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We have gathered our roasting guides in one place. Find your favorite holiday meat below and click the roasting guide for instructions on how to make the star of the show into a delicious holiday meal.
Crown Roast of Pork Roasting Guide
Happy Holidays to you and yours from Butcher Boy Market!
The holiday season offers many opportunities for preparing and enjoying delicious meals with family and friends. A stop at our butcher counter will show you all the possibilities to make a dinner special this year. The most often requested cuts of meat are available in our Butcher Boy Holiday Order Guide. But how should you prepare them? Our holiday roasting guides are a great place to start for advice on oven temperatures and cooking times.
A rib roast doesn’t have to be complicated when our garlic pepper seasoning can be just the thing to bring out amazing flavor.
Try this beef tenderloin, which includes roasted vegetables so that at least one of your side dishes is ready at the same time.
For an elegant dinner, a strip roast fits the bill. We have trimmed it for you, leaving enough fat for the best flavor.
Slow cooking is the key to a classic braised beef brisket. And Butcher Boy’s signature brisket recipe adds a flavor step for a delicious braised brisket.
If your family would enjoy something other than beef, consider a rack of lamb, which is not as difficult to cook as it might seem for a special occasion.
When you want to impress guests with presentation, try a rack of roast pork. We’ll take the elegance up a notch by frenching the bones for you – that is, removing excess fat and muscle from the end of the rib so part of the clean bone is exposed. Tying racks of pork together in a circle creates a “crown” roast. We have those, too.
Do you have some favorite holiday side dishes your family craves every year? You can’t go wrong with a mix of vegetables roasted to perfection. Put a twist on basic mashed potatoes and make them twice baked. They go well with whatever you choose for your main entree.
We’re taking orders now for the winter holidays. Be sure to call us to place your order, and don’t forget to count on Butcher Boy for all your holiday meal ingredients, including desserts, sides, beer, wine, and spirits! We even carry a large assortment of Caspari Christmas napkins and dishes.
All of our Butcher Boy Marketplace neighbors are open for business and helping holiday shoppers find their perfect gifts – or unwind after a hectic day. Find unique gifts, delicious foods for holiday parties, and personal care services in your local community at Art and Frame, Lobster Tail Seafoods and Fish Market, Orzo Trattoria, Tran Tran Nails, Ciao Bow Wow Ciao Meow, and Perfecto’s Caffe. See this article for ideas and inspiration.
Butcher Boy is committed to supporting local businesses and features a number of delicious products made right in our own area. To inspire you, check out some of the local businesses and their delicious products featured at Butcher Boy.
Fresh Pita Bread from Korbani’s Bakery – Forget mass-produced bread products. This family-owned bakery has been making fresh, local, and delicious traditional Middle Eastern pita bread for over 30 years. Pair it with hummus, olives, or your own antipasto or charcuterie board from right here at Butcher Boy.
Homemade Pierogis from Jaju – Made from a treasured Polish family recipe, these homemade pillows of deliciousness satisfy your craving for traditional and innovative flavors. Ready in minutes, their delicious filling combinations stand on their own or pair beautifully with your favorite Butcher Boy protein.
Beach Pizza from NH Beach Pizza – Now you can satisfy that beach pizza craving year round right at home with NH Beach Pizza’s take and bake slices.
Whoopie Pies from Chococoa Baking Company – Experience the delicious flavors of Chococoa’s famous artisanal creations – perfectly bite-sized and made with all-natural and local ingredients, they’re the perfect snack or end to a satisfying meal.
Sweet and savory snacks from Arcade Snacks. A nearly 40-year family business, Arcade snacks can be found at select hotels, restaurants, and stores. Whether you crave nuts, dried fruit, candy, or chocolate, you’ll find your answer in these tasty treats.
To learn more about these local businesses and others featured in our Butcher Boy Marketplace, read these previous articles:
And, for more inspiration on shopping local, visit the North Andover Merchants Association for information on local restaurants and stores. Then, grab a friend and make a day of it!
This year more than ever, we want to highlight the small businesses and charitable organizations in our community during the season of giving. These businesses employ our friends and neighbors, contribute to our local economy, and provide a vast array of goods and services. And in a year with overwhelming need and disruption, the charitable organizations in our community have stepped up efforts to provide food, housing, programs, and necessities to individuals and families, adapting their distribution and fundraising efforts to find new ways to continue meeting those needs safely.
The North Andover Merchants Association is working to put resources in one place for customers to find local restaurants and retail locations open for eating and shopping. Purchase gift cards, grab a bite to eat, browse for gift ideas, and shop until you drop while supporting your local economy.
All of our Butcher Boy Marketplace neighbors are open for business and want to make your holiday shopping celebration planning convenient. Among them:
While you’re here, don’t forget to pick up your dry cleaning at Nature’s Cleaners, and take care of any banking business at the drive-up window at Pentucket Bank.
If you’re looking to support the charitable organizations that directly give back to those in our community, check out the Emmaus House Tree of Love campaign. They provide shelter and critical services to our most vulnerable neighbors in need, all year long. The Merrimack Valley YMCA offers several options to support its youth programs and the children who use them this holiday season, as well as a holiday toy drive. Monetary donations can be made directly to the Lawrence YMCA Food Pantry here, and non-perishable food or personal care items such as toothpaste and baby wipes can be dropped off on Wednesdays from 3-5pm at the Andover/North Andover YMCA.
The North Andover Police Department is hosting ‘Cram-a-Cruiser’ events to benefit the North Andover Food Bank on Saturdays in December. If you’d like to donate, please bring non-perishable food and personal care items to the Middle School. See dates, times, and details here.
What’s your favorite traditional winter activity that you can still enjoy despite current pandemic circumstances? Let us know how you’re celebrating the holidays this year. Stay healthy!
Our December guest blogger, Wendy Wakeman, takes us to a historic hearth and kitchen in North Andover’s Old Center for a peek into her family’s Christmas traditions.
Nathaniel House, with its ample, sun-soaked rooms, was built for entertaining. When Brad and I were considering moving here, its suitability for hosting parties was a factor in the decision.
We were happy in our previous house, a sweet cottage near the library which Brad’s family had occupied for more than 70 years. A baby grand took up almost the whole living room. My favorite Christmas tradition is gathering friends around to sing carols. Over the years, our annual caroling party grew to include a punch bowl full of homemade eggnog and so many friends that we worried about the floor joists. As much fun as the party was, the little house had reached maximum capacity.
Nathaniel House would accommodate the party, and even had room in case we found new friends to invite. Brad and I are always making new friends. We’ve hosted five great Christmas parties here. This year, we’ll take a break.
I’ll miss that happy tradition. Fortunately, Christmas holds many other joyful rituals.
Christmas Eve belongs to Brad’s family. A quiet and adult celebration, we gather for a candlelit dinner followed by services at St. Paul’s. Christmas Day belongs to my big, noisy clan. My brother Josh was born on December 25, 1967. My mom was on her own that year taking care of me, 2, and Barbie, 6. My dad was in DaNang, serving our country in the Vietnam War. For us, Christmas holds extra meaning.
Traveling from family to family is fun, but wanting our own tradition, too, Brad and I carved out a quiet space Christmas morning.
I rise early and toss a batch of popovers in the Aga cooker. The gold-trimmed china tea set that belonged to Brad’s grandmother comes out of the cupboard. I set a tray with tea, softened butter, honey, and a few flavors of jam. Last year, the jam was a jar of grape made by our neighbors the Wordens.
When the popovers are ready, I arrange them in a silver bowl lined with a linen tea towel. The three of us sit by the tree, a fire ablaze in the hearth, and enjoy a special meal while we open gifts.
May you and your family find peace, joy, and love this holiday season. I am certain we will.
Writer Wendy Wakeman is a former Selectman for the Town of North Andover. She and her husband Brad share quarters with a couple of cats. While daughter Millicent now calls Minneapolis home, Brad and Wendy keep a sunny bedroom at the ready, in case she wants to visit.
We can all agree that December is probably the busiest month of the year, adding all things holiday to daily life — gift exchanges, preparing special meals and desserts, attending or hosting parties. It’s difficult to accomplish our holiday tasks when we find ourselves running in all directions. That takes time and energy we never seem to have enough of. But what if we can make it easier? Come to the Butcher Boy Marketplace, where you can check everything off your gift-giving and entertaining to-do lists!
By shopping local, you not only will receive the benefit of more personal attention and excellent service, but you’ll also contribute to your own community. For every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to a study conducted by American Express.
Art and Frame is the place to go when you want your gifts to mean something special. Danny and Joddi Chang can help you choose a piece of wall art or sculpture that will fit perfectly in the room you have in mind. Bring them your own prints or family photos to be professionally framed. They can also create personal gifts that hold sentimental value: preserve a work of needlepoint, a meaningful souvenir, sports jersey, puzzle, or other keepsake in a custom frame. If you have items you think would look great in a shadow box but you’re just not sure how to pull it off, Art and Frame can.
Does your family celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes? This time-honored Christmas Eve tradition features seven Italian seafood dishes of all kinds. Whatever is on your menu, you can find the best quality seafood at Lobster Tail Seafoods Restaurant and Fish Market. Let Dan O’Neill and his staff cater the feast or purchase what you need to prepare it in your own kitchen. In addition to fresh shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, clams and whatever else your favorite recipes call for, you can also pre-order holiday platters to round out your feast.
Who doesn’t like to be pampered? Give the gift of relaxation with a gift certificate from Tran Tran Nails. Ba Tran, Tran Nguyen, and their talented staff offer a variety of manicure, pedicure, and spa services. If you need a break from the holiday grind, then it’s time for some self-care. Whether you’re looking for a quick touch-up or an afternoon of relaxation complete with a paraffin dip for dry skin, a hot stone massage, or even a Reiki treatment, Tran Tran Nails has you covered.
Family pets deserve some holiday love, too. Visit Ciao Bow Wow Ciao Meow for everything to spoil your favorite dog or cat. Jeff Mancarella, Todd Flolo and their knowledgeable staff can show you winter jackets and fleeces, along with toys, holiday goodies, and stocking stuffers. Freshen up the basics with a new bed, food and water dishes, and collars. Bring your pet into the store with you as you browse, and let them check out the Treat Bar stocked with the goodies they’ll love.
Take a break from shopping for lunch or dinner at Orzo Trattoria. But don’t leave without a gift certificate or two for someone on your gift list. And this month, when you purchase $100 in gift certificates, you’ll get a bonus gift card worth $20. Keep it for yourself or give it to a friend or loved one who would enjoy a good Italian meal. Michael Reppucci and Carol Webb will take good care of you!
Perfecto’s Caffe is another great spot to get a quick bite to eat during a busy day of errands. Start your day there with a hot breakfast sandwich or choose a gourmet salad or wrap to keep your energy up in the afternoon. Warm up with a delicious specialty hot or iced beverage. Peppermint and gingerbread flavors will put you in the spirit of the season. While you’re there, be sure to order trays of muffins and bagels for yummy breakfast options for holiday houseguests. Phil and Joanne Jay have ‘perfected’ the beverages and treats to give you that burst of energy you need to finish your holiday shopping.
Nature’s Cleaners is a chemical-free zone. Keep them in mind for all your pre- and post-holiday needs. You can get your special occasion table linens ready for family gatherings large or small. And after all the celebrations are complete, and the tablecloth and napkins are stained with memories of your favorite holiday meals, count on Jun Chong and the spot removal experts at Nature’s Cleaners to freshen them up for your next event. If you need your dress tailored for a holiday party, they do that, too!
Full service, personalized banking services are available at the Marketplace. Pentucket Bank is a valuable community partner, contributing to local organizations and programs. Marion Donahue and the employees at Pentucket Bank actively volunteer in the communities they serve. If you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving, opening a savings account for a special child in your life will help them to save for the future and build financial literacy early in life.
While children have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, adults are more likely to have a kitchen renovation on their wish lists. Jackson Kitchen Designs can provide the inspiration! Lisa Torrisi and her team of talented designers can show you the options for making modern updates to your kitchen, or modify the layout of the kitchen to make large gatherings easier to host. Keep them in mind to gift yourself something extra special after the holidays so your spruced-up kitchen is ready for next year!
For many families, the most special part of the holiday season is the time spent with friends and loved ones, sharing meals and traditions. Maybe you’re hosting or attending any number of parties and celebrations. We love coming up with delicious appetizers to please a crowd! The holidays can be especially enjoyable in our corner of the country, where the winter weather and New England landscape provide picturesque scenes that have inspired carols and traditional activities.
There are a number of festive events taking place, perfect for a fun outing with visiting friends and relatives. We have a few suggestions of holiday events in the area sure to entertain your crew of all ages and keep everyone in the holiday spirit.
3:00-5:00 pm
Taj Boston
15 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
This elegant affair to entertain children with holiday activities such as cookie decorating, crafts, and story time with Mrs. Claus, also serves as a fundraiser for the Highgate Charitable Foundation.
Irish Tenor Ciaran Nagel & Tara Novak w/ Ishna present “A Celtic Christmas”
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Irish Cultural Centre of New England
200 New Boston Drive
Canton, MA 02021
Enjoy the music and traditions of Ireland with performances that will leave you breathless. It’s a musical celebration of the season you won’t forget.
Hal Holiday & The Tones: 7th Annual Rocking New Year’s Eve Party
Double Tree Hotel by Hilton-Andover
Characters Night Club
123 Old River Rd
Andover, MA 01810
A great way to celebrate the new year is to party without worrying about a ride home. Join the fun here and consider booking a room so you can stay the night. The cost of admission includes appetizers, party favors, and even a gift to you for attending.
4th Annual New Year’s Eve Hootenanny at Loretta’s Last Call!
Loretta’s Last Call
1 Lansdowne Street
Boston, MA 02215
If you’re a little bit country, the party to ring in the new year starts at 9:00 and includes a dinner buffet and champagne toast.
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (and sometimes 10:00 pm)
Franklin Park Zoo, Stone Zoo
Viewing the holiday lights is a wild adventure when you get to do it at our favorite local zoos! Special events and activities also are planned especially for this “after hours” celebration of the season.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Stevens-Coolidge Place
North Andover, MA
Have you seen the lights right here in our own town this year? The garden of this historic home is decked out with thousands of holiday lights that amaze visitors. Dress for the cold as you walk the grounds and enjoy family activities.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Boston, MA
For a free entertaining performance, put a stop at Faneuil Hall on your pre- and post-holiday shopping or sightseeing plans. The lights and sounds of the season are a must-see.
Boston Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Boston Opera House
What would Christmas be without The Nutcracker? Tickets are still available for this professional, beloved production. No matter if it’s your first time or an annual tradition years in the making, you’ll love every minute of the familiar music and dancing.
The Polar Express 4-D Experience
Boston Museum of Science
“Journey to a world where dreams become real.” Featured in digital 3-D and brought to life with 4-D multisensory effects, you and your family will be immersed in the Polar Express experience.
However you decide to enjoy the holiday season, keep Butcher Boy in mind when choosing the perfect meal to be part of your daytime or evening celebration. If you’ve already ordered your holiday roast, it’s ready to be picked up! If you are still looking for ideas and advice on what to serve, we can help with that, too!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more fun ideas. Tell your friends we’re there!
Signs of the holiday season are everywhere – including store displays and discounts, greeting cards in your mailbox, favorite movies on TV, and of course, party invitations. At the center of preparing for gatherings with family and friends is the food we associate with seasonal celebrations.
Fortunately, Butcher Boy has everything necessary to help you plan your holiday menus, whether it’s a quick stop to pick up the ingredients on your list or the items you want to order ahead of time. Need some ideas? Allow us to count down the possibilities, straight from our holiday meats & prepared sides order guide and holiday desserts guide.
Serve it with our delicious Butcher Boy au jus for a tender, juicy meat. Don’t let the cooking time intimidate you. The flavor is worth the effort.
This is the larger cut of beef before it’s sliced into individual steaks best known as filet mignon. Cook it whole, using our roasting guide to help you determine the temperature that suits your taste, then cut it into thick slices for your guests. Pair this tasty roast with some of our homemade béarnaise sauce.
Slightly sweet and perfectly juicy, a pork tenderloin is easy to prepare but will impress. Adding fresh, local apples to the roasting pan will give it a seasonal flavor.
Spiral hams are a crowd pleaser. Make it the centerpiece of your party buffet. A ham looks beautiful on the platter with its perfectly even slices, and is easy for guests to serve themselves. It tastes delicious warmed up, but it’s also great at room temperature.
As we are fond of saying, food makes the perfect gift, especially when it comes with the know-how and quality that Butcher Boy offers. Our gift cards make great stocking stuffers or a little something extra on the top of a beautifully wrapped present.
For an untraditional kind of roast, consider lamb. We can help you select and prepare the lamb of your choice. Roast it with some potatoes in the pan and use the drippings in a gravy for delightful meal.
Poultry is the holiday meal of choice for many families. With several sizes to choose from, we will help you find the perfect turkey for your table. Our turkey roasting guide is just a click away for tips and reminders on how to best prep, stuff, and cook your bird.
Requiring little preparation in the kitchen, these veal roasts stuffed with prosciutto and cheese will tempt any appetite.
Full of the familiar flavors that come with the combination of herbs, onion, celery and bread, this classic dish is so delicious, you’ll want plenty of leftovers.
Creamy and savory, homemade mashed potatoes are a family favorite.
For every chocolate lover in your family, enjoy this decadent chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, covered with festive dark chocolate buttercream.
Create special memories with friends & family while decorating cookies for Santa with our kits which include plain gingerbread cookies, frosting and sprinkles.
Butcher Boy is taking orders now for Christmas! Choose from any of our meats and side dishes, ready for your own oven. You can also order any of our delicious desserts, pies, cakes, and pastries. For more inspiration, check out our suggestions for the five meats of Christmas.
So much about celebrating the holiday season centers on food. Many of our cherished memories evoke images of enjoying favorite meals and desserts with loved ones. While Thanksgiving dinner revolves around the turkey and all the trimmings most of us are familiar with, Christmas has more of a diverse menu customized by family traditions, which may include a Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch, and Christmas Day dinner. Leading up to Christmas, of course, are all of the work events, potlucks, social gatherings, cocktail parties, and school activities that involve food.
Placing an order with us for your holiday meal entrée and side dishes can save you time and effort later. Did you know you can also order our delicious desserts, cakes, pies, and pastries ahead of time?
We also know there are many items you want to make yourself. To ensure that you are prepared for whatever holiday event might come your way, even last minute, we’ve created a list of helpful basic ingredients all holiday pantries should be stocked with.
Whether it’s for baking Christmas cookies or serving your famous breakfast casserole, you can never have too many eggs on hand during the holidays.
Cranberries are a very versatile seasonal flavor. Not only can you cook and mash them to create a delicious cranberry sauce, they can be the finishing touch on your cake or the main ingredient in any number of baked sweets. Leftovers can be strung with popcorn as decoration around the house or tossed into sparkling wine or cider for a festive touch.
Good for desserts, soups or salads, and side dishes, a variety of nuts can add a welcome crunch. Pour some in a bowl for a snack for guests or yourself while cooking. If anyone has nut allergies, seeds are an easy substitute.
Whether you’re running out the door to a party and need to bring a host gift, or you’re reducing it for a sauce for the meal you are serving, both red and white wines are nice to have in stock.
An inventory of k-cups, coffee grounds, tea bags, hot chocolate, and eggnog will allow you to offer your guests their choices of favorite cold weather and holiday beverages.
Cook rice, meat, and veggies with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth instead of water to give your dishes an extra burst of complimentary flavor.
Almost any given recipe calls for oil and butter. You’ll need it for greasing a pan to sear your meats or a cake pan for baking. Even if you don’t use it all, butter will stay good in the fridge or freezer for up to six months.
Whether it’s allspice, nutmeg, and cloves for homemade mulled wine or pumpkin bread, vanilla and cinnamon for cookies and breads, or garlic salt, rosemary and oregano for perfect roasted potatoes, making sure your spice cabinet is stocked with fresh spices is imperative to a tasty holiday gathering.
Granulated, brown, and confectioner’s sugar should be stored in a cool area of the pantry. No matter what kind of dessert you’re preparing, you’ll be glad to have all necessary sugar varieties on hand.
Unsweetened cocoa, baking chocolate and chocolate chips are important ingredients for baking a holiday cake or brownies, making chocolate-covered fruit, or creating a festive ganache, you can never have too much chocolate in your pantry.
Use the checklist above to help prevent rushed trips for groceries during the frenzied holiday season. It’s better to make one organized trip to Butcher Boy for all the basics for a well-stocked pantry. You can also do a little holiday shopping by purchasing Butcher Boy gift cards as stocking stuffers, and don’t forget to place your holiday order and holiday dessert order!
Christmas is right around the corner. Your decorations look great, your guests’ travel plans are set, and now it’s time to focus on the food!
We’ve put together a list of considerations to review when selecting and cooking the perfect roast for your holiday dinner from our Holiday Order Guide. Consult our Beef Roasting Guide for exact temperatures and cooking tips.
How much meat do you need? Our order guide breaks down size of cuts and how many people they serve per pound. Better to overestimate, then under – no one has ever complained about leftovers. Plus, you can make a great dinner the next day, like this Leftover Prime Rib Beef Stroganoff from Bake It With Love.
Once your meat is selected, use our Roasting Guides to plan out when you’ll need to start cooking. Cuts like prime rib and rump roast are cooked by minutes per pound, so more guests means longer cooking times! Use our Guide’s time chart as a general guide, it’s good practice to check the roast before the minimum time recommended.
Will you be serving your meat medium rare or medium? Every oven is different, so invest in a meat thermometer and consult our Guide in order to cook your roast to the preferred doneness. The roast continues to cook once removed from the oven, so make sure to take it out when the thermometer reaches 5° fewer than your desired temperature.
There’s nothing worse than keeping guests waiting for their dinner. So keep in mind, the roast should reach room temperature one hour prior to cooking. After cooking, your roast needs to rest for about 20-30 minutes before carving and serving. It will all be worth it when you see your satisfied guests enjoying the meal. But if you’re really worried about the hungry masses, then you may want to select a cut with a shorter cooking time.
Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.
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