That's Not a Goose!
Ducks are not geese, you know. And when you order a goose for Christmas, you expect to collect a goose for Christmas.
Not a small goose and duck.
Sigh.
Fortunately even a small(er) goose is large enough for one dinner for three people. And even provides enough for leftovers. Plus you get to make two stocks.
Christmas is saved!
This year's pre-christmas preparations involved some of our traditional undertakings
He spent many late nights building complex Elf dioramas, featuring regular and naughty elf, for George's dawn delight.
Any morning they might be found playing Hungry Hungry Hippos, toasting marshmallows over the Advent candle, TP'ing the light fitting or taking a shit in George's breakfast juice glass.
Those little minxes!
Sigh.
Fortunately even a small(er) goose is large enough for one dinner for three people. And even provides enough for leftovers. Plus you get to make two stocks.
Christmas is saved!
This year's pre-christmas preparations involved some of our traditional undertakings
- doing the baking,
- making the Tom Khaa Kai,
- drinking Hot Chocolate and Stingers as recommended in The Bishop's Wife,
He spent many late nights building complex Elf dioramas, featuring regular and naughty elf, for George's dawn delight.
Any morning they might be found playing Hungry Hungry Hippos, toasting marshmallows over the Advent candle, TP'ing the light fitting or taking a shit in George's breakfast juice glass.
Those little minxes!
So then finally we have all the usual trimmings - the food, the drink (a rather fine Pol Roger Champagne, since you ask), the lights and the presents.
The MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all!
Kirsch-Cherry and Black Pudding Canapé
meat starter
It's easy to overwhelm the cherry with too much black pudding, so do your best to roll the pudding as thinly as possible around the cherry, while being sure to cover it completely.
You are also going to need some quality cherries for these canapés. I first tried using an inferior black cherry by Opies.
They're too feeble, soft and squidgy to stand up to the wrapping process, never mind packing insufficient flavour.
Griottines' Morello cherries are definitely better here, though the quality does cost extra 😉
You are also going to need some quality cherries for these canapés. I first tried using an inferior black cherry by Opies.
They're too feeble, soft and squidgy to stand up to the wrapping process, never mind packing insufficient flavour.
Griottines' Morello cherries are definitely better here, though the quality does cost extra 😉
Makes about 30-40 balls
Ingredients
- kirsch-cured cherries, 1 jar of at least 30
- 400g of black pudding, good quality
- 2 eggs
- 20g of cornflour
- 100g of flour, for coating
- 300g of Rice Krispies, placed in a large bowl
Drain the cherries thoroughly and use kitchen paper to absorb any excess liquor. Blitz the black pudding in a food processor, then add 1 egg and the cornflour and blitz again.
Place a small amount of the black pudding mix in the palm of your hand and flatten out slightly.
Place a cherry in the centre and lift the sides of the black pudding mix around the cherry to enclose, like you would do to make Scotch eggs.
Repeat until all of the cherries are enclosed.
Add the remaining egg to a bowl and whisk lightly to make an egg wash. Lightly coat the black pudding balls in the flour and shake off any excess.
Dredge each ball in the egg 3-4 times to coat well, then place in the Rice Krispies bowl, shaking vigorously so the balls are well-coated.
Deep-fry the balls at 180°C for 2-3 minutes, drain on kitchen paper and serve warm.
Place a small amount of the black pudding mix in the palm of your hand and flatten out slightly.
Place a cherry in the centre and lift the sides of the black pudding mix around the cherry to enclose, like you would do to make Scotch eggs.
Repeat until all of the cherries are enclosed.
Add the remaining egg to a bowl and whisk lightly to make an egg wash. Lightly coat the black pudding balls in the flour and shake off any excess.
Dredge each ball in the egg 3-4 times to coat well, then place in the Rice Krispies bowl, shaking vigorously so the balls are well-coated.
Deep-fry the balls at 180°C for 2-3 minutes, drain on kitchen paper and serve warm.
Savoury Cherry, Beetroot and Red Wine Sauce
sauce
The basis for a terrific sauce for your Black Pudding Canapés.
I've left the quantities up to you, and some extra flavours you might want to try.
As long as the stock is reasonably good quality you'll be able to reduce the sauce to a suitably rich and sticky consistency.
I've left the quantities up to you, and some extra flavours you might want to try.
As long as the stock is reasonably good quality you'll be able to reduce the sauce to a suitably rich and sticky consistency.
Ingredients
- shallots
- garlic
- thyme
- butter
- red wine
- balsamic vinegar
- cherries
- beetroot juice
- stock
Flavours you could try adding:- nutmeg
- almond essence
- liquorice!
- Kirsch cherry syrup
Finely slice the shallots and garlic and sweat in butter until collapsed.
Cover with red wine, drizzle in balsamic vinegar add the cherries you can leave the stones in - we're going to strain everything later and bubble until the alcohol cooks off.
Add the beetroot juice and stock and cook until the red wine mellows and the cherries disintegrate.
Strain, taste, add flavourings, adjust the seasoning, then boil to reduce until it coats the back of a spoon, or as required.
Cover with red wine, drizzle in balsamic vinegar add the cherries you can leave the stones in - we're going to strain everything later and bubble until the alcohol cooks off.
Add the beetroot juice and stock and cook until the red wine mellows and the cherries disintegrate.
Strain, taste, add flavourings, adjust the seasoning, then boil to reduce until it coats the back of a spoon, or as required.
Hey - you can throw in some Kirsch juice if you happen to have a jar of Kirsch-soaked cherries on the go.
And best of all, you can use those cheaper crappy Opies cherries, keeping the quality Griottines for the actual canapés.
And best of all, you can use those cheaper crappy Opies cherries, keeping the quality Griottines for the actual canapés.
You can also create a sprinkling of snow by blending up some Rice Krispies™ to make a white(ish) powder, and sieving it over the plate.