Fewer pies

Having just reported on more dumplings, time to report on fewer pies. That is to say, the gradual falling away of various Christmas customs of the food variety. Partly fewer people to feed, partly declining appetites and digestions.

Most conspicuous, the turkey has given way to the chicken, I think by way of the capon.

Bread sauce, a contribution from BH's family, gives way this year. 

Brussels sprouts gone. I might still like them, but they don't like me any more. Crinkly cabbage, otherwise Savoy cabbage, stands in their place.

Gravy gone. One could get quite good gravy from the dish used to roast the turkey, or indeed the chicken. Helped along by making some proper stock beforehand, from vegetables and innards. Not the neck though, as both BH and FIL were rather fond of roast neck. 

Christmas cake went a year or so ago. It was that or Christmas pudding, and I voted for the pudding. Sometimes there is something like a Dundee cake by way of a compromise, but probably not this year.

Christmas Eve lunch used to feature a substantial soup made of a hock of bacon and red lentils. At one time cooked on the coke burning stove which lived in the extension for a while. At one time served with fresh white bread - but it is some years since we have had regular access to that. The stuff from in-store bakeries not counting.

For a short while, quite a while ago now, Christmas Day breakfast used to feature home made pork burgers, with the pork having been minced with the trusty Spong, last noticed at reference 1. Fairly substantial burgers they were too, so probably not a good idea any more, even though they were grilled rather than fried in lard, traditionally.

Even odds being given on mince pies turning up this year.

PS: the stove illustrated above is more or less identical to the one we once had in our extension. According to ebay: 'French 7kw Godin 3726 Stove Cast Iron Wood Burner Coal multifuel Oval Green'. Including a centimetre thick hot plate under the visible lid. At the time, the probably asbestos lined chimney to go with it cost nearly as much as it did. Our stove is now down the bottom of the garden serving as nature reserve and ivy pole: the fun of it wore off, leaving the (considerable) expense, the dirt and the bother. While the chimney, nether regions much corroded by the fumes off the stove, went to the tip.

Reference 1: psmv4: Series 2, Episode X.