What do you have for tea on christmas eve?

[25goingon95]

We usually have some party food laid out on the table and we pick at it throughout the evening which is nice but we want a change!

DC don't eat takeaway food otherwise we would have chinese or curry or something. I don't really want to be cooking a big meal on christmas eve so it has to be quite easy and quick to prepare...

Share what you usually have please? :)

[acsec]

Would the take-aways be open on Christmas day? Surely the owners want a holiday too?

We eat Christmas dinner about 4pm so no need for tea, just a mince pie later.

[Paschaelina]

Something easy like chilli and nachos with a bottle of beer. Theres usually a batch of chilli in the freezer for this.

[ToriaPumpkinPasty]

We generally go out for dinner on Christmas Eve but will have a baby this year so will be watching this thread for inspiration!

[gillybean2]

Urm, just whatever we would usually have any day of the week for supper...? But then we don't have a traditional xmas dinner either.
My philosophy is eat what you like over xmas, not what you're 'suposed' to.

[shineypenny]

No different to any other day of the year; probably something easy like pizza. Then snacks in the evening with the big present wrap :)

[AlmaMartyr]

We do a carpet picnic with everyone's favourite foods - nothing cooked.

[acsec]

Ah realised I read your post completely wrong - doh! I blame lack of sleep! Sorry.

Right I'll answer the question you actually asked. We sometimes have a lovely antipasto set up - cold meats/salami, olives, stuffed peppers, sundried tomatoes, nice bread that sort of thing. Other times we go out for Thai.

[FreakoidOrganisoid]

We usually have hot pork sandwiches and spiced cider in front of a film

[thinbridewaitingtogetout]

I cant believe people are planning there christmas eve dinner in september!

Any hoo each to there own, i will prob do something quick and easy like pasta or pizza as the dc have an early bath and get into new pjs and watch a dvd with goodies.

Then i will crack open the vino before the putting out of the gifts.

[BoringSchoolChoiceNickname]

Turkey, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, bread sauce, bacon, cranberry sauce, gravy and Special Pudding.

I have better things to do on Christmas morning than cook a huge roast meal, and we always go away on Boxing Day so we need to eat the turkey sandwiches/stir fried turkey hash on Christmas Day.

[CherryMonster]

usually chippy as will have been cooking all day

[iklboo]

My folks come round in Xmas eve so I do a small buffet. And it's not complete without a sausage/pineapple/cheese/silverskin onion on a stick hedgehog

[issynoko]

We have Jewish friends over and eat Middle Eastern food as a nod to where it all started. Stuff like lamb meatballs with cumin, yogurt and mint, baba ganoush (delicious smokey aubergines mashed with olive oil and scoop up with pita bread or Lebanese flat bread). Tabouleh - lots of parsely and cous cous. Lots of lemon, garlic and spice flavours. Then dates, figs, pomegranate and Meghli which is a rice pudding with nuts and spices - traditionally served to celebrate a newborn. Our friends are half Jewish, half Danish so sometimes I just make Danish Christmas Rice - look up on Google - gorgeous!! We serve it all on big dishes in the middle of the table so everyone shares plates and digs in together. Plus wine or champagne.

Then bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese or pain au chocolate for breakfast in the whirl of stockings and bucks fizz. This year might be different - expecting new baby at end of Nov so might just be focussing on milk!

[olibeansmummy]

We don't really have a tradition, last year we went to my sister's which was lovely, but equally it could be a takeaway or simple favourite meal such as curry.

[LordOfTheFlies]

Christmas Eve lunch we have fish fingers (for DC) ,vegetarian fingers for DH and me, chips, salad, then trifle (ice-cream for DC)

Late evening we do a buffet table of french bread, crisps, dips, carrots and peppers, mince pies and Christmas cake.

I used to buy breakfast stuff but DC are too excited so it's just toast and coffee.

[TeaOneSugar]

We've started have the pil over on Christmas Eve, and usually do something a bit fancy, or at least something that isn't everyday, last year I did Delia's Beef Wellington.

This year DH is working and won't be home until about 7:30 so I might do a buffet, not sure yet.

[PestoCaffeinisto]

I always do something in the slow cooker, like beuf bourgignon or Moroccan lamb or somehting like that. Then I bung jacket pots in the oven before we go to church. When we come home it's all ready to dish up and DH usually does mulled wine to get us in the Christmas spirit

[25goingon95]

Ooohh these are good thanks keep them coming!

[HoneyPablo]

I don't even know what I'm having for tea tonight, let alone Christmas Eve .
We never have stuff planned, it just happens, and we eat whatever we have bought.
Never roast turkey though

[DanJARMouse]

We have always done Chinese takeaway with my dad and any other family that may be around. This year however it is just us, so will probably do picnic food with a christmassy DVD

[piprabbit]

Fish.

In fact a posh fish pie usually goes down very well, and can be made and frozen in advance.

[festi]

I did the party food last year but very little got eated and kind of messed up an easy bed time routine, but I either do something very quick like pizza or pasta and sauce. or something that can go in the slow cooker like home made soup or broth, chilli or spag bol.

[festi]

eated eaten

[worm77daisy]

I really like the sound of the middle eastern spread, think I shall borrow that for this year.

[TeaOneSugar]

Now I've given it some thought, I think my plan will be,

23rd (Christmas Eve in our house this year due to DH's shifts), Lots of yummy things to have picnic style when we get back from the panto.

24th - In Laws coming over for a late (for them) dinner, I'll probably make Steak and Ale Pie, mashed potatoes, steamed or roast veggies, followed by cheese & biscuits and maybe some fancy cupcakes with coffee. My FIL is a fussy eater so best to stick with something he'll recognise.

25th - Lunch at in laws, Need to decide what I'm making for the starter and/or pre lunch nibbles, and a few things to contribute to the usual late evening buffet, ideally things I can make ahead and freeze.