Mil just told me christmas will be held at our new house for all the family

[bogie]

...... I have no problem with this, half expected it to be here because she did it last year ... but I have a very small oven in our new house and I will need to feed 11 adults and 4 children.

so how can I go about it, I was thinking maybe doing 3 smaller courses rather than a huge huge dinner that no one can eat and a wasted pudding becasue everyone is too full to eat it.

Fil is a greedy moaning cunt not going to be happy about it if I do it this way because he like it to be the same every year.

Ideas please I really don't know what to do.

[bogie]

lol it didn't strike out greedy moaning cunt

[dilbertina]

Do any of them live close enough to cook something and bring it over/go and collect it?

[SoMuchToBits]

The pudding should be fine - Christmas pudding doesn't need an oven, only a ring for boiling. If you don't want Christmas pudding, then do a cold dessert (trifle, chocolate log??) which can be made earlier and then not use any oven space.

Or you could ask PILs to provide part of the dinner (as it was their orders suggestion to have Christmas at yours).

[bogie]

they do but I think their plan was to come over to ours first thing in the morning, open presents with the dc's, great grandparents, sil. ect. so not sure what they could bring.

[Tidey]

Personally, I'd tell her to cock right off. She's told you it's happening at your house?? She should wait for a bloody invite surely.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Have 3 smaller courses just for fil's benefit

[Onlyaphase]

Have you got a kettle BBQ? We always do our turkey in this as we have a small oven and I've never been great at fitting in roasties, stuffing, sausage and bacon rolls etc as well as a thunking great turkey. Got the idea from South African BIL, as they seem to BBQ everything.

Would suggest a trial run first - the first time we did this, it cooked in 2.5 hours (would have needed 5 hours in normal oven) so DH walked in at noon with a fully cooked turkey and I hadn't even started peeling the potatoes.

Also, BBQing the turkey give the men something to look at/prod on the day, so the meal feels like more of a joint effort IYSWIM?

[idlingabout]

Why is your mil calling the shots? If you spent last year at her house would you not want to spend this year with your family?
Presumably your DP/DH will be doig his share of the cooking if it is for his family?
Or have I mis-read thuis and you are having both families together?

[Tidey]

Okay should've read your OP properly before getting cross on your behalf - I see now that you don't mind doing it. Cold starter, cold pudding. You only need the oven for the meat and roast potatoes/parsnips or whatever. It should be doable.

[Haliborange]

Do you want to have christmas all together?

Do you want to have all those people to your house?

If FIL is a "greedy moaning cunt" why not just annouce a smaller christmas this year?

[runningmonkey]

Tips gained from watching/helping my Mum (who usually ends up catering for about 20 people in a tiny bungalow!)

• Borrow a few hob-top veg steamers - the stackable kind so you can do multiple veggies on one ring
  

• Cook the meat in advance. Leave it to rest while you cook the roasties, stuffing, pigs in blankets and suchlike. Carved meat can always go back in the oven for a blast (covered with a damp tea towel) if it needs to be reheated but she said no-one has ever noticed that the meat is usually a bit cool once they have piled it with veg and hot gravy.
  

• Heat serving dishes and plates by running them through a hot rinse/dry cycle in the dishwasher!
  

• Serve cold starters like smoked salmon.
  

HTH

[GrimmaTheNome]

Pudding is best microwaved - that can be done quite quickly after the main course when you know how many actually want it - maybe get 2 6-portion ones rather than a humungous pud.

We always do an M&S turkey breast roast because its easy, but 2 or 3 of those might suit you better than a big bird (they do different sizes).

[phipps]

1. Do you want to host everyone?
   
2. If not, tell them now it isn't happening.

[Coca]

Pre cook all the veg so that they can be whacked back in the oven while the turkey rests. I did a butternut squash mash thingy with a parmesan crust which I made the day before. Easy peasy

[catinthehat2]

Microwave pudding then you are not fighting a fog of steam all morning, it is Xmas din not a sauna. You will go quite liderally mad otherwise.

[bigTillyMint]

What about cooking a ham first, then wrap it in foil to keep it warm. Then shove the roasties, stuffing, whatever else in the oven and boil the veg on top in time to serve hot, and just have the ham warm.

You cook a Christmas pud in the microwave anyway and serve with brandy butter or whatever - Ta Da! FIL will have his traditional dinner!

You could do other cold stuff, prepared before-hand for an alternative, if you were really wanting to impress!