First Christmas dinner on our own
Hi all,
My husband and I are spending our first Christmas dinner on our own with our daughter (1.5 years old but very good eater and more adventurous palette than me!)
I want to cook something special and memorable, maybe something I can cook for years to come and make our Christmas tradition. I would not say "money is no object" but I am willing to spend a bit more because it's a special occasion. I'm an intermediate cook. I rarely eat meat so I have little experience with it but I think the occasion calls for meat, at least as far as my husband and daughter are concerned! They are dedicated carnivores. I guess I'm a bit intimated by "fancy" meat like prime rib or lamb or even ham or turkey. The most I ever made was a chicken breast.
What do you think? Any ideas of what I can cook? I'm not a expert chef but I read recipes really carefully and take my time, so I generally have good results.
19 Comments
You could make a nice roast breast of turkey, which is both festive and moderately sized, so good for a small family or group.
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-turkey-breast-the-simplest-easiest-method-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-213324
Or even your already-mastered chicken breast.
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-the-best-chicken-breasts-in-the-oven-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-211453
And for this year, dress up the meal with the sides and the dessert.
Whatever you do, have a wonderful holiday!
Trim the rack of most of the fat (or buy it already trimmed).
Mix a clove of minced garlic, a little salt, some rosemary or thyme, a few tablespoons of Dijon mustard and a little olive or peanut oil. Coat the rack.
Heat the oven to 500, roast for about 10 minutes. Turn down the heat to 350, and roast for about 15 minutes more. It's done when there starts to be a little resistance when you press down with a finger rather than feeling like like raw meat.
Have the butcher trim the filet mignon for you (That's the hardest part), and follow the directions exactly so the meat doesn't over-cook. It's a very easy recipe and will serve you well for a long time. Good luck!