Christmas dinner dilemma

[Citizenerased123]

I'm hosting christmas for my family so there will be 11 in total (including 4 kids and a greedy baby). My DSis and her family love turkey and insist that we have to have it at Christmas but my DH hates turkey, thinks it's a waste of money and prefers duck/ beef (which did not go down well with the rest of the family in the past!) I don't know what to make- I have even seriously thought about doing two roasts to try to keep everyone happy but I only have one normal sized oven. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

[handsfree]

If you have a slow cooker you could maybe do a small beef joint in there?

[isthistoonosy]

Could you do beef and one day f the other adults bring a turkey crown?

[Maverickismywingman]

Lamb
Salmon
Gammon joint?

Failing that get a takeaway in sorry I'm not very helpful. You have my sympathy. If I was cooking I would have the same problem as you!

In Scotland some people have steak pie. So there's always that too, and say you're embracing varying UK tradition!

[Catnoise]

I would do as suggested above - two smaller roasts. One cooked in the oven, one in the slow cooker.

[bandbsmummy]

We have this dilemma too.
My family all live quite close so my uncle cooks the beef at his place and brings it round to my parents just before dinner is ready and my mum cooks the turkey.

[BrieAndChilli]

When I cooked for 12 I did a turkey crown in the oven and a ham joint in the slow cooker.

[nbee84]

You could cook the beef on Christmas Eve. Slice it and lay it in a dish with a little beef stock over it to reheat it on the day.

[MrsSparkles]

I do 2 roasts (for 12). I have a double oven so can do one on the top if they don'the fit but I think they usually just squeezed into one oven then took them out to rest while potatoes etc cooked.

[Getnakedorgohome]

If you're hosting surely the rest of the family do not get to 'insist'? I would cook a beef/duck for Christmas dinner. Could you cook a turkey crown on Christmas Eve and serve the carved slices alongside the cooked dinner?

[OhTheRoses]

Why do you have to do a whole other joint as well? Can't you just do your husband a steak or duck portion?

[NickyEds]

A small beef joint would probably cook whilst a big turkey rested (covered in tin foil and a tea towel) and vice versa so you could cook them one after the other. Or boil a ham, that would only need a quick blast in the oven to cook a glaze on? OR tell them it's not a bloody restaurant and cook whatever you like best

[itlypocerka]

Your DSis and family (by which I suspect you mean mainly BIL?) are being incredibly rude to insist in anything. You are the hosts not the employees.

Serve goose. Way more traditional than turkey.

Your DSis and family can insist on whatever they like when they are hosting themselves. Until then they can learn some manners.

[Spadequeen]

If your dsis insists then I suggest she has Christmas at home and cooks her own damn dinner.

Does your dh insist on beef if you go there?

To be fair, I love turkey or goose but if we were going to someone's house I would eat what they prepare.

The only exception to this is my poor mum! But it's only me pretending to be a brat, if she didn't want to cook a bird I would eat whatever.

[Citizenerased123]

Thanks everyone for your excellent suggestions. I think it's because my Dsis and her family lived abroad for a few years that they get very excited about xmas traditions. I'm not that bothered as long as there is stuffing, pigs in blankets, roasties etc!
I am quite tempted to do goose but feel slightly daunted by the prospect. Would one goose feed 11?
And I am a slow cooker novice - how long would it take to cook a joint of beef?

[PreemptiveSalvageEngineer]

Yeah, good point. What do you want to cook, Erased?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Last year I did brisket and turkey. I slow cooked the brisket in the oven the day before, and warmed it up (sliced in gravy) while the turkey was resting but it would also work well in a slow cooker.

Brisket is a really nice cut of beef and has the added advantage of being much cheaper than fillet, rib joint. It went down a storm and I would definitely do it again.

[Spadequeen]

Goose is lovely but not too much meat for 11 people

[Unluckycat1]

I think it's rude for guests to insist on anything about a lovely cooked for them roast. Presumably there will be lots of trimmings? I don't like turkey and especially not a dry turkey crown but have had it the last three years as I've been at my MILs, I just eat more of the sides :)

[BellesBelles]

I hate to say it, but if you cook goose, I suspect that'll please nobody!

Have you tried to see if there might be room for turkey crown and a very small beef joint side by side in the oven?

If it was me I'd just do turkey and persuade DH he has all the rest of the year to enjoy duck, beef etc. I do think your DH is being slightly awkward here, more so than your family as they are guests and also (like you say) having lived abroad they will be excited about traditions.

[Nemesia]

Maverick steak pie is for new year's day in Scotland, not Christmas day!

[lauryloo]

I'd go for 2 smaller roasts too, beef in the slow cooker is a great idea

[milkshakeandmonstermunch]

I've used this slow cooker roast beef recipe for the past 2 years:

www.mummymishaps.co.uk/2011/11/slow-cooker-roast-beef.html


Christmas dinner here will be me, DH, 3yo DD1, newborn DD2 and my dad.

I'm doing:

a turkey crown in the oven for DH who has to have turkey

roast beef in the slow cooker for my dad who doesn't like poultry

veggie sausages for me

shop-bought pigs in blankets and stuffing for the turkey

yorkies for the roast beef (batter made christmas eve)

carrots&sprouts (prepped before), parsnips (frozen) and red cabbage (slow cooker on christmas eve then reheated) so everyone has their favourite

Mashed and roast potatoes (both shop bought)


I basically have my two favourite men who have grown up with very different Christmas dinners and each would be gutted to miss out so I pander for one meal a year (but use any short cut I can).

[KarlosKKrinkelbeim]

I have exactly your problem. DH and I love a rib of beef roasted rare so that is what we have, but before that goes in I do a chicken for the DC and FIL. It's fine wrapped in foil resting while the beef cooks.

[ManaFleet]

What's your favourite? You're cooking so it's important that you enjoy it! If you're set on a traditional roast, do two meats so that everyone really enjoys their meal on Christmas day. Or you could do something different. Beef Wellington can be a real treat. I always do a big glazed ham as well as whatever we have (we're very greedy!).

Don't forget that there's scant meat on a duck, so you'd have to cook 2+ to feed that many plus leftovers. Goose is astronomically expensive but more sensible for a crowd.

I used to do a duck (or two) on Christmas eve so that I could use the rich stock for my Christmas day gravy. The cold meat is a lovely addition to the leftovers spread on Boxing Day too.