Bad Holiday Dinner

[Merlin]

So I cooked Christmas dinner tonight...yeah on the Eve. A 6 lb prime rib roast. I decided to try the high heat turn off the oven method. Despite a really good oven it didn't work (maybe). It was undercooked for DH who hates rare meat. So had to go back in oven...nightmare.

 

Due to this method (and timing disaster) and only having one oven I had to cook the rest on the stove. My potatoes a la Julia cooked in cream on stovetop got overdone. So did the fresh garden peas and baby onions.

 

Then we had an argument about whether the very good wine we had opened was corked and DH stalked off. Am I the only one in a totally disfunctional world?

 

Happy Holidays!

[Rail Paul]

So I cooked Christmas dinner tonight...yeah on the Eve. A 6 lb prime rib roast. I decided to try the high heat turn off the oven method. Despite a really good oven it didn't work (maybe). It was undercooked for DH who hates rare meat. So had to go back in oven...nightmare.

 

Due to this method (and timing disaster) and only having one oven I had to cook the rest on the stove. My potatoes a la Julia cooked in cream on stovetop got overdone. So did the fresh garden peas and baby onions.

 

Then we had an argument about whether the very good wine we had opened was corked and DH stalked off. Am I the only one in a totally disfunctional world?

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Happy holidays, Merlin. A six pound rib roast will be a dense, blocky, piece of meat. You showed great courage in tackling it in the high heat recipes

 

I haven't had a lot of success with the high heat method in the oven cooking beef, but it has worked for turkey. 500 degrees with lots of steam, then oven off, food tented.

[Maison Rustique]

Merry Christmas, Girlfriend! Sorry the Eve didn't go well. I hope today is better for you.

 

I'm waiting to find out how ours will go. I made pear, Asiago and rosemary scones yesterday and they turned out great, though I came close to burning one batch. My sister called to say that the potatoes and salad she's bringing both were problematic and she's not sure they're fit to eat. My alcoholic nephew fell off the wagon once again and his wife is definitely not coming and he may not either. If he's drunk, I hope not. My mantra this morning is, "Stay calm." I'd best get on with cooking the rest of the meal or there will be an angry mob in a few hours.

 

Merry Christmas to you and your sweet DH (who I assume has returned by now)!!

[ghostrider]

Am I the only one in a totally disfunctional world?

 

Happy Holidays!

No, you're not, but since the SIL is doing the cooking, I get to sit back & watch.

 

Just once, I wish she'd change up the annual Christmas ham a bit. Maybe do something wild & crazy like basting it with RC Cola instead of Coke. Maybe even have the moxie to use Moxie - hell, this is Maine, after all!

[splinky]

Am I the only one in a totally disfunctional world?

 

Happy Holidays!

No, you're not, but since the SIL is doing the cooking, I get to sit back & watch.

 

Just once, I wish she'd change up the annual Christmas ham a bit. Maybe do something wild & crazy like basting it with RC Cola instead of Coke. Maybe even have the moxie to use Moxie - hell, this is Maine, after all!

maybe you could wear your new gown to shake things up a bit.

[ghostrider]

Am I the only one in a totally disfunctional world?

 

Happy Holidays!

No, you're not, but since the SIL is doing the cooking, I get to sit back & watch.

 

Just once, I wish she'd change up the annual Christmas ham a bit. Maybe do something wild & crazy like basting it with RC Cola instead of Coke. Maybe even have the moxie to use Moxie - hell, this is Maine, after all!

maybe you could wear your new gown to shake things up a bit.

I'm saving it for New Years Eve in NYC.

[Lippy]

I'm on the way. I've had to change the dessert from Tarte Tatin to "caramelized apple cobbler" since it is unflippable. I'm also going to be making a standing rib roast -- a 4-pounder. I'm planning to use the Hugh F-W method -- a high-heat "sizzle" for 20 minutes, followed by medium-low heat for 10 minutes per pound, followed by a half-hour rest. We'll see. There a a few dishes that I haven't made out of fear of failure. One was Tart Tatin, and yes, I was right. Another is standing rib roast, because I don't want to ruin such an expensive piece of meat. I'll report back.

[Cathy]

I had to make Simca's chocolate cherry cake three times before it worked - couldn't get the chocolate to behave. Mustard batons from Dorie Greenspan's new book may or may not be edible; I need to accept the fact that my hands are too hot for pastry. But we have pistachio dip and crudites, guests are bringing cheese, and the main course - (Julia's creamy mussel soup) is done and delicious. Merry Christmas, all!

[Rail Paul]

I'm on the way. I've had to change the dessert from Tarte Tatin to "caramelized apple cobbler" since it is unflippable. (snip)

 

Dee had a similar experience with a chocolate coconut concoction she prepared yesterday. We decided the problem was the nonstick quality of the baking pan has degraded to the point where it wasn't useful anymore. It used to slide out with minimal difficulty, this time was completely different.

[Merlin]

Thanks for all your comments. Made me laugh! Hope all your holidays meals turned out wonderfully!

[Merlin]

Deb, your comment about the alcoholic nephew made me remember the truly worst holiday disaster I've had to endure. Long and boring story...hope you don't mind.

 

Many years ago in a different life I hosted 25 of my (ex) husband's relatives for Thanksgiving. A nerve-wracking performance for a 26 year old. Unca Harry was an alcoholic who, apparently, had been ordered not to drink and embarrass his wife and family that day. So of course he was the first thru the buffet line. While there were still 8 of us in line waiting to get our first servings, he said, "Where's my pie?" I was appalled and decided to ignore him...so did everyone else. A minute later he thundered, "Where's my pie?" I waited for someone to come to my rescue but no one said a word. Finally I pasted a very weak smile on my face and said, "Unca Harry, I am planning to serve the pies and desserts once everyone has eaten." Well, Unca Harry looked me directly in the eyes and shouted, "Where's my pie?" Needless to say I cut him a piece of pie which he consumed in one minute. He then raced into the nearest bedroom and fell asleep and started snoring so loudly that we could barely hold a conversation at the table.

 

ETA: Reading back I realize it sounds like I am describing a white trash family! All of the older generation (including Unca Harry) had gone to Stanford, all of the younger generation had gone to Ivy League schools. I was the plebian having only a lowly UCSC degree.

[Maison Rustique]

Loved your story! And I know sometimes stories of certain family members sound like trailer trash to those unaware. Things/food turned out very well for our family today and I hope the same is true for all here.

[tsquare]

Deb, your comment about the alcoholic nephew made me remember the truly worst holiday disaster I've had to endure. Long and boring story...hope you don't mind.

 

Many years ago in a different life I hosted 25 of my (ex) husband's relatives for Thanksgiving. A nerve-wracking performance for a 26 year old. Unca Harry was an alcoholic who, apparently, had been ordered not to drink and embarrass his wife and family that day. So of course he was the first thru the buffet line. While there were still 8 of us in line waiting to get our first servings, he said, "Where's my pie?" I was appalled and decided to ignore him...so did everyone else. A minute later he thundered, "Where's my pie?" I waited for someone to come to my rescue but no one said a word. Finally I pasted a very weak smile on my face and said, "Unca Harry, I am planning to serve the pies and desserts once everyone has eaten." Well, Unca Harry looked me directly in the eyes and shouted, "Where's my pie?" Needless to say I cut him a piece of pie which he consumed in one minute. He then raced into the nearest bedroom and fell asleep and started snoring so loudly that we could barely hold a conversation at the table.

 

ETA: Reading back I realize it sounds like I am describing a white trash family! All of the older generation (including Unca Harry) had gone to Stanford, all of the younger generation had gone to Ivy League schools. I was the plebian having only a lowly UCSC degree.

 

Hey, watch what you say about us slugs!

[Suzanne F]

Merlin, you are most definitely not alone. One of the reasons I prefer to go out for holidays like NYE is that it prevents me from having my usual blowup. Which I had to get out of the way on Xmas Eve instead :blush:, since we are again getting together with my Beloved Aunt Bette (94 1/2, kinnehora) for NYE. Poor Paul. :blush: Even if he did deserve some of it.

 

Supposedly we all have this idealized vision of what holidays should be like (damn you, Norman Rockwell! ) and of course they rarely are. Eh. What can you do? Just move on.

[Lauren]

I'm surprised there was any part of our meal which was edible. Paul and I cooked it in my brother's new condo. He doesn't cook so we'd sent a list of things we needed in advance, as well as shipped down (he lives in LA) a box full of kitchen items. Still, we were short a bunch of things. The rib roast was over done, the potatoes were watery, the brussels were bitter. The only things that turned out were the yorkshire and the jus. The worst part? We arrived in LA on the 24th and didn't have time to buy wine in advance so we had to buy it at Ralph's on Christmas morning. The best we could do was a Rodney Strong Merlot. Gah!