Boxing day food-with lots of limitations!

[Rocadaboyce]

We are away for Christmas from 23rd. We travel back on Boxing day, then an hour later more family arrive. I need food ideas for boxing day lunch and supper made from ingredients that will last in the fridge from 23rd and not take an age to prep. HELP!!

[HuevosRancheros]

I started a thread about Boxing Day food recently - I am doing jacket potatoes with a range of toppings that should keep everyone happy

[Rocadaboyce]

Good plan. Can get heaps of lovely toppings and go luxurious on the desserts.

[HuevosRancheros]

Soup can be made/bought and then frozen.
Served with part-baked baguettes, cheese.
Not exciting, I know, but people will be fed, so will be happy :)

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

I second jacket potatoes. You could buy really good ham from a butcher, which would easily last in the fridge from 23rd, and also get some lovely salads etc. Perhaps also some quiche?

[shelfontheelf]

We're having ham, cooked on 22nd and left in fridge with chips, fried duck eggs and salad.

No prep on Boxing Day apart from opening the oven for chips and frying some eggs.

[Rocadaboyce]

Thanks so much for suggestions. I am going to try and get the freezer cleared and then a couple of batches of soup in. Then do with spuds, smoked salmon, ham, cheeses etc. What to do on the salad front? Leaves rarely last well for long do they? Any special soup recipes?

[nightswift]

Any food will last for 3 days in the fridge, so i would go with something you like and fits what you want to do - be it buffet, sit down dinner etc. In my family boxing day is still full on festive mode and so my family would want something a bit more special than baked potatoes- though i appreciate that everyone is different. I would do a ham and nice salads or salmon - maybe more buffet style so people can pick what they fancy- and a couple of nice puddings!

[nightswift]

I find salad bags with watercress and/or lambs lettece keep well

[lurkerspeaks]

Could you pick up a bag of salad on the way home or instruct the arriving relatives to do so?

My family wouldn't have an issue with that and round both my house and my Dad's house I can think of at least 4 shops in each place that would be open.