to NOT be stressed about cooking Christmas dinner. It's only a roast FGS

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Why the stress?

Loads of threads on here. And SIL harping on at the weekend about how stressful it is, she always ends up tears on the morning, there is so much pressure.

I actually said to her 'it's only a jumped up roast dinner, what's so stressful about that' and she looked just looked at me and started talking about sprout preperation.

Just get on with it.

I am getting stressed with the number of threads about Christmas - it is weeks and weeks away - and when all is said and done it only lasts a day or two at the most !

The only bit that usually stresses me is the moment when I realise I don't have enough room in the main oven for all the dishes I want to put in, so I'll have to use the top oven. Which means I'll have to take the grill tray out, but it's very hot because the main oven is on, and there's nowhere to put it because all the surfaces are covered in stuff. And because the kitchen is upstairs I can't do what my mum always did and shove it out on the back step and then forget about it for the next few days, so I stand there looking round and finally put it in the sink. But then I have to drain the sprouts so I have to take it back out of the sink and hope its cooled down enough not to melt the lino when I dump it on the floor.

What I need is to write a post-it note on Christmas Eve and stick it to the oven controls saying "take the bloody thing out now and shove it in the garage!"

Nah. Christmas lasts from the first school Carol Service/ Nativity play to New Year's Eve.

The only thing stressful at our Christmas dinners is the thought of any family members beating me to the large yorkshire pudding!

What you should be doing is delegating, a la Marney

LOL @ AMIS

Urgh no YUK to bread sauce. I have horseradish instead

Also bollocks to cooking yorkshire puddings as well

I think all those people who put turkey in the oven for 80 hours or so are overcooking it - it doesn't need that bloody long.

I always cook for 8 million people so there is a dish of roast potatoes which you can snaffle every time you go in teh fridge.

Am cooking for 11 this year (including one VEGAN!!)

Last year I had 12 (including a coeliac vegetarian and two with extreme flatulence)

I didn't serve sprouts.

[top trumps]

@ AMumInScotland.

Am feeling stressed at the thought of yorkshire pudding on Christmas day with Turkey, it is only to be accompanied by Beef, Sausages, Onion gravy or golden syrup and cream.

I don't find Christmas dinner stressful though, I enjoy it, unless my Mum decides to take over help.

I don't make my own cranberry sauce either, who can be arsed with that? It is jyst another pan to wash.

Mind you, you could say that about the entire chistmas dinner, and just go down the Aunt Bessies route

I remember the first Christmas lunch I had at FIL'S, he and DH used to cook it between them when DH went home, but this particular year it was clearly becoming too much for FIL (80) so DH and I took over. Quite a challenge in a kitchen with very limited pans and utensils, but we muddled through. We decided to have FIL to stay with us for Christmas after that.

Then, I actually enjoyed going to London on the train, tube to the other mainline station, meet FIL off his train, taxi back across London, train to our town, and drive home. Just so that I could cook in my own kitchen! When FIL couldn't manage the train anymore, we used to drive to collect him, 3hrs there, 1hr for lunch, 3hrs back. And the same 10 days later. Christmas lunch an absolute breeze in comparison.

YANBU, we have a roast dinner every week, sometimes twice if we have friends round.

IMO, it's the easiest meal in the world.

Meat in,drink wine, peel veg, meat out. Spuds/yorkies and veg in. Drink more wine. make gravy. Stumble to table in drunken stupor. Voila

Since we moved to Switzerland a few years ago, we've adopted the entirely civilised Continental habit of eating Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve. The timings somehow seem easier if you're cooking for a normal eating time rather than 3pm, no-one expects a gala performance especially if at work that day, and you can put the kids to bed and stay at the table nibbling and getting drunk.

Best of all, Christmas Day then becomes a Boxing Day, with cold meats, mash and salad. I don't have to cook, and can spend time lolling about eating mince pies and watching the kids open their pressies rather than saying 'Hang on, hang on, wait 'til I'm back, I need to get the spuds on'. They can also keep playing all day without the tiresomeness of coming to the table to eat in the middle.

Christmas Eve Dinner is also super magical, because it's dark and you can have candles - a great child-pleaser.

YANBU I don't get the fuss. This is will be first year I've made dinner for everyone and I'm really looking forwards to it. My mum is trying to talk me out of it, says it's "alot to take on" it's a fucking sunday dinner with a few extras FGS!

Admittedly I've only ever helped DP make a roast dinner in the past but he'll be on hand to help with any fuck ups.

And if I make a total botch of well its ok they'll be loads of other treats.

If it's only a roast you're not doing it right

Its a doddle - really don't know what the fuss is about! Bung the bird on the oven and leave for several hours!
OK if you have a LOT of people it can be tricky getting everyone served together and keeping things hot but otherwise I really do not understand the fuss! I prep the veg the night before (not that does NOT mean the sprouts go on the night before!!).
Then in the morning I get up bung the turkey in the oven and open the Bucks Fizz!!

People stress because they want perfection- relax and ENJOY the food and the day!!

Christmas dinner is so not 'just a roast' not in my house anyway!
Gosh if you can't make your dinner special on Christmas day when can you!?

We have..

Turkey (always huge, Organic, Bird)
Pigs in Blankets with Rosemary Swords
Mashed buttered Swede
Sprouts with Bacon, Chestnuts and Onions
Cabbage with Anchovy/chilli and Garlic Butter
Roast Potatoes (sweet and normal)
Chestnut Stuffing
Citrus Stuffing
Winterberry Mash
Cranberry Sauce
Bread Sauce
Steamed Carrots and Broccoli
Gravy

Seriously not a 'normal Roast'

Its a feast, a celebration and its not stressful but does take planning.

It is an elaborate roast. I do admit to finding it stressful.

If it is just immediate family it is ok, but when there are lots of guests and you are cooking for 12 people it is quite an art of timing.

Problem solved in MN fashion, hit the G&T.

Its not really a stress (not when I do it anyway) though the timing of veg can go wrong depending on how many you are cooking for.

Also, unless you are really cutting corners, if nothing else there tends to be a lot of dishes.

Sometimes oven space problems depending on your oven.

Some people struggle to afford it.

Sometimes a vegetarian turns up to ruin my fun express their diversity.

Generally I enjoy it though and have consumed AT LEAST a bottle of Bolly before the sprouts even go on.

Forgot the Maple Syrup Parsnips. DP's favourite!

DH has suggested we go out for Christmas dinner this year - including my parents & DS. I have cooked every other year (20+!!) so he says it will be a change for me. It will be, of course, but I can't help but think it just won't be the same!

Am thinking of buying just a teensy turkey to roast Christmas Eve so we can have the turkey sandwiches, cold meat & pickles etc ... sad or what?

Titsalina - what is Winterberry Mash???

like others i do all the veggie prep the night before, second the honey roast carrots and parsnips. For sprouts, shred the blighters finely the day before then on the day stirfry them in a wok with cream, mustard and seasoning. Yummy!
i was nervous before doing my first Christmas dinner until an older friend said "it's just like sex. A bit fiddly the first time but gets better with practice"

yanbu.

it is a doddle.

i once prepared a game terrine, three bird roast and chocolate roulade for DHs birthday with a raging 103f temperature!

stuffing a bird in the oven, peeling some spuds and pouring boiling water over stuffing mix pales in comparison to de-boning three birds.

YANBU - people do like to make a palaver, don't they? Roast dinner is the easiest meal to make in the world - you can even wash up your prep dishes in advance, while the meat's cooking - and then you just add a few extras, nice wine (consume some while cooking) and you're done!

This year will be my first Xmas with a dishwasher - even better! I'm am a bit miffed that being PG means very little booze and no smelly cheese though.....