Alternative Christmas Dinner Ideas

[SilkyMoonfaceandTheSaucepanMan]

I really don't fancy battling through the shops for a turkey, and we just don't like it enough to care too much.

Thought it would actually be rather nice to change up the menu too this year. I've looked and have lost myself in the hole of recipes, and so thought I'd ask for ideas on here instead.

Does anyone do the Christmas dinner without the roast? What do you normally have?
If not, what would you have if you swapped it over?

We do a ham and vegetable "casseroles" (basically fancy mashed potato baked in a pot, and fancy mashed swede baked in a pot) and salmon in various forms and pickled herrings. Never do turkey, just not a fan.

I know it as coulibiac Acinonyx2 - it's delicious.

Luxury fish pie (with halibut, scallops, king prawns etc). Potato gratin top instead of mash. A bit pricy but drool worthy!

(We use this Delia recipe www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/entertaining/luxury-fish-pie-with-rosti-caper-topping)

*rosti not gratin

Just the two of us this year so going to do a steak diane.

I like the buffet idea. I'm hosting next year (if things are ok by then) and I may well do that.

Got my ass kicked for this the other day on here, but I stand by it:

East African style goat curry starter with ugali

Roast guinea fowl as a main

Who wants tasteless, bland, dried up traditional old turkey just because it's one 'must' have?

@Beekeeper1 I've got no problem with your menu, but I suggest reducing your turkey cooking time if they turn out "dried up"!

@littleloopylou - you are probably right! I freely admit to not being the world's best cook. And, not being an enthusiast for turkey anyway, always seek a way to avoid it, quite honestly!

@Beekeeper1 carry on. This is no year to suffer through tradition for the sake of form. (See my menu above!)

We have hit up the local farm for a gammon, some sausage meat and some pigs in blankets. We'll have gammon roast, pulled ham carbonara or mac n cheese and hopefully enough left for a sandwichy/ploughmans buffet. Pigs in blankets toad in the hole is a fave here too, with mash/gravy/veg and we'll also make sausage rolls. That should cover a couple of days over Xmas given there is only two of us and a dog :)