British Expatriate Network

We started out with rack of lamb and as numbers increased changed to cornish rock hens. We couldn't face more turkey.
I'm serving them with mango salsa, tiny Dutch new potatoes, courtesy of Trader Joes, salads and a warm vegie.
I was doing the traditional start, fresh brown bread and butter and tons of smoked salmon and champers, but I've just been freezer diving, and some barsteward has eaten all the packs of smoked salmon. So am now a bit stuck on that, have some tail on shrimp, but they're not that good these days.
Afters, my pal is bring what she calls her spackle cake, cos the batter is like spackle apparently. I don't care what the batter's like, this is a wonderful cake. I love it.

We'll have crackers and silly hats and such, and maybe the Queen's speech, we'll have to see. The couple who are coming are wine buffs and have a cellar to die for.
They need the menu so they can choose and chill the right wines.
Oh I love California, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven grin

Any ideas for a fishy starter?

You're my hero, I want to come to your place for xmas.....and leave my MIL at mine grin

Turkey for xmas eve, when we open all our presents (total bollox, but its a german tradition thing).

Ham for xmas day. Wife is vegetarian, so she is eating squash and beans or some such crap...

Roll on up we start at three. Mind, my Hungarian neighbour with a taste for what she calls pranks is coming. When she was invited to an Easter party a few years back she rolled up in a complete Playboy Bunny outfit. I'm hoping now she's 60 she'll be a wee bit more discreet. I have nightmares of her turning up in the santa suit on the Victorias Secret ads. Not that we'd mind. We're eating lol  lol

Edited to add i managed to get some more smoked salmon, not American though, I still can't work out why smoked salmon should be sweetened with corn syrup shock

We're starting with appetisers of bruscetta and cream cheese with smoked salmon, then followed by French onion soup, Beef Wellington with proscutto-wrapped green bean bundles, glazed carrots, roast parsnips, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and a red wine jus. Dessert is Christmas pudding and rum sauce and/or sherry trifle.

Joining us for this festive feast will be the Hylands and our two American friends so seven of us in all. Crackers will be on the table.

Afterwards I might do a prize bingo....if I'm awake and not too bladdered that is.

Debs x

smile

Er... that's definitely on the menu for Chrimble Day :razz: :twisted:

/Finbarr regards

Wow the two of you are quite the gastronomic cooks.
I would normally do the very average Shrimp cocktail, turkey, brussels,baby carrots, roasters, mash, roast parsnips stuffing and gravy, apple and cranberry sauce.

Not this year though.
We will be going to a potluck dinner and will probably take a puff pastry mince pie.

After seeing what Debs and Annie are making I'm rather embarrassed to say we're just having turkey, roast potatoes sweet potatoes veggies, mince pies etc. But husband is making it as I'll be asleep Christmas morning.

I'm doing the traditional Christmas, turkey, mashed and roast spuds, green bean casserole, stuff like that.

With champagne and bacon sandwiches for breakfast. That's one tradition I'm absolutely not giving up on.

Turkey and roasties/veg I think although last I heard, it had not been ordered yet so not entirely sure what we will end up with.

I asked for prawn cocktail for starters which should be do-able. We missed out on Chrimble pudding though but Base Camp back in Blighty caught wind of it at the weekend and are rushing one over before the end of the year so all is not lost.

We got some crackers too from Bed, Bath and Beyond - they toys inside are all spoken for of course. roll

Gawd, I'd swop the whole shabang for a bacon sandwich. Fresh white bread, lashings of unsalted butter, some nicely fried bacon, maybe a bit on the side all crispy and crunchy, drool!

Severe bacon butty withdrawals regards, :lol:

FishFinger sandwiches!
Bah!! Humbug!! evil

Best side dish yet. :oops: :lol:
I may go for a bit on the side too. :mrgreen:

I'm told we are having capon stuffed with mince and other secret things



What the hell class of beast is a capon...is it a lizard?

It's a superhero.

Only the two or us this year .

stuffed mushrooms

salad

turkey/cranberry sauce
mashed potatoes
fresh carrots
brussel sprouts
stuffing
gravy

home made bread

champagne


sherry trifle

irish cream coffee


after that a little snooze i think -)