Christmas dinner with no oven

[TheDramaLlama123]

I need ideas for Christmas dinner. We’ve been without a fully functioning cooker for 6 months, was hoping to get one by Christmas this year, but I can’t. We have one working hob and a microwave.

So need Christmas dinner ideas.

I can’t afford to eat out before you suggest that (I wish I could!)
It’s just me and three DC’s. they are sick of stew. I’m really depressed at the idea of not having Christmas dinner. Any ideas welcome!

Do you have a working grill in your oven,if so its very possible to do roast potatoes/stuffing/pigs in blankets

If you can get hold of a cheap slow cooker, it’s possible to do roast potatoes in that (single layer of parboiled potatoes tossed in oil and they crisp up pretty well), and maybe cook them the day before then reheat in the microwave to go with a slow cooked, ready stuffed turkey joint. An electric steamer is also a godsend for doing veg if you can borrow one at all. If you’re anywhere near Derbyshire I have a spare steamer plus a plug in 2 ring hob that you’re more than welcome to borrow for the day :)

Lots of great ideas here. But if you can get your hands on an halogen oven it would be really useful for you. Also, try sites like Freecycle for a new cooker. They do come up every so often here so should come up in other areas too.

Have a look in your local charity shops for a steamer, ours often have them quite cheap. You can do a decent chicken breast plus veg in one or get a cheap slow cooker too. I always used to do our best joints in ours and they were always melt in the mouth lovely

*beef joint

Boil a ham on the Hob? Makes a lovely dinner.

I second ham instead of turkey - lovely on the hob or in a slow cooker. But then I would pick a ham anyway!

Might make it easier not to have a direct comparison with "normal" oven turkey if you're worried about it seeming depressing.

I think stovetop fried potatoes are just as delish as roasties.

Great ideas here so I won't add to anymore. If people are buying you gifts this year, could you ask them to give you the equivalent in cash or vouchers for currys instead? That way you can boost your cooker fund and buy one when your circumstances are right.

Ohh Ive been in this situation a few times!
I managed ok once i got used to it.

I would either go for a pre cooked chicken from the supermarket, another option as pps have mentioned is to buy slices of turkey from the deli counter.

Another option would be to boil a joint of gammon day before, buy frozen veg and heat in microwave, have with boiled potatoes or mash. Instant mash even, We lived off it when my cooker(s) died....for posh smash add some nice herbs, I love it with dried sage,thyme and some onion granules with lots of butter and black pepper it is luuush!) and just use regular packet gravy.

You can do pigs in blankets in frying pan (maybe buy pre-cooked cocktail sausages, wrap em and give them a quick fry)
You could try setting some defrosted yorkies upside down over the toaster to crisp up.

Have your usual cranberry sauce and sides available and you wont know the difference!
xx

I often squash Aunt Besssie frozen Yorkshire puds and put them in the toaster to cook.

Get a pre-prepared meal and cook it in your oven (if it can fit)

Could you borrow a Remoska from someone. I've got one in my motorhome and I've a friend that uses hers for everything she's usually stick in her oven to save power

Check groupon for halogen ovens or slow cookers. If you don't mind telling me where you are I might have a spare slow cooker I could send you, it doesn't have an instruction booklet or original box but it works.

Hi OP
Have you tried searching on your local gumtree for a free oven to keep you going?

I’ve listed many a freebie there.

Charity shop for slow cooker, kitchen top 3 tier steamer and halogen. You will never need an oven afain

Could you borrow a Remoska from someone. I've got one in my motorhome and I've a friend that uses hers for everything she's usually stick in her oven to save power

Remoskas are fab aren't they?

When we had no oven I used it every day...I've brought it out of the cupboard this week and am back to being obsessed with it.

Whereabouts are you op? We’re getting rid of our built in oven this week. It’s not the best, a really basic one that was put in by the landlord, but you’re welcome to it if you’re anywhere near Shrewsbury or Wrexham.

Make it easy on yourself turkey breasts are cheap and can be done in the pan, frozen stuffing balls should cook ok in with them and could do cheap gammon steaks too if the budget stretches. Pan fried potato cubes will give that roast feeling and some veg. Have a lovely day and hopefully 2019 brings better things x

Pan fry turkey breasts / slices on the hob. Cook all potatoes & veg on the hob. Ditto gravy. Plate it up bit by bit & put the filled plates in the microwave to heat up when ready? Won't be "the same" but it'll be close?

Or if you were my friend / family OP, I'd take pity on you & invite you round for xmas. Any chance of being invited to friends / family?

Thanks all! You are genius’s

Thanks **Boswell, but mine is a free standing Cooker.

I’ve looked on Gumtree but as I don’t drive am having trouble finding someone who will deliver.

I’m definitely going to hunt the charity shops for a slow cooker

LittleLama Not really and I would feel I would need to bring presents for the friends DCs, as it is my eldest won’t be getting her main gift until after Christmas (which she is fine with)

Slow cookers start at around £20. We only have a cheap one and it works fine.
There are really good slow cooker pages on facebook and I'm sure if you post how to do a Christmas meal on there you will get some really good suggestions.

We use our slow cooker for all our meat now, I rarely use the oven for a roast. The only downside is you don't get a crispy outside. If cooking beef, I pan fry it first. Lots of online recipes too.

I would pan fry pigs in blankets and maybe do mash potatoes or pan fried small potato cubes as mentioned above.

Definitely possible. Try local FreeCycle groups for slow cookers or maybe ask if friends/family has one you can borrow. Argos has a 3.5l one for £17.99 which looks like it would fit a chicken in. If you buy a smaller one, you'd fit a gammon or beef joint in.

I came by to suggest a boiled ham but see I've been beaten to it.

A slow cooker is a great shout for hams too.

This is a bit far fetched but if you see a cheap raclette grill on your travels (people are sometimes giving them away to free up cupboard space) that could also be fun. It's not a traditional UK Christmas meal, but it's traditional here in the Netherlands. We do one for Christmas and the kids love cooking their own sausages and bacon and little bits of meat on the top, and melting cheese over potatoes in the little pans underneath.