Does anyone else actually enjoy cooking Christmas dinner?

[festivetinseling]

Because I do - for some bizarre reason I really like it.

Please tell me I'm not a weirdo!

I like it, l keep things relaxed and simple and l do a good job if l say so myself. Only have to cook for myself and two sons so no pressure.

Help!!!
Got three small (trio) of turkey, gammon and beef.
Have took them out the bags and wrapped them each in foil to put on a baking tray.
Have thrown away the bags not realising the liquid was what what I was meant to baste with.
Have only got sunflower oil and cider and bisto.
What do I do now so they aren't ruined?

Tesco Turkey, Gammon & Beef Roasting Trio Serves 4 - Tesco Groceries
This is what I have but it was £20 not £18 and I cannot use the gammon glaze as DD hates it sweet

I don’t but, since the DDs became adults, we all muck in together (DH proudly told us how everyone preferred his roast potatoes about ten years ago so I immediately declared I probably shouldn’t make them ever again then 😂). So it’s bearable.
We were talking about our friend and wondering how he was doing - he’s making for twelve, including a daughter who is coeliac, two vegetarians and a dairy/nut free SIL - and he’s making them all separate versions of stuff! We concluded that we bet he’s loving it - the weirdo. 😂

I love it. It’s basically just a big yummy roast, and people keep topping up my glass pf champagne.

Nk. This is why dh always does it. And he does it on boxing day now so we can all enjoy presents etc together on the big day itself. It's a fantastic way round to do stuff!

DH does, he cooks all our meals. He is a fantastic cook, we really appreciate the meals he cooks for our family.

Yes. I cook a roast most Sunday so Christmas dinner is no more of an effort.

I don’t get the panic people talk of.

Yes I agree with this its actually not much different for a normal roast though depends how many you are catering for, I think that's the big difference and perhaps doing a starter as well which wouldn't do on a Sunday. But mine went fine today - only five adults and a baby though so a lot smaller than most years.

It’s the only meal of the year I enjoy making. I don’t particularly like cooking but I love making a Christmas dinner and I get two or three days out of it. I used to host for ten but it was only me and one child today so I still did all the works with slightly less veg.

No, it's a massive pain but then I don't like cooking at all, it's just another chore. Wouldn't bother with Christmas if it was up to me. Bah humbug.

No - and as we don’t like the traditional roast dinner at Christmas, we have a huge cold buffet and everyone is happy.

I love it, I wish I had more people to cook for, we live too far away for people to come to us. When I was a school cook I used to do Christmas Dinner for 200, but I did have assistance, we all worked really hard and there was a great atmosphere. It was the best day of the year at work.

I do. I've been doing it for years and years now. I love the sense of achievement when it all comes together.

DH and I have it down to a fine art so yes I'd say it's enjoyable, certainly not stressful anyway. We cook Sunday dinner for family quite a lot though and it's basically the same, only really did pigs in blankets, Christmas pud and crackers that was any different tbh. I do like hosting though, can't imagine it's fun for those who don't.

I do. I’ve hosted many times (not this year though) and have it down to a stress-free fine art. I don’t want anybody trying to help, either - they don’t do things properly (I.e.my way).

The clearing up/loading the dishwasher is a different matter. That’s when I put my feet up and don’t lift a finger.

I would say if you don't enjoy it and can't time it well, don't be a martyr, either let someone else do it or go all out on short cuts like frozen or pre-prepped.

I usually do ours at home and it's nothing gourmet or fancy and I am not in the kitchen for hours on end swearing and sweating and stressing - just popping in and out to move things around but it is tasty, hot, plentiful and served with happiness and joy.

We were family guests today for the first time in years and barely saw the hosts as it took 3-4 people working in very stressful tag-teams all morning and most of the afternoon to serve a good but basic dinner for 10. We barely saw each other, they were stressed out and they did far too much - sooo many different veg and sooo many left overs (left overs are good but not this much).

Obviously I was grateful and thankful but just thought it such a shame they'd clearly don't enjoy it. (And yes, I did offer to help or to host but they won't let me).

My parents and SIL/BILs btw. Reminded me why we do our own! I do love them but it's such a painful performance and completely unnecessary. Unless you do it for martyrdom status like they do!

Another one here who loves cooking it. And I love all the foodie and drink bits too...making mince pies, sloe gin, cheese biscuits etc.
Food is love to me.

Yes I do!

I enjoy having everyone here and providing a great meal. I love taking the burden from my own mum - she gets stressed about it in a way that I don't.

I should host more often, maybe that should be a NY plan.

Hubby does all of the cooking in our house (and he's very good at it!) 😀

Today’s was very stressful, DH made it and I assisted ( sort of). I don’t think I would enjoy making it myself. Never done it ( age 39)

I don't mind it, as it's a family group effort.

This year it wasn't potatoes, it was the carrots of all things!

All went smoothly though, and I left them on for a couple of minutes while I put everything else in dishes on the table. Turkey in at 10, out at 1.30 and potatoes, stuffing x2, pigs in blankets and parsnips in. Did the gravy and carved the meat while the water was boiling for the veg. Then put the yorkshires in, and the meat in a covered dish to keep warm at the bottom of the oven. Then put the veg on and got started on the G&T! Piece of cake.

I was only cooking for 4 this time, and massive kudos to anybody feeding the five thousand today. 🙂

I used to love doing it when I was with ExP, because the DC were much younger & I could barricade myself in the kitchen for several hours. Then after I left him, the DC told me they weren't really fussed about it, so now we just have one if we feel like it.
I do kind of miss it though. It makes me feel more Christmassy than wrapping presents, etc.
I've never really got the angst about it - it's really just about sorting your timings out, and playing oven jenga. Ex MiL was an absolute martyr about the whole thing, got up ridiculously early to make a point, and every dish was put on the table with a heavy sigh (and her veg was horrible).

I despise cooking anything on any day, therefore I never cook anything.
The husband does all the cooking, including a delicious dinner today.
I couldn't even tell you where the pans are kept in my kitchen, let alone the other stuff. That's his domain.