...to ask what your usual meal plan/content is on Christmas Day?

[StillSquirrelling]

Following on from the very divisive thread from earlier, asking whether one has a starter before Christmas dinner or not, I am now feeling a bit nosy curious as to what people actually eat on the big day. Here's what ours usually looks like:

Pre-breakfast: Kids usually have some chocolate from their stockings that we politely decline in sharing

Breakfast: Oven goes on for the turkey and we warm croissants and pain au chocolat in it whilst we are waiting for it to get to temperature. These are served with lashings of tea, freshly squeezed breakfast juice (orange and grapefruit) and butter/jam

Mid morning: Probably some more chocolate or some Twiglets savoury nibbles if we fancy some

At some point in the morning we will take all the Christmas dinner peelings to give to our sheep, along with a Christmas swede for each of them!

2pm (ish): Main event - no starter - which comprises turkey, roast spuds, sometimes new potatoes too, roast parsnips , sprouts, mashed carrot and swede, broccoli, peas, pigs in blankets, our special stuffing (cooked in its own dish not in the turkey - pack of stuffing with extra fried onions and a pack of sausage meat, all mixed together and baked) and possibly some Yorkshire puddings if we are feeling particularly hungry. All served with fizz of some sort (Shloer for the kids) and lashings of gravy etc

Pudding may or may not be served after dinner (DH is the only one who likes xmas pud)

Some point in the early evening: a buffet style supper of cold turkey and possibly a baked ham, pickles, cheese and biscuits, fruit and possibly more chocolate.

Thanks everyone for sharing.
I would like:
Bf of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, or eggs benedct.
Then late lunch of traditional fare.

Then sweets. And wine please.

Not sure what the order of things will be this year but feeling inspired.

Breakfast - porridge oats with water [stoic]. I've tried fancy breakfasts in the past but it's not for me. It's all TOO MUCH richness. I have to ease my self in now to the Christmas Day eating or my bowels play up something terrible.

Lunch - champagne, or fizz cocktails. Things on things nibbles (smoked salmon on bread (sad face at lack of thinly sliced bread), pate, maybe even a little tasteful sausage roll. That sort of thing.

Dinner. This year it will be a rib of beef and therefore Yorkshire puddings are allowed. All the rest of the stuff. I may even do cauliflower cheese this year, but maybe not, it's a step too far possibly.
Pudding, mmm, not making a Christmas pudding this year, it's only me that eats it really. Probably trifle then. The dc's have asked for apple crumble
cheese and port
Some nuts

Breakfast: muffins with bacon, cheese and eggs

Starter: prawns
Dinner: Turkey, beef, lamb, roast potatoes, potatoes dauphinoise, roast parsnips, peas, carrots, swede, cabbage, green beans, roasted onions, stuffing, cauliflower cheese, pigs in blankets, cheese in blankets, Yorkshires, cupolas, two types of gravy

Pudding; chocolate cake and ice cream

Snacks; 5 different cheese with assortment of crackers etc chocolates, buffet of cold meats with rolls and boiled potatoes.

Okay, so there's 8 of us at my parents house, and 8 at my grandma's house which is the other side of the same village, about a five minute walk away. We used to all go in the house house which was much easier when myself and my cousins were small, but now that we're all older (And the boys have some how become giants!) we have to split into two, it's also easier on my 80 year old grandma this way!

So in our house it goes like this -

Christmas morning/Breakfast - when we were kids was always, always bacon sandwiches. There would always be an argument that my dads bacon was never as crispy as mum makes it, and then Dad would become irritated because once we had our bacon to perfection, we's smother it in ketchup and promptly leave half of the sandwich, which due to the amount of ketchup 'ruined' my dad's enjoyment of our left over sandwiches . We then, one year, for some reason switched to making ham and cheese croissants, and that's kinda stuck now, but the breakfasts have gotten bigger as we have haha! it now consists of our homemade cheese and ham croissants, streaky bacon (argument has persisted over crispy v floppy) scrambled eggs and there's generally some salmon.

Between breakfast and lunch there tends to be much drinking of various 'cocktail fizz' before the wine is cracked open.

Christmas lunch -
We do have a starter, we do a prawn cocktail and some smoked salmon and cream cheese 'swirls'. Each year both my little brother and cousin will look and theirs and not eat it, each year we will continue to be surprised that they've managed to grow despite their picky eating habits.

the main event consists of turkey, ham, pork, pigs in blankets, stuffing, roast potatoes, new potatoes, roast parsnips, cranberry glazed carrots, broccoli, green beans and asparagus, bacon Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, and an on going argument of whether or not Yorkshire puddings are involved continues, with yorkshires winning around 50% of the time. Gravy, apple sauce and cranberry sauce are all made, and for some reason mint sauce also comes out (jarred).

After Christmas Dinner we do a christmas pudding at our house and then its round to grans for 'proper pudding', it used to just be her that puts the spread on but now I always make something to help, like a trifle, and we tend to have some type of yule log and meringue roulade.

We then attempt to play a game, no-one will listen to any suggestion of leaning how to play it before starting and those who are not playing will continue to shout answers out. It's funny, annoying at the time but funny now.

Tea that evening (around 8pm) will consist of turkey and stuffing sandwiches which for the past sort of 6 years or so, my cousins and I have made for everyone, and nibbles, as well as more chocolate and sweet things coming out. We all go home around 10 or 11, and the next day its everyone at my parents house for football and more food!

Sorry that was so long! I really enjoyed writing it and I enjoy reading everyone else's christmas stories!

Loving all these different ways of celebrating. We (DH 'n' me) do the whole family thing with our respective families in the run up to the actual day, so we can have christmas just by ourselves. We are both away alot, a chilled day together is the pinnacle of bliss.

All the usual rules of healthy living are jettisoned for the actual day. After, ahem, well we tend to get up late.... then we start with a bottle of vintage champagne between us plus a cup of tea for him. I don't usually drink, starting the day with a glass of bubbly sets the scene very well.

Reluctantly, i join in opening presents first thing, i would much prefer to save them for after we have eaten, but he loves the excitement sooo much. Then we get washed and dressed and go out for lunch, brilliant place which is easy walking distance from home.

Lunch is slow paced, but have been known to take hours. Its whatever we are given but is always delicious. And all the treats we usually avoid, like roast potatoes. Mmmmm, they taste good when you only have them at christmas and on birthdays.

Rest of the day a slow slide into the sunset. Some chocolate may well be consumed. Would love a walk in the snow but thats not the country we are living in now.... Some TV or DVD is sometimes played, but I'm usually asleep by then. Bliss, and possibly indigestion. Back to usual ways from boxing day onwards.

I recommend it.

We have yummy pastries in the morning for breakfast before presents.

We go over to my mums for lunch where we will not be having a starter, we've decided, but my sis and BIL will bring veg from their garden and we'll have turkey and all the trimmings. I contribute a pudding and this year I intend to make mini cheesecakes while mum will make mini meringues.

We tend to snack on leftovers and nibbles later in the evening before going home.

toast

bbq

hot nibbles

We start on Christmas eve by having a late brunch out somewhere then going to the pantomime. After that it home with a Chinese takeaway for dinner. The child goes into the bath, whilst his Christmas eve jammies get left under the tree. The rest of the evening is spent tracking Santa, reading Christmas stories and watching the Polar Express before hanging up his stocking and bed.

Christmas day starts with him opening his stocking in my bed whilst I attempt to snooze for a while longer. Then down for the tree presents and whatever people want for breakfast, normally croissants, pain authority chocolat and butteries.

I normally escape out with the dog for half an hour in between watching Gone with the Wind and nibbling on chocolate and nuts.

We go out for Christmas lunch mid afternoon, we just rock up to the restaurant, eat our fill and then roll home to wine, more chocolate, nibbles, Downton Abbey and bed.

My Christmas is mainly about the fact that I refuse to cook or wash dishes for two days.

KnittedJimmyChoos, it's the Favorina Marzipan and Praline Logs.
They look like these ones: www.lidl.co.uk/en/6904.htm?action=showDetail&id=17592&ar=2 - I found the marzipan and praline ones in the same box as the ones on the link.

Ooh, yummy pastries for brekkie sound good Zombie - I'm thinking something with custard and/or pear would be nice. I wonder where I could get such things. Perhaps in our new Waitrose even if it does seem a bit up itself
Pink champagne first thing sounds pretty good too Lovecat

Porridge made with water though Slubber Puritan Christmas?!

Me and DD 6yo wil have lunch at my mum and dads, with my brother, and mums cousin and his son. We eat breakfast of bacon sandwiches and bucks fizz at around 10am usually, then dinner is around 1.30pm and comprises

fresh roast turkey
roast potatoes
parsnips
honey roast and steamed carrots
red cabbage with apple
pigs in blankets
cocktail sausages in mustard and honey
sausage meat stuffing
bread sauce
cranberry sauce with port
leek and potato bake
brussels
peas
cauliflower cheese
gravy

washed down with red wine, cava or orange juice depending on age.

my dad insists on Christmas Pudding, but nobody else can ever manage any, so we also have a cold dessert as well.

we always cook too much because anything left over is chucked into a big pan to make a massive soupy stew for Boxing Day. This is a tradition and people ask for the recipe but there isnt one and it tastes different every year depending on the leftovers!

teatime we have cold meat and cheese and biscuits if anybody can fit anything in

This year we will have maybe 6-10 people joining us in the afternoon/evening, so there will be a lot of crips, nuts, chocolate, and wine going around

DC have a gift each to open before official get up time - always a book of some some kind.

Breakfast (6.30 normally, this year...who knows?) - normally bacon and sausage sandwiches or danish pastries, this year both will be offer as usual but along side cereal, toast, fresh fruit and eggs.

Church

Presents are opened with a generous serving of bucks fizz (fresh orange for the dc) and antipasto (I prep this the evening before).

Christmas Dinner (2pm ish) - Consommé, fish course, Turkey and beef with as many veg as possible from the garden with rosties, mash, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yorkshire puds, pigs in blankets and gravy, dessert has the option of Christmas pudding, home made ice cream or back forest gateau. Coffee and liqueurs finish the meal for the adults. Wine is served throughout the meal if desired.

Evening - help your self style buffet of leftover meat, various breads, salad mini pies etc

Christmas cake and mince pies in the evening as well.

This year I'm hosting Christmas for 16 (12 guests plus the 4 of us), it was supposed to be 14 but DH's parents are now joining us .

Christmas Eve supper is fish, sometimes fish curry. Fruit and/or cheese for pudding.

Christmas Day: Stockings
Breakfast- toast/mince pies/little home made sausage rolls/ anything else that people find in the kitchen. Coffee

About 12- champagne

Lunch at about 2

First course- varies but reasonably light and easy: gravadlax, potted salmon, quails' eggs and salad, parma ham and celeriac remoulade or similar

Main course: turkey, sausages, bacon rolls, parsley and lemon stuffing, roast potatoes, bread sauce, gravy, sprouts and one other vegetable (e.g. braised red cabbage or carrots with cumin and ginger)

Pudding: Christmas pudding and/or chocolate log and/or cheese and/or fruit

Presents after lunch

Supper

Those who want it can make turkey sandwiches and help themselves to mince pies, sausage rolls, stollen, fruit, cheese, crackers etc.

Boxing day

Usually more people than Christmas day

Sometimes lunch; but I prefer to do dinner

First course: Turkey and vegetable soup or salad and toasted goats cheese or similar

Main course: either something casseroley, or roast haunch of venison with dauphinoise potatoes and kale or similar

Pudding: Christmas day leftovers plus lemon souffle or similar

Following day

Go out!

^^that should have said roasties.

Juggling oh believe me, by the end of the day I have slid into a vulgar bacchanalian eating fest, but no at the start of the day it has to be porridge with water. I tried assorted French bread items last year and even that had repercussions shall we say.
My guts have a line, and indulging for three meals of the day steps over it.
I'd rather save myself for the big meal later on.

Breakfast - toast if we get round to it for DP and I, chocolate from presses for 12yo DD

Mid morning - Buck's Fizz + a few glasses of prosecco

All family turn meet here so we have more drinks with nuts etc out for those that want them

Those that aren't staying for dinner leave and those left have:

Starter - Choice of leek and potato soup or mushrooms in Stilton. Chosen in advance for ease of prep

Main course - turkey, nigella's ham, pigs in blankets, home made stuffing (choice of sage and onion or chestnut), roast parsnips, roast carrots, roast potatoes, mashed potato and gravy. Only meats plated up, everything else in serving dishes for people to take what they want

Dessert - usually have a lemon torte and chocolate torte for those that want it (although rarely do) or home made mince pies

All washed down with wine for adults and schloer for kids

Later when everyone gone, around 9ish, I'll rustle up turkey and stuffing or ham butties with leftovers. Then collapse on sofa and start on any choccies that have come our way

Oh no how could I forget, sprouts too...love em

Breakfast is bacon rolls and tatie scone rolls.

The main event will be served whenever its ready around 1-3 ish!

No starter.

Turkey, pancetta rolled up, chipolatas, carrots, roasters, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce.

In evening pudding, some sort of trifle thing

We start with the kids stuffing chocolate orange as if they've never tasted chocolate before!! Then a breakfast of croissant or pain au chocolat/raisin.

Christmas dinner at about 1.30 - always a starter, usually cold and seafood based although last year we baked a few camembert. Then turkey, stuffing, sausagemeat, roast & mash potatoes, roast parsnips, broccoli/cauli cheese, peas, carrots, leeks in sauce and red cabbage. This year we're also having slow roast belly pork.

Then Christmas pudding with white sauce and rum.

Then a bit of a break for opening presents (the kids have santa prezzies when they wake), and resume for the finale of cheese & biscuits, Christmas cake and baklava.

Love it!!

Bugger - missed the best bits - bacon rolls and sausages - separately of course - not a fan of the pigs in blankets thing.

well, petswin I am so glad someone else has christmas pudding with white sauce - I was starting to feel lonely :)

Christmas Eve:

Kids have fish fingers and chips and beans, we have a goats cheese salad with a chilli and balsamic dressing washed down with ginger wine as we furiously wrap last minute gifts.

Christmas day:

Breakfast is sausage baps, orange juice and fizz for those who like it (me).

Lunch(12:30) will be a selection of cold meats, olives and bread.

Then we walk down to the cathedral and listen to the choral music, if the weather is okay we go to the park.

Tea (5:30pm) this year will be lasagne, garlic bread and salad. The kids aren't keen on a full roast and as there are only 4 of us it seems a waste to cook it!

Pudding is normally ice cream for smalls and whatever I find just before Christmas day!

Late night snacks will be cheese and chocolate!

Love reading what other people get up to on the big day!

We've always been quite traditional over the years, we have ALWAYS walked to my grandparents at 11am on Xmas day, my nan has recently turned 97 and is in not the best of health, so we may do it in stages this year, rather than 15 of us descending at once...

Then back to either my parents, sisters or brothers house for a big family do'...this years it's at ours and I'm really shitting myself looking forward to it!

No starter, Cockerel not Turkey, and all the trimmings, followed by xmas pud for mum, we all hate it...and then to eat our own bodyweight in cheese!!

Happy days x

Breakfast - Smoked Salmon and Scrambled eggs / Eggs benedict (one or the other, not both) with bucks fizz

Lunch - Turkey, Pigs in blankets, chesnut stuffing, sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, roast spuds, mashed spuds, roast garlic, roast parsnips, yorkshire puddings, braised red cabbage, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, roast honey carrots, peas, broccoli. Lots of wine and some champagne or processco depening on how flush we are feeling

Pudding - Xmas pud and brandy butter and something cakey or profiteroles etc. Cheese and biscuits

Dinner - just grazing on leftovers and chocolates and nuts etc. Turkey sandwiches etc.

I've been toying with a starter but I don't think I can be arsed and worried everyone will be too full for the main course. I might do some bread or something for people to nibble on before lunch is served.

Ooh - I forgot the cauliflower cheese. DS loves it.