Cullens Quality Butchers
DEC 2012
Cullens Quality Butchers Newsletter
Recipes, Tips & Special Offers!
In This Issue
Eat, Drink & be Merry!
Party Bites
Ham Glazes
Talking Turkey
Turkey Tips
Sausage meat Stuffing
Carving & Gravy
Opening hours
XMAS COOKING GUIDE
PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS


Cullens Butchers have been in business in County Wicklow for 3 generations and are proud to serve you with the finest products

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CULLENS BUTCHERS OFFER: 

 

HOME DELIVERY SERVICE

 

FRESH FISH DAILY

 

GREAT SPECIAL OFFERS  

 

MEAL DEALS 

 

DRY AGED BEEF

 

A SELECTION OF SPICES,SAUCES & MARINADES 

 

DEEP FREEZE ORDERS

CATERED FOR

 

WEBSITE & RECIPES

   

   


Cullens Butchers
Passionate About Food!
 


 

 



Greetings!      

No Christmas table would be complete without......
a superb centre piece roast from Cullens Quality Butchers!!
Irresistible & mouthwatering Roast Turkey with all the trimmings,now that is a real highlight of Christmas! 

We have delicious meat options to see you through the festive season right through to the New Year.
Season's Eatings from all at Cullens Quality Butchers!
   

If you like our newsletter and you want to get even more up to date information, then check out our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!

 

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY!! that was the cry of the Victorians as they ate their dinner with gusto!

A Victorian Christmas Dinner was a feast in all its splendor!
The opportunity to show off the finest silver, china & linen. A roast formed the centre piece of the feast. A Goose or Turkey, Rib of Beef on the bone, a Ham or a Boar's head was served with roasted veg, mash, gravy, and sage & onion stuffing.  Even in humbler households, people celebrated with the best meal they could afford. A Game pie or Rabbit was usually served.  Then as now Christmas dinner was the high point of the year. A carefully planned meal and a real treat!  We have the victorians to thank for the long running tradition.  The celebration of family and fine food! 
party
PARTY BITES
Sausages- 
try a mustard, honey & rosemary glaze over the sausages once cooked. 
easy to make and tastes delicious!
1 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp chopped rosemary
mix together 
toss over the cooked sausages 
and enjoy!

Spiced Beef-
cook to CULLENS QUALITY BUTCHERS RECIPE  (see below)
slice thinly 
serve on brown bread 
and with a fruit chutney  
  Award-winning succulent Spiced Beef from Cullens Quality Butchers - view recipe
 
Mini Chicken Skewer-
split a chicken fillet in half lengthwise
put on a wooden mini skewer
add a marinade or rub
cook & serve
 
Traditional Ham
Ham Fillet

COOKING YOUR HAM:

Soak your ham in cold water for   

12 - 24 hrs

then drain before cooking.

When you boil the ham with fresh water - try adding some

'Cola' for an extra kick!

Simmer for 20 mins per LB (454g).

 

Next remove the outer layer of fat, score and add cloves.

Then roast in the oven for the last 30 mins with a glaze.

 

What should you add to the pot when boiling the Ham?

Try using a couple of the following ingredients:

Cloves, Black peppercorns, a couple of Bay leaves, chopped Celery, Carrot & Onion, Thyme Sprigs, an orange studded with cloves or an apple cut in half.

We love adding some COLA but some like adding stout!

 

HAM GLAZES:
All this golden oldie needs is a simple glaze and basting in the oven to develop its caramelised, sticky crust. You'll have the best leftover ham sandwiches around!

A glaze adds flavour and caramelises the exterior of the cooked ham so it becomes deliciously sticky!

here's a few options:
with each... place ingredients in a small saucepan over a low heat and stir until dissolved. cook for 5 minutes. (or warm in microwave for 10 seconds.)

Honey & Mustard Glaze
2 tsp Mustard
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp brown sugar
grated orange rind

Orange Glaze
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup orange juice
1 tsp mustard

Maple Glaze
¾ cup maple syrup
2 tbsp cider vinegar
pinch salt

Marmalade Glaze
¾ cup orange marmalade
2 tbsp dijon mustard
½ cup brown sugar
zest and juice of an orange
1 tsp ground ginger
Snowman & Spiced beef
LETS TALK TURKEY 

 

Cullens Quality Butchers offer-

 

 

 

 

Traditional Free Range Turkeys on the bone ranging from 10 - 22 LB.

Boned and Rolled Turkeys, Stuffed or Unstuffed. - This is the whole Turkey taken off the bone and rolled and tied into a nice joint - it contains the white breast meat as well as the darker leg meat. Addin

Cullens Traditional Homemade Stuffing is a very popular choice!

Other options are - the Turkey Crown (White Breast meat still on the bone) or do a boneless Turkey Breast (just the white meat).

 

Fancy an alternative......

but still a roast that's full of festive flavour!

Try Goose, Duck, Rib of Beef or Venison.

 

WHAT SIZE TURKEY DO I NEED?

 

At Cullens we get asked all the time 'what size Turkey do I need?'

as a guide for making that decision:

 

10-12 LB       5-6 people

12-14 LB        6-7 people

14-16 LB        7-8 people

16-18 LB        8-9 people

18-20 LB        9-10 people

20-22 LB        10-11 people

 

For a smaller gathering, we supply Turkey Crowns and Turkey Breast. Talk to our Butchers and they can advise you on the right size.

 

Remember 'Better to be looking at some than looking for some!'

 

 

Robert Cullen Outside Shop

Follow these handy tips from

Cullens Quality Butchers

and your Turkey will

be the best it can be!

 

Turkey breast can be lean so covering the breast with strips of bacon or proscuitto will help keep the moisture in and add extra flavour.

 

Rub butter all over the bird & under the skin - this will help flavour the Turkey and the skin. Remember to season with salt & pepper.

 

Always baste the turkey during the cooking process.

 

Sit the Bird on a trivet of veg - such as carrots, celery & onion.

This creates a wonderful base for making gravy.

 

Keep the cooking juices from the roasting tin - use to make your gravy!  

A Turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed -

consider loosely filling the cavity with garlic & thyme,

or wedges of lemon or Clementine.

 

For Stuffing Lovers:

Cook stuffing separately in a casserole dish or roll into stuffing balls.

 

Always allow the turkey to rest before you serve.

Do this by covering with tin foil.

Then with a couple of tea towels.

This will ensure the bird can rest without losing too much heat.

This also allows all the juice back into the bird for a moist Turkey.

 

To store leftover turkey - allow to cool.

Remove all the meat from the carcass.

Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

 

Remember to use up the carcass. Make stock for soup.

 

How do you know your Turkey is cooked?

At the thickest part of the leg the juices should run clear from the bird. (You can also use a Turkey pop up timer)


 


SAUSAGEMEAT STUFFING:
50g Stork Margarine
1 large onion finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp dried mixed herbs

½ tsp dried thyme or sage

125g Breadcrumbs
salt & pepper
1 egg beaten
1lb Sausagemeat (from Cullens Quality Butchers)

Method:
Melt the stork in a saucepan, add the onion and cook gently until it softens but doesn't brown.
Stir in the herbs and the breadcrumbs.  
Season to taste.
Leave to cool.
Place the sausagemeat in a bowl and add the cool breadcrumb mixture, next add the beaten egg.
Blend well.
This stuffing is excellent cooked seperately.
Cook in a lightly greased loaf tin or place the stuffing in the centre of some tinfoil and fold to seal in.

Carving the Turkey:

Make sure your knife is very sharp.

Hold the turkey secure with a large fork.

Cut the skin between the thigh & the breast.

Bend the thigh outwards, cut through the hip joint, removing whole leg.

Separate the thigh from the drumstick.

Cut towards wing, cut through the wing joint.

Hold the fork against the side of the breast.

Slice evenly starting at the neck cavity.

Lift the slices off with the fork and knife.

 

How to...Make Turkey Gravy.....

After removing the turkey,Pan Gravy

Put your roasting tin that has the leftover juices on the heat.

Add ½ a glass of red wine into the pan and watch it sizzle.

This will help deglaze the pan.

(You can add some flour if you want it thicker)

Turn the heat down slightly and continue to stir adding some stock.

Continue to whisk, & season.

(A Tablespoon of Cream, Redcurrant Jelly OR Balsamic Vinegar

will also add to the flavour of gravy - if you want to try something a bit different!)

 

CULLENS QUALITY BUTCHERS
Christmas Opening Hours

Friday 21st Dec          8am - 6pm

Saturday  22nd Dec  8am - 7pm

Sunday 23rd Dec       8am - 8pm

Monday  24th Dec      7am - 2pm 

Re-open Friday 28th Dec

Serving up a delicious Christmas feast has never been easier!  We've got plenty of handy hints & tips on our blog and website. 

Check out our Ultimate Christmas Cooking Guide. When you click in just go to the bottom of the page for loads of recipes and uses for leftovers.
To get any back issues of our newsletter, just click  here..

Many thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. Please let us know what you think! - If you like it, why not send it on to your friends!

 


Sincerely,

Robert Cullen
Cullens Quality Butchers
The Mall
Main Street
Wicklow Town
0404 69719
WICKLOW  CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 'RETAILER OF THE YEAR' 2010 & 2012
Visit us on the web at www.cullensbutchers.com