Crachit's Christmas Goose

In Dicken's A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is shown the Crachit's Christmas celebration by the ghost of Christmas present. They have what appears to Scrooge to be a pitiful stuffed goose. In that day it probably was the poor man's dinner. When Scrooge is finally through his visits and awakes on Christmas morning he insists on buying a large turkey for the Crachits.

Today the goose is probably a more unusual and even gourmet meal. We used to have a Christmas goose almost every year. Baked to a golden brown the wonderful smell of our goose dinner filled the house. Here's a recipe if you are ready for a Crachit Christmas goose.

1 domestic goose (10-12 lb)
salt and pepper
1 apple cored and quartered
1 orange peeled and quartered
1 lemon peeled and quartered
1 cup hot water

Sprinkle the goose with salt and pepper. Place fruit in empty cavity and place goose in shallow baking pan breast side up. Pierce skin with a fork near the thighs and wings. It allows excess fat to drain as it cooks. Pour water into pan.

Bake uncovered at 350 for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until thermometer reaches 180. You may want to drain some of the fat from the pan if there is too much.

Let stand for about 20 minutes and remove fruit and discard before carving.

We always liked sauerkraut and dumplings seasoned a bit with the goose drippings but being English, I'm sure the Crachits had more traditional "puddings" and potatoes with other vegetables.