I'm considering cooking a Duck for Boxing Day! I would like it for Christmas  Day but the family are not keen on giving up Turkey. I'm the chef  and have tried different ideas on Boxing Day, Pheasant one year. I've not cooked a whole duck before I have cooked duck breasts with blackcurrants  and Port lovely.
Any suggestions for cooking Duck or any other  ideas? I do like game a lot.
Is anyone straying away from Turkey this year?

P's Im a big lover of Turkey and always pay a bit more for a free range Turkey and never had a dry meat. I'm the one that eats everyone else's leftover Turkey up
Just wish a change (Turkey then be new year)

Venison Haunch here

Ooh I do like Venison a lot. Are you roasting with a sauce?

what about 3 or 4 bird roast aldi lidl do them their so so yummy

Quite possibly quail here, if little Nathaniel doesn't stop trying to escape!!

I kid, I kid.  Maybe.

I had duck last year, to be honest I can't remember what I did but there were instructions on the packet.  It was a Gressingham crown, all their duck stuff has instructions on.

Yup, probably with Cranberries and Red wine

> any other ideas? I do like game a lot.

What about Guinea Fowl?  Easy to cook (cook like chicken) and a bit more towards game than chicken, but not gamey enough to scare people who are not used to game.

I never have turkey at home, sometimes I have beef, or guinea fowl, sometimes duck; I've had venison a few times, and goose.  I had duck last year, and this year it's guinea fowl.

My Granny used to do duck some years, so much nicer than turkey! I've tried suggesting duck or goose to hubby but he's dead set on turkey, and as he does the cooking, I guess turkey is what we're getting!

aldl has pheseant and few other game  in for xmas
i do not cook axmas dinner as on my own

> what about 3 or 4 bird roast aldi lidl do them their so so yummy

We bought one of these last year BUT I have to say I didn't like the stuffing they used.   So would warn you about that.   I just bought a turkey from the new Lidl which has opened in town here - significantly less than in Morrisons.   Hope it tastes 'not cheap'!!

We did most other poultry over the years, but for me, turkey has more meat on it which, being lazy, lasts for more days than duck or goose - which is also a touch more expensive?

We've never done venison - now there's a thought!!

I like a nice piece of gammon, baked with cloves and apricots. Looks weird written down but tastes lovely. I never do a whole turkey, hate eating leftovers for days but would consider a turkey crown.

My daughter is cooking dinner this year as I've just a knee replacement and pretty much out of action for a while. Will keep it simple for her and have a turkey crown whilst I sit and direct operations.

I like the sound of that...... Supervising that is not the knee op! Did it go ok?

Hope you recover quickly from your knee op Jody. Rozzietriever  I have cooked a whole Gammon joint usually for New Years Eve

Merry paws I've seen Guinea Fowl and have considered  it. Trouble is I'm cooking for 5 or 6 (depends on my sisters turbulent  love life) & will have a four week old baby in house too. Wondering if cooking lots of tiny birds be a problem? Or am I mixing my birds up re Partridge  being small?.

My dad of course would have Rabbit! As he is away I win't be cooking bunnijkins.

>I like the sound of that...... Supervising that is not the knee op! Did it go ok?

Yes, although very nauseous after the pain meds during and after op, suspect morphine is the culprit.

Going home soon with the incredible swollen leg with strict instructions to elevate most of the time with short walks and the various exercises each hour.

just in iceland they have wildboar stuffing in pastry craker think its 9.99

Jody do elevate your leg!  My mom in law had hers done last year. The exercises,pain tablets kept up four hourly,plenty of fluids  worked a treat. She did have a swelling three weeks in under knee. Turned out to be a Bakers cyst but it did go down.

So now I have lots of ideas for the main now for different starter. I'm avoiding Prawn cocktails (yuk and boring) and soup  to filling... One year we had mini haggis with a dipping Camenbret  really delicious.

Filet of beef here :)

Thank you saxonjus, I will. Just clambered up the stairs ( our lounge is upstairs) started issuing requests (orders) and trying to fend off Isla who can't believe I'm here again, she keeps coming back for a look to check I haven't snuck off.

iceland have crab in shell its so.nice its amazing
muscels in shells .beatful
scallops
oysters un shell with topping
iceland.aldi and lidl are working out cheaper for xmas dinner

good lucl jody with your recovery
my gran had her knee done last year she was not allowed out for 6weeks
she had painkillera and jabs everyday
my gran very young 82yr !!!

More on Christmas - I always buy a gammon to roast.   I tend to buy a good beef roast (or steak) for towards the end of Christmas when we are heartily sick of Turkey!!

Christmas Eve traditionally in our house, we do a fish fondue.   Scallops, uncooked prawns and a firm fish like tuna or shark etc., cooked in a broth made of cockle, or muscle juice, celerie, carrots and onion cooked up and strained and then the fish is cooked in that in the fondue pot.   Served with salad and shoestring chips.   I can't remember when this started, but it's DELICIOUS.   And tends to be less noisy than a conventional beef fondue too.

Oh that does sound different. I'm not that much of a fan of seafood. I do like crab,mussels,salmon but scollops,prawns a big no. I also  love to cook a gammon joint for after Christmas  to have as cold suppers or with egg and chips!
I have seen lots of the new range in Aldi/Lidl groveclypoint I brought some crab pots to try.
I am toying with idea of twice baked souffle but think it could be too much faff with the Christmas  dinner to cook round it.
A poached salmon might be an easier starter?

Have you tried gammon poached in cola with onions? When cooked, slice off the rind, criss cross, smother in treacle and stud with cloves. Bake until treacle bubbles. Very nice and not tough at all!

P.s having moved to a new home, we will be celebrating christmas with a hog roast cooked on a spit!

All this talk of food yum!

Now desserts have to have a small Christmas Pudding I love it but other half and son hates it! So we have a second pudding to serve alongside.  Last year a New York Cheesecake deep and creamy and frozen in individual servings. Not sure this year what to try maybe a lemon posset?

I've heard about that recipe GSD owner not tried it thou. Usually do mine half boiled then roast in oven with honey,cloves and oranges.

iiceland have lovely desserts the lemon qato looks delish

highly recomed cran its like heaven!!

> Merry paws I've seen Guinea Fowl and have considered  it. Trouble is I'm cooking for 5 or 6 (depends on my sisters turbulent  love life) & will have a four week old baby in house too. Wondering if cooking lots of tiny birds be a problem? Or am I mixing my birds up re Partridge  being small?.
>

It depends how big the appetites are - the guinea fowl I have in my freezer weighs 1.25 kg.  If I were cooking for 6, I'd probably do two at the same time, should be plenty for all, with some second helpings.

This thread is making me hungry ....

> what about 3 or 4 bird roast aldi lidl do them their so so yummy

Have had a couple of these - 2 years ago, left my mother and I feeling a bit disappointed.
Then again last year at a rabbit club Christmas Dinner... well what can I say? the dinner we had the week after at a different rabbit club included a free range turkey donated by a farmer member, and all the veg were cooked from fresh.... home made C.Pud for afters and the lady sitting next to us had brought along a tub of clotted cream to go with it, and shared.

I'm on my own this year - not for the first time, but first since losing my mum. There WILL be a turkey, as I somehow feel I've missed something if there isn't one, and I am blessed with two large dogs with excellent digestive systems who will help me finish it :)

Venison here too. LOVE it! Oven cook with lots of redcurrent jelly! Yum!

I'm going to ask my butcher to let me know next time local Venison in! Usually have a couple of steaks and some cubed...
Anyone tried Boar?  I've also not tried Quails  eggs and wonder if a salmon,quails egg be good together?

yes i have had wild boar and apple sauges they were beatful very tasty
their is recipe on this morning website for chocolate and clemintin trifle
it looks really nice

>Now desserts have to have a small Christmas Pudding I love it but other half and son hates it! So we have a second pudding to serve alongside.  Last year a New York Cheesecake deep and creamy and frozen in individual servings. Not sure this year what to try maybe a lemon posset?

We always have a chocolate sponge pudding as half our family doesn't like Christmas pudding.

We had one of the M&S chocolate melting middle sponges one year! I'm a savoury person and would skip pudding for the cheeseboard. .. Usually we have an hour's break after dinner to enjoy pudding. Plus I get to put my feet  up whilst the dishwasher  is loaded.