Christmas Thread

[Seabag]

I wholly recomend the Goose option

And the Cockerel was a revalation, in both taste and texture

I brined both the goose and the cockerel (seperately), for 24hrs prior to cooking, then drip-dried them on the high part of my washing line, for a few hours. The goose was cooked in a Jerk Kettle type drum barbecue, not directly over the heat, but set to oneside, with a roasting tray under the grill mesh. There's a whole load of fat that renders of a goose, but the flavour was outstanding.

The brine partly cures the meat, so the texture is firm and moist, no dryness or toughness. And it was all very easy, you just need to invest in a plasterers white plastic mixing bucket, it holds 2 geese comfortably.

The brine is essentially a 10% salty tea, using salt and some sugar, aromatics and fresh herbs after its cooled. Once submerged in the brine, the birds get 24 hrs in a cool outhouse space

The cockerel went in a regular oven, and 3 1/2 hrs or so later it's done. It's a firm and flavoursome bird. Less sweet than a Turkey I'd say. More like a richer old school chicken, if you've ever tasted one. Weighed in at 5 kilos, so quite a bird

All in all, very good fun, easy and tasty, plus plenty of cold cuts next day

Hope you all had a good one

Onward to the New Year, but as i've somehow ended up driving a float in the New Year day parade, i'll be an early night at #SeabagTowers

[El Pibe]

marvellous, I may well have to give that a go next year.

The goose, cooked with more vanilla techniques, went down a storm here ,as did the goose curry the next day.

Also got about 2 litres of good stock and 3 good sized jars of goose fat.

Finally found a supplier of edible ham that doesn't taste of pure salt. It's a bit of a schlep (just outside dublin) but worth it!!

Have a spiced topside of beef from them that I'm quite excited about, may do that today.

[david_carnell]

Come on EP, you can make a ham without much effort!

Have you got a good pork supplier yet?

[El Pibe]

that's a thought. I'm actually pondering turning one of the outhouses into a smokehouse, then i can use the other one for the brewery.

[Seabag]

Seriously EP, bacon, ham and the likes are all very doable

Belly bacon, max 10 days start to finish

Buy the River Cottage Handbook 13 Curing & Smoking book

It cost ?14.99 and by far the easiest to follow on the subject

http://www.rivercottage.net/about/latest-news/curing-and-smoking-handbook/

[El Pibe]

cool, will check it out

[MrBen]

MrBen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My view on work over Christmas. Unless you're in

> essential public services or performing some kind

> of job that requires you to be "on call" (ala

> Dulwich Raider).....everyone should get 23rd

> December to Monday 5th Jan off.

I've discovered an exception. If the in laws are staying with you and twiddling thumbs around the house. I'm heading into the office on New Years Day as a result.

[Otta]

Go to Champion Hill at 3pm instead.

[steve 00]

Well done everyone.

[Loz]

Seabag Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seriously EP, bacon, ham and the likes are all very doable

>

> Belly bacon, max 10 days start to finish

>

> Buy the River Cottage Handbook 13 Curing & Smoking book

>

> It cost ?14.99 and by far the easiest to follow on the subject

>

> http://www.rivercottage.net/

The guy who does all this kind of stuff for the Guardian has a book on the subject, too. I got it (by request) for Christmas, but haven't had a chance to have a good read of it yet.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-DIY-Everything-sausages-sourdough/dp/1905490976/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420224359&sr=8-1&keywords=diy+food

[Salsaboy]

Is it over yet?

[Louisa]

No one told me it's over yet, I'm still drinking wine every night (and day).

Louisa.

[Seabag]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seabag Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Seriously EP, bacon, ham and the likes are all

> very doable

> >

> > Belly bacon, max 10 days start to finish

> >

> > Buy the River Cottage Handbook 13 Curing &

> Smoking book

> >

> > It cost ?14.99 and by far the easiest to follow

> on the subject

> >

> > http://www.rivercottage.net/

>

> The guy who does all this kind of stuff for the

> Guardian has a book on the subject, too. I got it

> (by request) for Christmas, but haven't had a

> chance to have a good read of it yet.

>

> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-DIY-Everything-sausag

> es-sourdough/dp/1905490976/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=

> 1420224359&sr=8-1&keywords=diy+food

Cheers Loz

I hung out with Tim Hayward at a private event, he's a pretty full on guy, as is his book

Tho the River Cottage book is more about the science and craft, so get this too, you'll have a great combo

But whatever you do, have a blast. The whole subject has litterally changed my life/work

PM me if you need any further resources btw

[Louisa]

Seabag Wrote:

> >

> ------------------------------------------------

>

> I hung out with Tim Hayward at a private event,

> he's a pretty full on guy, as is his book

>

As if admitting to living in Clapham in another thread wasn't tedious enough, we now have painful name dropping too.

Priceless :)

Louisa.

[maxxi]

Salsaboy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is it over yet?

No-o-o-o... now we are entering 'Nether-Xmas'; the time between NY day and 12th night, all tattered tinsel and Benedictine cocktails.

[Seabag]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seabag Wrote:

> > >

> >

> ------------------------------------------------

> >

> > I hung out with Tim Hayward at a private event,

> > he's a pretty full on guy, as is his book

> >

>

> As if admitting to living in Clapham in another

> thread wasn't tedious enough, we now have painful

> name dropping too.

>

> Priceless :)

>

> Louisa.

I'll asusume you've got me down as a 'blow-in gentrifier'

I've got you down as a chippy inverted class snob, with a large measure of "la la la - i'm not listening' me clever, you stupid, tragic postcode warrior

Sorry to pop your bubble, but we lived in Clapham in a shared ?65 a week room in a shared house, and when our first child came along, we moved to rented house in Gypsy Hill on a sh!t housing estate

And back then, Clapham South was a no mans land sh!thole, no M&S and a junkie living in my car when we got back from being away for a week

However, Loz mentioned the book and the author, I put a name to him, and we're in the same type of business

I'm sure you'll be back at me with a flick from your usual archive

But, let's have it. I do enjoy your pomposity and flimsy posts

Xx

[Louisa]

:)

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

Well Seabag you've had a go at Louisa and you've had a go at Me in various threads..

Well I did not go to Boarding School like you. (I like grappling thread) so not had the

Education you have had.

The Next door Neighbours

They are a joke.

They cultivate a Garden,

Which they Smoke.

And they send their kids to local schools.

They must be growing up a bunch of Fools..

The Raven Liverpool Scene :)

[Louisa]

Fox it's odd isn't it.

When someone goes into justification mode I know it's time to give up the ghost. I was patronised on a few other threads earlier this evening and then when I pull someone up on their comments, the above rant (at best) takes place.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

Louisa..

Long way to go yet.. It's only Jan 2nd .. :)

DulwichFox

[DulwichFox]

Think I will move to Walford..

Don't get all this Shite in Albert Square..

Foxy

[Seabag]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well Seabag you've had a go at Louisa and you've

> had a go at Me in various threads..

>

> Well I did not go to Boarding School like you. (I

> like grappling thread) so not had the

> Education you have had.

>

> The Next door Neighbours

> They are a joke.

> They cultivate a Garden,

> Which they Smoke.

> And they send their kids to local schools.

> They must be growing up a bunch of Fools..

>

> The Raven Liverpool Scene :)

Interesting, but tell me your assumptions on my schooling

See if they match reality

Clue: No silver spoons here

What's with the cap M in Me?

Weirdly, you like to give it out, but come back makes you reel 'victim'

HNY to you tho

[Seabag]

And Louisa just hates reality checks

Confrontation with her pre-supposed ideals even worse

Meh, just feeble in the light of it

[Robert Poste's Child]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> When someone goes into justification mode I know

> it's time to give up the ghost.

If you can hear a noise, it'll be your blind spot sensors, Louisa.

[Alan Medic]

100