to provide this food...

[Whathashappenedtomyboobs]

So, this Christmas I have 11 family members (including DH, DS and I) coming to my home for Christmas dinner.

I really don't want to spend ALL of my time in the kitchen sweating over a hot stove, so today I went out and brought frozen Roast potatoes, parsnips, mixed veg, yorkshire pudding and peas. Nothing fresh in this house apart from the turkey I'm picking up Christmas eve and the puddings my mum will be making.

Is there much difference between the time it takes to boil a few french beans and the time it takes to boil frozen veg? The difference in taste is enormous.

I would be bitterly disappointed to have frozen veg (apart from peas) on my Christmas dinner.

It's one of the very few times I cook up a storm.

Going against the grain here I would. Don't see why not everyone is still getting a nice meal and company.

a couple of years ago we ordered all our food from M&S,it was all ready prepared,you could get roasties and veg etc,it was lovely and tasted as good as if id peeled and cooked them myself that morning,it wasnt majorly expensive either when you think of the convenience.

I think it's fine to have frozen Yorkshires and peas as they are reasonable shortcuts given the numbers, but the rest is just laziness really. Roast veg, once prepped, is really easy. Get some help the night before FGS!

still getting a nice meal

You see to me that is pretty debatable. I wouldn't class a plate of frozen veg as a nice meal, i wouldn't say anything and would eat it of course but I would be disappointed.

Frozen veg, other than peas, are vile and taste completely different to the fresh version. I wouldn't do it, and i'm cooking for 15! Frozen veg don't make for a nice meal I'm afraid, I wouldn't serve it to guests at all, i don't have it in the house! Honestly, veg is one of the easiest bits of the meal.

There will be 7 of us on Christmas day and 11 on Christmas Eve.Nothing will be frozen.Potatoes and all veg prepared day before ready to cook.Pudding and cake already made last weekend.
I will buy mince pies though M&S are yummy :)

Entirely possible to buy fresh and prep and freeze.

fwiw Yorkshire pudding is surely for beef not turkey!!

Oh we have Yorkshire with any roast r meat here, so I'm guessing IBU x

That sounds grim tbh. Frozen Yorkshire puddings are fine, anything else is hospital food.

Do as much as you can the night before or get people to give you a hand. Honestly, as a guest I'd much rather spend 10 minutes peeling potatoes than have to eat frozen ones.

Good idea. Don't forget the ready made gravy. M & S do quite a nice one. The only thing I might do fresh are the brussel sprouts. Even I can't usually ruin them.

Eurgh.

Not the OP, some of the smuggers on this thread. I smile to myself at the "How awful, nothing will be eaten 'frozen' in this house - except for peas, mince pies, yorkshire puddings... and any other thing preferred ready made crew" though.

I bet you're sorry you asked the question now. Take heart, I still remember the roast potato thread of last year...

I think at a push I would do M&S ready prepared stuff from the chiller cabinet rather than frozen.

Maybe just simplify what you are cooking instead? DH has a tendency to go way over the top wirh cooking roast dinners and then have a big meltdown so last year I limited him to just roasties and one tray of roast carrots/parsnips and a cauliflower cheese (made in advance and microwaved on the day). We bought ready made gravy and pigs in blankets. And a turkey obviously!

My lovely sis makes an ace festive roast from frozen. She also uses disposable trays and I very much admire how tidy her kitchen is afterwards. It means she can serve at least 20 at once and it is always piping hot. DM and Dsis bring joints of meat and pigs in blankets; myself and Dsil bring dessert and cheese. People will be glad to help.

If you have enough space in your oven a tray of yorkshire pudding will take no time at all. I prefer homemade but also use frozen yorkshire that comes in batter form - sometimes that is all that will fit in the oven. OH likes the frozen ones best because they are 'crispy and less eggy'.

If I have unexpected extras for dinner I use frozen roasties and add a seasoning (salt, garlic/onion powder). I have them ready on stand by in the freezer in a roasting bag.

I always use frozen parsnips and mushy peas; fresh: sprouts, carrots, green veg and roasties.

Frozen Yorkshire yes
Frozen veg - no apart from peas
Frozen roasties - minging

I would do some easy fresh veg and buy chilled or pre chopped to cut corners instead...

Roast potatoes I don't bother pre cooking so that's quicker.

Think I may do frozen breaded mushrooms for starters now

I like them.

If you invited me for Christmas lunch and gave me that I'd assume you hated my guts and resented my being there.

Orde rig from m and s 60-80 for Xmas day dinner bundle sorted.

My mother makes 18 types of vegetables.

It's frightening.

FellatioNelson really? If I hated your guts I wouldn't invite you into my home.

Sometimes with family at christmas you don't always feel you have the choice. At least that's the impression I get from MN.

Do you all really have Yorkshire Pud for Christmas lunch? That is not traditional you know.