Is my Christmas dinner unreasonable?

[shivermytimbers]

I have just done a big chunk of the Xmas food shop today. I'll be cooking for 10 including PILs who haven't had Xmas lunch with us before. I luuurve Christmas dinner and all the leftovers so tend to make a bit of a feast. DH has happily tucked into said feast for many years. I'm doing...
Smoked salmon starter
Turkey
Pigs in blankets
Stuffing
Roasties
Parsnips
Sprouts with bacon
Red cabbage
Gravy
Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream

Apparently, according to DH, PILs will not be happy because 1) pigs in blankets are a bit common 2) sprouts shouldn't have bacon anywhere near them 3) starters are unnecessary 4) it really is too much food to be able to enjoy it.

My response was that I've bought the food, I will cook the food and if they don't eat it I will happily consume the leftovers. Therefore - tough bloody luck if they don't like it!!!

I know I'm right... aren't I???

How has this come about then?

Has he told them what you have, hoping to impress them or something?

Is it too late to rescind the invitation??

If they were they only guests I might have considered altering the menu if there was something that they didn't like, but they have just been rude.

If you plate up for everyone I would be tempted to just not give them what they have been sniffy about.

We all do Christmas dinner differently, don't we & I remember my husband saying about stuff his mum did-wasn't bothered enough to do it himself though!

Here is my menu so far...

a coquelet each
roast new potatoes or dirty rice New Orleans style
Whatever vegetables are available at the Turkish shop on Christmas morning...
Cake
Vodka

Mistress - that really made me laugh. I've always felt that pigs in blankets was the food of kings!

anyway sorry I digress...
I cannot believe your DH is criticising such a fine seasonal spread...
do his parents make him feel nervous? If so , it's a shame.

Oh please do Celeriac. :o

And potato waffles or something equally 'common'.

DH has happily tucked into said feast for many years

Ask him why he thinks differently this year?

Don't fill in the silence, just let it hang there until he answers you.

I only have one question...

Why the fuck were they invited this year when you've managed to avoid it so far?

Your menu sounds lovely (even though I'd only have the vegetarian bits) & perfectly normal for Christmas (sorry, I do mean that in a nice way!). Certainly not 'excessive' or anything.

We don't have starters because we don't enjoy the Christmas Dinner anywhere near as much if we do, but if we were going to someone else's I wouldn't think about it either way.

I don't know if Pigs in Blankets are 'common' or not, shit like that doesn't register - if I like it I have it.

Get in plenty of alcohol, I have a feeling you're going to need it 🥂🍷🍾🥃🍸

Pigs in blankets are that common ive put some in my tesco delivery for friday as theres never enough of them on xmas day and these ones i can eat inhale them at my leisure

YANBU. Your DH needs to realise that you are cooking, not his parents, so the menu will not be the same.

I personally would not put bacon with sprouts, I don't do salmon (or any fish for that matter) and dislike Christmas pudding. I would cook a slightly different menu to you but if someone was cooking for me I would be grateful and eat what I was given.

I remember years ago having Christmas dinner at my ex boyfriends parents house, they had things I'd never even considered would be part of Christmas dinner (bread sauce, apple slices and chestnuts with the sprouts etc) because our family had our own food traditions. I was still polite and ate what I was given (and rather enjoyed it).

I'm sure his parents will eat what they are given and if they don't like it then they can take a turn cooking next year. Or maybe your DH can take a turn and pick the menu next time. Rules are person who does the cooking and shopping picks the menu, obviously making allowances for allergies/ vegetarians etc where nessesary, and perhaps will consider polite requests for specific items. (Eg: I'm not a fan of cranberry sauce but I know DH loves it so I make sure we have some as it's important to him).

I would do a bit like TaliZorah suggested but say: Would you like Pigs in Blankets? Some people think they're really common but DH absolutely adores them and eats loads every year

My mum caters Christmas dinner and it's roughly
Starter : choice of prawn cocktail
smoked salmon
something crab

mains : turkey
Gammon ( DS requested this this year)
Roast pots
Boiled pots ( DD doesn't eat roast )
Stuffing
Pigs in blankets
Assorted veg prob broccoli , cauliflower , carrots , parsnips ,
mashed swede, Brussels

Pudding :Christmas pudding
Trifle
Cheesecake

I'm with your DH with the exception of 1. Pigs in blankets aren't common, but I don't see the point of them (probably because I don't like them!). I'd not enjoy your xmas dinner, but then you'd not enjoy mine. Personal taste and all that, and if you are doing the cooking you can cook what you like maybe do some plain sprouts..... some people like to taste the veg

I would just think good - more pigs in blankets for me. If you didn't have them and I was there, I would be disappointed.
We have pretty much the same, except no starter. Only because I find everyone is very full anyway with what we have.

Oh god yes, celeriac AND potato waffles as well 😂

Sounds like a 100% normal Christmas dinner! I was expecting 4 different meats and 12 kinds of vegetables.

Be glad you're not going to theirs, sounds like it would be rubbish.

Doesn't look excessive to me.
Pigs in blankets common? Never! My lovely butchers sausages and nice bacon common, I won't here of it!

We have

Breakfast champagne, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with toast

3pm
Turkey crown.
Goose,
roast potatoes in goose fat,
honey parsnips,
carrots,
Brussels with bacon,
pigs in blankets,
stuffing
Yorkshires, I know not traditional but my dad loves them
Gravy

Dessert is pavlova Or Christmas pudding.

Lasts evening we have a cheese board and port.

Also sprout and bacon is delicious, I have them with home made pesto and linguine. (Not for Christmas dinner)

I love reading the Christmas menus on here! We are having

Salmon & prawn starters with bubbly
Turkey
Pigs in blankets
Roast potatoes
Parsnips
Cauliflower cheese
Carrot mash
Broccoli
Bread sauce
Stuffing
Gravy
Christmas cake
Chocolate log

There would be a riot in this house if there wasn't pigs in blankets. And we are vair posh

Bacon doesn't belong in sprouts, as I'm a vegetarian and it means I can't eat them (not that you were inviting me round anyway 😉). In fact, my Christmas dinner could happily consist of sprouts, bread sauce and roast parsnips.

That aside, I'm not quite sure what your MIL means by too much food to enjoy. Are you going to hold them down and force it down their throats? Surely they can choose how much goes on their plate 🙄.

Are turkey dinosaurs still available? They could have that with their waffles and special brew!
The PILs have actually always been quite pleasant to me, although a bit stand offish and clearly a bit snobby. I think DH is panicing as it's his first time hosting (his DB and SIL normally do it) but I really can't be arsed to get competitive. I shall stuff my face quite happily with

pfftt, pigs in blankets common !! Sacrilege !

If they don't like the amount of food and the common 'pigs in blankets' then tough. (I bet they eat everything )

Why has pigs in blankets been acceptable to your DH in previous years ?

Your dh is being hugely U because he is making assumptions on his parents behalf. They may well scoff everything offered and enjoy it. Ignore him and plot away!

I am having pigs in blankets today with chicken they were shouting BUY ME be rude not too.

I probably wouldn't do pigs in blankets & bacon in the sprouts, but if that is what had been cooked I'd gladly eat it!

Anyone else do swede & carrot mash?

Roasted butternut squash?

OP, your menu sounds delicious.