Am interested in how much you're all planning to spend. It's anon.

Let's assume a party of 6, so if you're only two, then multiply the real amount by 3, etc.

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mel

My vote's in... Should be an interesting poll

A little bit tough as I tend to pull something from my stocks rather than purchasing for the day, so often there's a bargain I've aquired somewhere in there to bring the avg cost down a bit. But easily will exceed £50, and likely even £100 in real value if you assume 2 bottles with starter and 2-3 with main, plus aperitif and dessert wine/port for 6 people but its whether I paid that too...

How do you vote ??
Tried clicking the options ??

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Rich,
Hold the mouse pointer over the Poll, it takes a while to respond, as the phpBB software has to check that you have the correct level of permissions. The voting chart then becomes live in another tab.

I can't replicate it, because phpBB has logged me as a voter already.

For the lunch budget, opening a V.port or fino sherry appero can distort your spending, cos you will finish the bottle over the next 7 days. Mood also changes everything on the Day

If your lunch cooking and prep goes belly-up, you're unlikely to drown your sorrows when the family are all stood about as spectators !

Who is going to admit to going: - Way over, for a family event

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Duncan

Just four of us for dinner this year, free reange turkey crown in the slow cooker- I tried this a couple of years ago and havent looked back, best way to add flavour and keep moist, also saves on the gas and frees up the oven for other things. Homemade pork stuffing, veg from the plot, gravy from the slow cooker juices (cannot beat it), wife makes the cakes & puddings. I'd say around £50 on food & ingrdients with plenty left over for boxing day. Plus whatever wines I open.

My wife and I agreed to give each other something we made ourselves this year, I would like to tell you what I did but she knows I come on here and occasionally has a nosey.

Up to £10? Possible I guess.

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Yep, Im still here.

Nice work GK, the only home grown I have is bolted lettuce, a few late white strawberries in pots, and Rocket that will be a stringy as hell. My leeks are possible though, they are a bit narrow still ? Soil nutrient all washed out. My remaining pots will not be chosen, cos of the cloudy colour & texture and small slug holes ! - Too much rain when they were putting on weight. I dusted the furrows in wood ashes and the slugs still came, we only grew a few rows, some near a plum tree, for ole times sake.

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Duncan

Dunc,

Hi, no luck after 2 mins ??

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Dunc,

Sorted !! it takes a while to appear though.

Only two drinking wine as my boys only drink cider etc, trying to educate them but keep failing.

Bollinger to kick start things off followed by,

either of these whites,
2009 Weingut Robert Weil Kabinett
2001 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Riesling Kabinett followed by a red,

one of these not sure yet though,
2005 Penfolds Shiraz RWT
1991 Musar,
2002 Ch Lagrange
1994 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse (needs drinking up)

Finish with the Tokaji Aszu 6 2000 I bought from Aldi.

Bet I change my mind at least 5 times prior to the big day.

Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Slow cooked turkey crown, GK? Sounds interesting.

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mel

Try it. Do you have a slow cooker?

I chop some veg up for the crown to sit on, herbs (lemon thyme & bay), white wine, seasoning, optional- lift the breast skin and spoon some herbed-butter underneath, smooth it back. Cook on low for about 6/7 hours depending on size. Lift and rest, the meat is so moist and tasty, you'll never have dry turkey again. Sieve juice left behind and use as a base for your gravy.

We cook chickens this way now. One possible downside is not having crispy skin- as we dont eat the skin, crispy or otherwise, its no big loss for us.

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Yep, Im still here.

WHAAAAA ???!?!?! <Removes GK from xmas card list>
The skin is the best bit !

seriously tho, I've recently bought a slow cooker and think its brill.
haven't tried a pot roast yet but might have to give it a go now.
Thanks for the info, will have a go with a chicken some time soon

Just have to reduce the juices after to make the gravy I take it ? or do you tend to add more stock ?

This might sound a bit strange but it works- use Bisto ganuals, then use the juice as the stock, topped up with a little more water if needed. Shop bought gravy ganuals are fine, they just taste a bit cheap when simply added to water. If you use a good quality stock in place of water you end up with a deliciously thick gravy with no messing.

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Yep, Im still here.

Hairy chicken skin no thanks!

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Yep, Im still here.

Mother used to put the turkey in pre-bed on Xmas eve on a very low gas. 12-14 hours plus an hour resting. Always brilliant.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

14 hours? Get it right, it could be amazing.

Get it wrong and.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spmqbs8YCW8

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Yep, Im still here.