One of our Christmas guests is vegetarian and only just told us

[AnnaleeP]

Christmas this year is just me and DH and a couple of close friends. When we invited them they said they had a friend coming to stay, would it be OK for them to come too? We said yes, that was 6 weeks ago. Since then we've sorted out what they're bringing food-wise.

Tonight DH gets a text 'will there be room for a tray of vegetarian sausages to go in the oven?' Errrr if the extra guest is vegetarian the time to mention this was 6 bloody weeks ago. I'd like to be able to serve the poor lady something a bit nicer than freaking Linda McCartney sausages for Xmas lunch so now we have to rethink what we were planning on serving. Obviously the vegetables with the main meal are OK but the starter was going to be fish and meat and there's quite a lot of meat involved in the main obvs. I'll have to make veggie gravy and different roasties for her. I dunno what to do for the main. DH is trying to get some answers out of them but so far it's 'oh don't go to any trouble, she'll just have sausages' - she's not having freaking sausages! Just tell me what she wants and I'll make it! Is it me? I'm just trying to be hospitable to someone I've never met, it's bloody Xmas.

[squoosh]

For the main just buy something ready made from Waitrose that's ready to be bunged in the oven. A veggie version of beef wellington or similar.

[formerbabe]

Go to the supermarket.

Buy a naice preprepared vegetarian main course.

Put in oven.

Serve.

Problem solved.

Next.

[allowlsthinkalot]

I'm veggie and absolutely wouldn't want you to go to all that trouble. She says she will be happy with veggie sausages. So that's what you do. Bisto veggie gravy. If you can stick a few spuds in oil instead of the meat juices that will be above and beyond as far as I'm concerned.

I would hate someone to cook a whole extra meal for me. It sounds like it's more about your wishes than hers. She says she wants veggie sausages.

[squoosh]

www.waitrose.com/shop/DisplayProductFlyout?productId=382150

[TheSpottedZebra]

Red ('normal') Bistro is veggie.
And Yy to a bought in main. I'm having an aldi Wellington -I normally make my own but cba this year.

[sj257]

Agree with allowls ^ I'm veggie, the sausages with all the veg would be fine with me

[Namejustfornappies]

I'm veggie and i hate putting people out. I'm extremely happy with a plate of vegetables, and maybe some cheese or houmous. I like to enjoy my hosts company, not have them stressed because of my dietary choices.
If she wants sausage s and there will be room, why not?

[SheDoneAlreadyDoneHadHerses]

Aldi have got some lovely veggie wellingtons in at the moment: www.aldi.co.uk/two-vegetarian-wellingtons/p/066797007570200

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

DH is trying to get some answers out of them but so far it's 'oh don't go to any trouble, she'll just have sausages' - she's not having freaking sausages!

But er, maybe that's all she wants to have??

You don't know this person. Your friends do. Believe them.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Bisto, obvs. My autocorrect has ideas above its station.

[SerialReJoiner]

Yy to allow. In fact, during the summer when I visited friends in Spain I utterly forgot to tell them I don't eat meat, and they had graciously prepared classic Spanish dishes, took me out to tapas bars, etc etc. Imo it would have been churlish to turn down their offerings so I ate what was provided.

I think most people realise that vegetarianism is outside the norm and don't want to cause a fuss, but maybe that's just me.

[Mrscog]

If she's insisting it's fine then it's fine. You doing something special would be embarrassing. Keep the veggies veggy and why not just do all your potatoes veggie (roasted in olive oil and butter is to die for) and some gravy - jobs a good one.

[Slowdownsally]

I''m veggie and hate all the meat substitutes. Much happier with a huge plate of nicely cooked veggies, stuffing and maybe a Yorkshire pud. If she wants those cardboard sausages, I'd cook them. Bisto red gravy is veggie.

For starters, I like baked Camembert, crackers with mushroom pate, salad and melon, mozzarella and avocado with tomatoes. Nothing fussy.

I know it would have been better to know earlier, but I am always confused as to why some meat eaters find catering for vegetarians unnerving.

[mushroomsontoast]

M&S nut roast is lovely, get one of them as well as some veggie sausages and bung it in the oven. If there's too much, everyone can have some as a side dish. For a starter I imagine some kind of readymade brie and cranberry thing from the supermarket would go down well.

[SharingMichelle]

You are going out of your way to make a problem where there is no problem.
She wants veggie sausages.
She's happy with veggie sausages.
Let her have veggie sausages.
Stop creating drama and then being affronted that there's drama.

[PenguinsandPebbles]

It's annoying when they don't tell you before hand though because you want everyone to have a lovely experience if your a good host.

Plus not always possible to just put something else in the oven if you have timed everything in advance, bad form on the guests.

I for one feel your pain OP, as have had it happen to me and think at this stage you may just have to do the sausages or find something similar. Maybe some boiled potatoes to accompany the main? And a waitrose vegetarian starter that can be put in the microwave.

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Imo it would have been churlish to turn down their offerings so I ate what was provided.

Are you saying you ate the meat?

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

I'm veggie. All the veg without anything else is fine by me. I don't need sausages. I'd love you forever if there were some roast potatoes I could have. My only expectation is NOT being lied to. Other than that, I'm good. I'd be happy not to have a starter.

However, if YOU want to do something, then I've had some amazing filo things at Christmas or bought veggie Wellington, nut roast (not the 70's version 😬) etc.

Don't stress, most of us are like every,y and do NOT want hosts to go make a Big Fat Fuss. Especially at Christmas when there SO much else going on.

[cudbywestrangers]

I'm veggie and would be more than happy with sausages, veg and gravy. Cook some roast spuds in oil rather than meat juices and possibly the same for stuffing and you're sorted. I've never done a started on Christmas day but would be nice to have something if everyone else is, but make it really easy, even some canapés that you might have already could fit the bill...

[hels71]

I am having veggie sausages for my Xmas dinner...(cauldron ones though, not Linda McCartney)

[AnnaleeP]

If she actually wants sausages that would be different but I'm getting the sense they're just being polite. Besides we live in an area with a huge Indian population and getting something suitable would be pretty easy if we know her preferences.

[Tanith]

Don't worry: you've plenty of time to arrange something.

My DS only thought to inform me his friend was vegetarian just as I was getting the joint of beef out of the fridge!

I've done a vegetarian ring (BBC recipe) and I had to fight off the carnivores so my veggie guest got some:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11097/chestnut-and-cranberry-xmas-ring

[formerbabe]

Veggie toad in the hole?

[BakeOffBiscuits]

If the OP doesn't want to serve up sausages for someone's Xmas dinner, she doesn't have to, no matter what the friends says.

I'd go to your nearest supermarket tomorrow and buy a ready made nut roast or veggie tart and serve that.

Waitrose also do a lovely veggie pate in ceramic dish, which I've got for dd2 starter, I think it's mushroom pate.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Also veggie. Also would be very impressed if you put sausages on for me. Would be happy with butter/goosefat free roast veg.