CHRISTMAS DINNER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TURKEY incl carnivore & seafood

TURKEY-FREE CHRISTMAS DINNERS

Turkey prices are expected to be high this Christmas what with bird 'flu and the cost of feed.  

Pairing up with a pal to buy half a bird each is possible, as is buying a joint.   Selfridges in the past has sold  solitary (large) legs and wings but they are high end; markets may be a better bet.)   

(left: Vegetarian Pate & Mushroom Dome with Vegetarian Red Wine Gravy & Cranberry Sauce, recipe below)

But if your household is opting for something smaller with all the usual festive trimmings, these recipes from the archive offer gorgeous Christmas mains.   They run the range from spectacular to frugal, some are quite healthy, most are easy and some can be prepped in advance. 

The usual alternative to the Big Bird is Chicken but guinea fowl and capon are also served.  Or try a pork, beef, lamb and fish as well as vegetarian or vegan delights.  

Buy the best you can afford.  If organic is out of the question, some higher welfare meats are a good third cheaper.  But even common-all-garden supermarket meat, presented in an exciting new way, can provide a tasty attractive crowd-pleaser for the festive table. 

Want to know: 

How to enjoy festive treats and still stay healthy (ish!)?

Can a turkey-free dinner be Christmas-y and fun?  You bet, especially with meat, seafood or vegetables luxuriously presented. Crispy potatoes and sprouts are optional. 

It's all on on Welcome to the Blog (nav bar above) 

with the latest food & shopping news

 

 

POULTRY

Corn-fed birds are a great alternative to organic and cost about half the price.  

Easy Christmas Dinner - is a prep-ahead chicken; a one-stop indulgence that's perfect for beginners as it virtually cooks itself.  Two rubs are available, one rich with paprika and orange, the other with orange, 5-spice  and hoisin.  Either steeps the bird with rich flavour.

Lightly spiced roast chicken; baked white & sweet potatoes; mixed veg  
 Extras: pineapple dessert & pull-apart fan rolls 

Also : 

       Chilli Con Turkey: frugal, low-cholesterol, low-salt, frugal

          Roast Oriental Chicken: wallet-friendly, exotic, for the adventurous 

Special Occasion Chicken:  

On a scale of 1-10, this comes in at 10 & 1/2! 

unbelievable flavour & crispiness

 

Pheasant with Mid-Eastern spices and Orange: during pheasant season, find a butcher/market stall with access to fresh pheasant, and freeze 

Armagnac Partridges with Apple: boozy, fruity and fanciable (budget friendly friendly if you're in the countryside)

       

Peking Duck for Pancakes: wallet-friendly, lower-fat, guilt-free, easy,

Mongolian Hotpot: absolutely not for heavy drinkers 

A selection of sassy Chicken Wings:  Chicken wings have always played a role in the Blog's Frugal section; they're incredibly budget-friendly, high in protein and take easily to different flavours.  Usually offered as footie snacks, they are also great with rice or chips and salad for lunch or supper  

BEEF

Brisket, Melt-in-the-Mouth with rich tomato sauce: wallet-friendly, low-fat, slow cooker

Beef & Black Beer Stew : frugal; one of 67goingon50's signature dishes; easy-peasy Skinnier indulgence 

Korean-style Spicy Seared Beef: spicy, sweet & tender; works with frugal & expensive cuts of beef

Peruvian marinaded Beef Steak: knock-out wallet-friendly; guys' favourite 

Luxury Steak, Potato & Onion Pie: wholly indulgent guys' favourite, tender beef with potatoes in plenty of gravy, with alcohol

Hamburger Soup: thrifty another multi-generational winner from across the pond; easy; makes lots of hearty bowlfuls of tender beefyness.

LAMB

Irish Stew: frugal, ambrosial peasant food

Luscious Lamb & Red Wine Stew: wallet friendly, slow-cooker

Lamb Shoulder with Savoury Gravy & Mint Sauce: gorgeous lower-fat roast for small households

Lamb Mongolian Style: fabulously low-fat; 2-ways; Slow Cooker 

 Flash-fried Lamb & Green Beans: tasty quick easy meal for singletons/couples 

PORK

       Exquisite Barbecued Pork: exquisitely tender despite being nearly fat free;  lower-sugar & salt, easy-peasy

Spiced Spare Ribs: almost no sugar, low-fat

Asian Pork Bao: budget-friendly, low-sugar, salt & fat;  option for Chicken/vegetarian 

FISH

Festive Fish Pie in White Wine Sauce: It's the creamy slightly boozy sauce that makes this pie so special.  Go indulgent with fresh mixed fish or thrifty with frozen; top with choice of golden croutons (pictured) or mashed potato or puff/shortcrust pastry.  Lower fat.  Super-thrifty side Lettuce Wedges & Thousand Island Dressing saves even more pennies.

Seafood Pasta with Cream & White Wine Sauce: Christmas Italian-style for households looking for something utterly indulgent and delicious. Mouthwatering & easy; the pasta has an option for no common wheat, is wallet-friendly and provides lots of extra sauce for other dishes. 

Oriental Salmon: sugar-free, sassily simple, prepare-ahead, healthy; moist, succulent and subtly flavoured

Salmon Nicoise Salad, as beautiful as it is tasty

Scallop & White Bean Potage: unusual but gorgeous pairing, soothes after over-indulgence, relatively wallet-friendly

 

Sweet Chilli & Ginger Salmon:  lower sugar, Healthy, 

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN recipes here

DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  Any information not sourced to a second party is the copyright of the blogger.  

BLOGGER'S FAVOURITE VEGETARIAN/ VEGAN CHRISTMAS MAINS

 VEGETARIAN/VEGAN FESTIVE MAIN COURSES

                    (Please check against current prices)

Many more people than you think will opt for vegetarian main courses for Christmas this year, and not just because they'll cost less but because they are fantastic meals

Coulibiac Pie: Extremely popular show-stopper with vegan option: stuffed with delicious layers of rice & veg; gives simple step-by-step instructions; make-ahead; carnivores love it!

Vegetarian Pate & Mushroom Dome: 

Carnivores love this rich, warming scrumptious pie even though it's dense (in a good way!) filling has no meat!   It's lower-fat and wholesome, served with Vegetarian Red Wine Gravy and piquant Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce. 

Irresistible Nut Loaf: still a Blogger's favourite; makes you forget every boring nut loaf you've ever had; even carnivores love it.  If you're serving it alongside turkey, make it the day before Christmas and reheat; serve with lashings of vegetarian gravy and sharp Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce.  Makes great Boxing Day sandwiches. 

Avocado Pilaff (Warm): sublime, low salt/cholesterol 

Sensational Spinach Roulade: special occasion; lower-fat pillowy green roulade layered with cream cheese and taramasalata; vegan opt.

Moussaka, Marvellously Meatless: so delicious it stops conversation; sensational low-fat casserole which stuns diners; dairy-free option; takes a bit of time but much is prepped ahead.  It's so worth it and it makes a lot! 

FRUGAL

Vegan Wholemeal Pasta with Mushrooms, Peas & Chive Oil:  option for no-common-wheat: surprisingly delicious; nutty & multi-textured with layers of gorgeous flavour

Spiced Lentil & Vegetable Potage: Triple Duty, for when your tummy needs a rest from rich festive flavours 

DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  Any information not sourced to a second party is the copyright of the blogger.  

ENJOYING FESTIVE' TREATS WITHOUT GOING OVER THE TOP

Want to enjoy festive eating without going over the top?

Easy festive dinner: Lightly spiced roast chicken; baked white & sweet potatoes; mixed veg, butter-soft pull-apart rolls & pineapple creams

A sample of festive meals you'll likely enjoy over the festive fortnight.
Enjoy but don't let it go to your head...or your waistline!!

67goingon50 Recommends:

On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, relax; eat anything you like.   Otherwise, stay as close as you can - or would like to - to your usual eating plan.  

Practice portion control.  Remember: 

• if you've stopped tasting it, stop eating it
• if you're overdoing it, replace a meal or two with Broth, Granola Porridge or Savoury Custard
• eat as much salad, vegetables and fruit as you can
• cut back on meat and white carbs 
• if you've eaten something dodgy or are feeling bilious, try ginger root tea or jasmine and mint tea (see How to...Wean Kids off Fizzy Drinks) 
• an over-the-counter homoeopathic remedy called Nux Vomica 30 from homoeopathic pharmacists, can be effective if taken if following the homeoopathic pharmacy's instruction.  London stockists: Helios, Ainsworths, Nelsons.
• don't forget your Exercise Programme, even if you only manage a half hour walk every 2nd day!  

See also: Tips for staying stress-free 

DISCLAIMER: The author accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  Any information not sourced to a second party is the copyright of the blogger. 

ORANGE CINNAMON CHOCOLATE NUT CHRISTMAS TWIST: dairy free option; indulgence,

This uniquely attractive scone wreath stuffed with chocolate and nuts is the perfect go-to for special guests over the festive season...

Unexpectedly messy but delicious orangey, cinamonny, nutty, chocolately Christmas treat for breakfast or tea

Some, perhaps getting a little bored with Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas Day breakfast, might want to serve this instead.

But whatever occasion you chose to present this hot bread,  it will go down like a bomb. It really is very tasty with wonderful  textures.

The basic recipe is easy -- sugar-free rich scone dough, cinnamon sugar,   chocolate pieces and chopped nuts.  

But you might find - as 67 did - cutting and twisting the components a tad messy.  

67 also made the mistake of baking the twist on a round tray instead of a flat tray,    which would have given the twisted segments plenty of room to spread.  

Still, the twist has multiple layers and it's possible to see where to cut the segments.  And frankly, it is so delicious, the Blogger was not ashamed to serve it as it was.  And the tasters certainly didn't mind

Start the night before and be prepared for chocolatey fingers.

Cost: £3.00 (Feb '23)

Makes: 16 pieces 

Ingredients:

Orange Butter:

150gm/5oz room temperature dairy or plant butter

zest of 2 decent sized oranges

1/8 tsp essence of orange

Sugar-free Rich Scone Dough (higher fibre without losing lightness):

350gm/12 oz plain flour (organic gives fantastic flavour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

150 gm/5 oz very cold, cubed dairy or plant Orange Butter 

2 eggs, well beaten
7 tbsp very cold dairy or plant milk.

Layers:

cinnamon sugar:  70g/2.4oz brown sugar + 2 tb cinnamon

finely chopped dark chocolate: 125-150gm dark chocolate

walnuts : 90 gm/3.2oz walnuts

Method:

Orange Butter (make at least 4 hours ahead; pref overnight)

1. Whizz together butter, orange zest & essence of orange until well blended
2. Spread into a flat container lined with cling film; level
3. Cover with cling film; leave in fridge 4 hours or until hard

Scones 

1. Preheat oven to very hot -- 210c; 410f
2. Finely chop chocolate; set aside
3. Mix cinnamon & sugar in a bowl; set aside
4. Chop walnuts into small pieces; set aside
5. Remove orange butter from container; take off cling film; cut into small cubes 
   
   
   
6. Sift dry ingred. into a bowl; rub or process in Orange Butter until mixture resembles peas - don't overdo it!
7. Beat eggs and milk. Make a well in the centre of the flour; pour in eggs & milk; stir lightly with a fork until mixture just holds together
8. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and press lightly and quickly into a rectangle about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick.  Mentally divide the rectangle into three, lengthwise.  Fold the left hand side onto the middle; and the right hand side onto the middle & left sides.  Repeat twice, rolling lightly with a rolling pin between each folding, handling dough as little as possible
9. Divide dough into 3 similar size pieces; making 1 circle slightly larger than the others. 
10. Roll out the three pieces to circles about 22cm/8inches at their widest
11. Line a baking tray with a silicone mat or greaseproof paper 
12. Remove mat or greaseproof paper; place tray in oven
13. Gently lay the bottom (biggest) circle on the greaseproof paper/silicone mat. 
14. Spread a decent layer (don't overdo it) of cinnamon sugar over the bottom, using a pastry brush if necessary to even it out 
15. Cover with the second circle of dough,stretching edges slightly to cover; scatter over finely chopped chocolate as evenly as possible
16. Place final circle of dough on top; in the centre, place a circular cookie cutter
17. Cut the circle in half at its widest in both directions; you will have 4 quarters
18. Using a very sharp knife carefully cut each quarter in 4 pieces from the edge of the cookie cutter to the edge of the twist
19. Generously scatter walnuts over, gently press to hold them in place
20. Carefully lift each segment and twist to the right (or if you're artistic, work in pairs with both segments facing each other
21. Remove hot tray from oven; lift silicone mat or greaseproof paper onto the pan
22. Bake in the centre of the oven on an ungreased baking sheet 15-20 min until richly golden

Comments from friends, many of whom had second helpings:

'This is really good; I love the scone texture.'

'Lovely.'

'What's in it again?  It's good!'

'I'm happily breaking my diet for this.  It's great but the orange flavour is a tad overwhelming; maybe a bit more cinnamon to balance?'

'It would be wonderful with icing!'

Tips:

• Replace 50gm/1.7oz plain white flour with wholemeal for added fibre without loss of texture

 

Please leave a comment in the box below

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and  may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.