Bitten off more than I can chew 😬

[GipsyDanger]

It's my ds 1st xmas this year and have told relations already I am not moving from the house all day, they can come to us (I have drove to at least 3 different houses every year for 10 years!)
The dream of having both sets of gps for dinner sounded lovely, the reality is I'm not the best cook in the world (www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/2701852-OMG-Ive-created-a-custard-monster for reference)
Mil says that dh gran will need to come as she would be all alone, and I wouldn't have that! So that puts me up to 7 people, currently dh brother lives at home with no gf so potentially going to 8 people I'm having palpitations already! I don't even own that many plates! with a single oven and not much counter space is this doable!?

[KP86]

Cold cuts, precook the roast and reheat in the oven with gravy, can you ask family to bring a side dish each? Shop bought dessert.

IKEA for cheap crockery or ask your parents if you can borrow some for the day.

It's doable.

[FeckinCrutches]

Order everything from M&S that's what I do!

[timelytess]

plan now
start sourcing and practising
you'll be an expert by christmas

[RuskBaby]

Definitely preorder from M&S, everything pre prepared even the turkey in a tray - it's one meal, don't panic! Enjoy it.

[RJnomore1]

Yep yep M and S, cold ready made starter and pudding, cook the turkey on Xmas eve, buy a crown as it's easier to cook and carve.

It's fine, you can manage! If you're really stressed ask your family to bring potatoes and stuffing ready to heat, and DHs to bring veg and pigs in blsnkets.

[Randytortoise]

Definitely doable. You just need a list. The year before last we had 9 adults 3 children and a 4 week old all done with a single oven, you just need to plan ahead. Here is roughly what I do-
Prep all veg Christmas eve while she wraps presents
7.30 am prep turkey, including wrapping with bacon
8 am turkey in oven
11.45 put potatoes on to boil ready to put in oven
12 noon turkey out of oven pour glass of wine put potatoes into oven
12.30- parsnips and carrots in oven (bottom shelf)
12.45- pigs in blankets in oven.
1pm all other veg cook on hob. pout 2nd glass of wine
1pm- potatoes out of oven and Yorkshire puddings into oven.
Everything out on the table at 1.30 ish

[SnakeWitch]

Don't get too hung up on the food, it's a nice day for the family to be together! Get all pre-prepared veg dishes, some meat, and shop bought Christmas pud/chocolate thing and it's doable! Have a lovely time and don't put yourself under too much stress as it's your first one as a mum.

[CalmItKermitt]

How far do they have to come?
Get one person to cook a turkey, one to cook a joint of beef and so on....depends on how much food you want.
One person does the roasties etc....

You take care of the veg.

Shop bought pud.

Easy if everyone pulls together 😄

[GipsyDanger]

When you break it down like that it doesn't sound as scary, I kept thinking of the whole thing. Will definitely look into m&s

[gamerchick]

Have a trial run. Also cook what you can the day before.

Or do what I do and order curries the night before to reheat.

[GipsyDanger]

Both sets are local, mil offered to take care of the pudding already.

[GipsyDanger]

gamerchick love that idea! I wonder if dominos is open 🤔

[chocoshopoholic]

Yes it's doable.

Start by making a list of what you would like to do, Turkey, roast potatoes, gravy etc.

Lots can be made in advance and frozen, eg, mashed pots, pigs in blankets ready rolled up on a tray to go in. So mark those with a date you'll do them. Do a list in order of what time everything goes in and out.

A turkey needs to rest once cooked, so the rest can go in the oven then.

You can get cheap plates from ikea or ask someone to bring some, they doesn't need to match.

Very simple table decorations such as baubles piled in a clear vase look great for very little effort.

Accept any help offered!

[Sunshineonacloudyday]

Jamie Oliver christmas recipes are good to follow.

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

I would also add try to be relaxed and not stress if little things don't go right. It's one day, no one will starve if (for example) the potatoes don't work. It should be about about being together; enjoy it

[Palomb]

M&S is fab. You could put on a lovely meal with very little effort and no skill at all. It's not cheap but it's very tasty.

[Lweji]

8 is not that bad.
It's not a huge turkey, and you can put different things in the oven at the same time, particularly if you use the fan option.
But keep it simple.

Buy ready made salads, cheese, patés, olives, whatever.

Also, tell them to take different desserts or starters too.

[StickyFloor]

If you get busy on Christmas Eve then you will be fine. Peel all veg, fish out all the cutlery, glasses and serving dishes, set table, write a timetable that you can tick off as you go along with times things go in the oven and times they go out. Remember to allow time for carving and serving up.

Would also recommend using disposable foil dishes for cooking which can then be thrown away immediately.

[Potentialmadcatlady]

Slow cook your ham...more room in oven

[SideOrderofChip]

i third or fourth m&s. Pre order it then pick it up christmas eve first thing and jobs done.

buy cheap plates from matalan or the live. Disposable cooking trays (although m&s stuff somes in that)

Plenty of wine so no one notices if anything is a bit burnt

[purpleladybird]

If you need more plates etc now would be a good time to pick up a student starter kit.

In order to avoid cooking taking over the entire day eat at either lunchtime or teatime but not in the middle of the afternoon.

Do consider if you want to do a big roast or whether a buffet would be better.

[ladyvimes]

Get everyone else to help out. Can your parents prep the veg and bring it over in the morning for example?
Agree with others re making a list with timings!

[nellifurtardo]

I did it last year for eight people and I have a tiny kitchen and small oven. Get as much as you can from Marks and Spencer. I didn't bother with a starter as to be honest I prefer main and a pudding. Only do a small variety of veg. I made two puddings the day before but you can buy pre made ones if you haven't got time. Have a good glass of wine in the kitchen at all times this will keep you merry and not stressie ( I'm not sure that's an actual word ha ha ha)

[Artandco]

Waitrose pre made dishes. Stuff like pigs in blankets already done, and they do a good red cabbage etc

Get people to bring a dish

One parent set - one additional desert. You can do the bought Xmas pudding option.

Next parent set - bring some snacks for later in day like some mince pies and sausage rolls. Homemade or bought

Grandmother - get her to bring a bottle of mulled wine. Easy for her, but feels she's contributed

[LittleReindeerwithcloggson]

M+s food is amazing as are waitrose.
However was very pleasantly surprised with the good quality of morrisons Christmas food last year. Lots prepared ready to chuck in oven and much much cheaper