liqueur is one to bear in mind. It's gone in my recipe folder already.

And the hot brown sandwich sounds like a winner - not exactly in the quick snack sandwich meal but good for Boxing Day.

That Hot Brown Sandwich is a traditional food for the day of the Kentucky Derby. I have often wonder if Queen Elizabeth II had one when she attended the Derby while she was here to see the race.

 

[menumaker]

You could ditch the Turkey..................and be FREE............Ok, controvertial I know, but we did it. This year it's Rib of beef for us

 

[Addie]

You could ditch the Turkey..................and be FREE............Ok, controvertial I know, but we did it. This year it's Rib of beef for us

One year my Christmas present to my daughter's family was a standing rib roast with five ribs. Cooked to perfection along with the Yorkshire pudding done right in the roasting pan. Everyone of us could barely leave the table when we were through stuffing our faces. Not even a smidgen of room for the chocolate wreath cake. We had that for supper with a tall glass of ice cold milk. They are still talking about that meal.

 

[CraigC]

You could ditch the Turkey..................and be FREE............Ok, controvertial I know, but we did it. This year it's Rib of beef for us

I'm right there. I already did the turkey thing.

 

[Steve Kroll]

I'm not a turkey eater, but I do like cranberries. Here is a link to my recipe:

http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f30/spiced-cranberries-in-port-82666.html

 

[Hoot]

We seldom cook a turkey for Christmas. Ham is the main attraction.
As for Turkey.....I like mine neat---maybe one ice cube--- and a good Dominican after dinner cigar.

 

[menumaker]

Hoot, we are on the same wavelength but for me, no ice just a touch of spring water and a Cuban panatella. (lady size of course )

 

[Janet H]

Consider making some cranberry chutney. Here's a good recipe: Madhur Jaffrey’s Ginger Garlic Cranberry Chutney {recipe}

I am also a fan of fresh cranberry relish. Here's my hubbies recipe:

Fresh cranberries - 1 lb
1 fresh, lovely crisp apple (with skin)
Some fresh orange rind, finely shredded and some of the juice
Dark brown sugar
3/4 cup walnuts
ground cinnamon
a little ground clove

Grind up the fruit, berries and walnuts and add sugar and seasonings to taste. Chill for several hours before eating.

 

[GotGarlic]

We don't usually do turkey on Christmas, either. More likely a beef or pork roast.

I'm not a fan of cranberries, so I made this cherry sauce for Thanksgiving this year: Turkey Sauté with Fresh Cherry Sauce Recipe | Epicurious.com

It was really good.