Christmas 2008 – lunch

Here’s the lamb roast before carving.

The lamb looked like it was overdone as it was more brown than pink, but when I tried some, I discovered it was tender and moist. And then I had some more. :)

The pork was also superbly tender. B really outdid himself! He’s quite the barbecued meats whisperer. :)

The marinated stuffed roasted chicken came from Woolworths and was cooked in its bag in the microwave.

Once the bag was removed, the steaming hot plump chicken looked so appetising! I was surprised, and impressed with how juicy, moist and succulent the chicken was. B and K discovered the roast in the bag chicken while travelling around Australia in a caravan a couple of Christmases ago. Using the microwave was very convenient for our lunch this year as the oven was full – with the vegetables and turkey roasts.

To warm the turkey roasts, K placed them in the oven still wrapped in foil, with a little water at the bottom of the tray. She warmed them up slowly so they’d be evenly heated all the way through and not overdone. I mentioned in my Christmas eve post that Jac drained off the drippings to baste the roasts with; she brought the last of the drippings along in a container so K could baste them again for extra glistening deliciousness. In the photo below, K is carving the turkey breast roast. In the foreground on the chopping board is a pile of pork crackling!

This dish of pork crackling was circulated around the table and enjoyed by all.

Just watching K slice through the turkey thigh roast made my mouth water.

This is the tastiest way to eat turkey.

The turkey breast was remarkably moist for white meat. I really enjoyed it too.

Voila, the giant meat platter, waiting to be attacked from all directions.

Jac’s mum cooked the roasted root vegetables – carrot, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, potato and sweet potato.

K made a potato bake too, which was nice and creamy.

We also enjoyed a delicious broccoli and cauliflower cheese.

My plate, round one. There was cranberry sauce for the turkey, apple sauce for the pork, and of course, gravy, but I prefer non-fruit sauces with my meats and only had the gravy. I ate more vegies and turkey thigh after I got through this first lot.

The leftover meats, heaven to a meat-loving family and their friends!

For sweets, we had a Christmas chocolate cake from Michel’s Patisserie.

K had made these mini Christmas puddings too – they’re made from dark fruit cake, and topped with white chocolate and red and green glace cherries.

K presented the Christmas chocolate cake garnished with mini Christmas puddings.

We ate the chocolate cake with luscious brandy cream. I didn’t think the cake tasted particularly chocolatey, but with the thick chewy icing, it was very good (I loved the icing, and could’ve eaten all the icing off the cake, actually!). :) The fruity mini puddings were rich and delicious. I didn’t ask K where the recipe is from, but I found something that looks similar at Recipezaar.