Christmas dinner debate...

Here we go again. It’s Christmas dinner decision time. It used to be so easy. It was what that chap on the ads (Kevin somebody or other) calls a no-brainer. Christmas dinner was turkey with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pud - year, after year, after year, after year.

Christmas dinner, far too big, swamped in gravy and with half a dozen veg – including two types of potato and sprouts -  which nobody really wanted after all that chocolate.

Oh the joy of the turkey carcass and the imaginative ways to use up the leftovers... there’s nothing quite like turkey curry (thank God).

And then there was the washing up including that bloody great greasy roasting tin and all those plates and dishes. Even so, it was a simple choice; a no-brainer as I’ve already mentioned. Yes, it used to be so easy. These days things are far too fancy.

We’ve fancified our Christmas dinner, we’ve been doing it for years. Starter, main, pud, nuts and cheese, all great fun, but the debate and decisions that go before are a nightmare. It starts months before, the pondering, the wondering, the checking out of recipes and fare. Thus far we haven’t got beyond the starter and then only to decide that the grouse I fancied are not suitable - too tough (according to some) after a trial run, although mine was delicious and perfectly tender. I tried to persuade that we might try poaching them in red wine but no, too late… the grouse are off.

The main is something else. We’ve tried everything from venison wrapped in rabbit to goose lined with figs and lemon. We must have tried every bird available - often in combination - and pork, beef and veal in every possible wrapping and stuffing.

Christmas pudding is usually just that, and only nibbled at. But should it be sauce, or cream, or custard and just what should that custard, cream, or sauce be flavoured with?

The cheese and nuts are simple enough, although I’m always amazed given the bewildering array of cheeses laid out on the board, why there is never any Cheddar.

So as things stand we have no starter, no main, no agreement on pudding and only the cheese is certain (inasmuch as it will be made from milk).

Perhaps I’ll book a restaurant this year..