To get even more in the mood for Christmas this week, I have been trying to learn my dad's bread sauce which really is the best.
Bread sauce is so delicious. It's a crime that it's only had once per year in most households. In ours, we follow the any excuse rule: It is great with a Sunday roast chicken, or as we have been doing lately, a great big roast Rooster, bought from Fosse Meadows Farms stall at the market at the end of my road (see review here).
Preheat oven to 220 degrees,
Run the Rooster with oil and salt
Roast at 220 for 1hr 1/2 breast down
Turn around and roast for another 1/2 hour
Check it's done by inserting a knife between the breast and thigh to see if the juices run clear
Take out, wrap in foil and rest for 20 minutes before serving
For the Gravy: boil up the giblets in some stock for 20 mins or so, strain, add the meat juices and reduce.
For the bread sauce
300g Milk
1 medium Onion
6 Peppercorns
6 Cloves
1 blade Mace
50g breadcrumbs (home made from cheap white bread are best)
2 tablespoons Cream
Method
Heat the milk with the roughly chopped onion and spices and just bring to the boil, taking care it doesn't boil over.
Turn off the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
Strain and return to the pan, add the breadcrumbs and simmer very gently for 20 mins, topping up with milk if it becomes too dry.
Stir I the cream before serving.
For the potatoes obviously follow Nigella's expertise, and for the greens I either have steamed cabbage, or steamed baby artichokes (steamed for around 15 mins until the leaves pull away easily), again bought from the market. I forgot to take a photo of these but you know how we do. They were crispy and moist in the middle. Perfection.
Go out and bag a rooster this weekend. Why wait for Christmas?
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