Christmas Dinner for 23 | 2024

As much as what to cook, this is notes to Claudia and my future selves about what we served, how much food we need and what we’d do different.

The menu was:

Starter

  • Prawn cocktail

    • We doubled this. I got 3.5 bags of cooked Pams prawns. Claudia wonders if we’re better to poach raw prawns. I think there was too much sauce when I doubled. Also only need 3 bags. Need somewhere to put the tails.

  • Smashed Cucumber Salad

    • This was a hit. We stirred through 100g of raw salmon diced through for the salmon eaters. Used 1 cucumber and all the dressing. Served 5.

Mains

  • Eye Fiillet

    • 3kg. Just the right amount -only 3 slices left after second.

  • Glazed Ham

    • No notes.

  • Christmas Salmon

    • This was hoovered. Did one large side. No left overs. Could have made more. No further notes.

  • Crispy Potatoes

    • Helen did 5kg. Just enough - no left overs.

    • Helen peeled and parboiled these the day prior (added nothing) and stored in the fridge Next time needs to drain in colendar and ensure no water in bottom. This was a win! Will do again. Roasted in duck fat.

  • Ottolenghi Green Bean and Mustard Seed Salad

    • Delicous and worked well. We made too much. Needs to be half next time - 1.5kg total of beans. Keeps well for leftovers.

    • Prepped beans and snowpeas day before. If you wanted you could make the dressing the day before.

  • Antonio Caluccio Capsicum Salad

    • 13 capsicum - 10 red, 3 yellow. About right for the number with leftovers. Can be done the night before.

  • Avocado & Strawberry Salad with Candied Peacans

    • Used 2 bags of baby cos. Made a single serve of the recipe (although Claudia doubled strawberries accidentily.

    • Nice salad, but no one seems to eat much. To be discussed next year.

  • Marcella Hazan Salsa Verde

    • Delicous with beef and ham. No notes. Quadruped recipe. Probably double next time (maybe 3x)l.

  • Stephanie Alexander Red Wine Sauce

    • Wouldn’t bother with this again. Doubled it, but not worth the effort and seemed unnecessary.

Dessert

  • Delia Smith Triffle

    • AJ made this recipe gluten free for the sponge. It was fine, but could do better.

    • Used Pedro Ximénez sherry. This was excellent!

    • AJ thought the custard was a bit floury. Claudia disagreed. Multiple people overwhipped the cream. Next time Claudia needs to do it herself.

  • Wreath Pavlova

    • Delious. Only need one. Did lose the berries.

  • Lisa brought a delicious tart.

  • Bill Small’s Christmas Pudding and brandy butter..

  • Also had strawberries and fresh cherries.

General Notes

  • Decorating the table takes a long time. Find the knives and forks the days before.

  • We made nearly all our sauces and dressings the day before.

  • Could have started the meat a little earlier.

  • Allow longer for the ham - missed out the time to take it out of the oven.

  • Should have cooked beef earlier and rested longer to allow time - start at least 1.5 hours early

  • Cooked everything at the house. Entree was meant to be 1.30pm and main 2pm. Started 40 minutes late.

    • 10.45am - Ham in oven — went in 15 minutes late.

    • 11.50am - Salmon

    • 12.40pm - Potatoes

MainsAndrea JacobsonComment