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Original poster

To think you can make a Christmas dinner without a cooker

116 replies

Oysterbabe · 10/12/2017 13:05

I've just moved into a building site. We're not going to have an oven or hob fitted before Christmas. I'm 39 weeks pregnant so on Christmas day I'll either have a newborn or will be 41+1. Closest relatives are 2 hours away and I don't want to travel that far either overdue or with a days old baby. I also don't really want to make plans to go out as I have no idea how my birth will go or how I'll be feeling. Although after I had DD 2 years ago I was fine and would have been ok to cook or go out within hours.
PIL are going to come to us. MIL is a very fussy eater and won't eat anything unusual. She is also incredibly polite so would just push it around her plate, not eat it and say it was lovely so I won't worry about her too much Wink

Available appliances are:
Kettle
Toaster
Microwave
Slow cooker
George foreman grill & Deep fat fryer (I had no idea we had these until I found them in the back of a cupboard while packing!)

What would you make?
I've been thinking that I'll go overboard on a starter of pate, cold meats, pickles, cheese etc (those are my favourite bits anyway tbh) I can slow cook a ham the day before. Then make some kind of festive stewed meat, maybe beef and red wine. I can brown the meat on the George foreman before cooking so it won't be just grey and horrid. Then maybe get some microwave packs of veggies and I think you can get frozen roasties that can be fried in a deep fat fryer. I reckon I can make pigs in blankets on the George foreman. Then some kind of microwave Christmas pudding. What do you think? Anyone have any some better ideas to make a special meal under the circumstances?
Please can you all also send positive thoughts to my cervix, I so desperately want this baby to be born before Christmas day so I can drink loads of champagne and have pate and brie Grin

OP posts:
User24681012 · 10/12/2017 14:34

My mum does gammon with a marmalade glaze in the slow cooker at Christmas, I think that's quite festive!

BarbaraofSevillle · 10/12/2017 14:36

The OP is hosting because she doesn't want to travel. However, I agree that the other three (presumably able bodied) adults that will be present should be doing the lion's share of the shopping and meal preparation.

TheABC · 10/12/2017 14:41

I appreciate you want to be at home as a 2 hour trip is a hassle so close to your due date, but this is honestly one of the times when it's someone else's turn to host. Failing that:

  1. book a restaurant
  2. get in a Cook meal
  3. Go Australian and tell DH to BBQ with a load of pre-made sides. A haunch of venison marinaded, then cooked for a few hours on the Barbie is a thing of beauty.

You could do a ham and mess about with microwave ideas, but that is dependent on you being there! As pp have said up thread, there is a real possibility you will still be in hospital or recovering from the birth. Why add more stress to that scenario?

Congratulations on your impending birth and good luck!

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 10/12/2017 14:42

Op you’re a love for offering to host in your conditions. When I was expecting my first she was due on Dec 18th. I went into labour on the 20th, had a horrific time of it and ended up having a c-section. I came home on the 23rd.

My fantastic DMil came over and cooked a roast dinner for us on Christmas Eve, came back and did the full Christmas dinner with a roast goose on Christmas Day and then cooked for about twenty at her house on Boxing Day. She knew full well I wouldn’t be up to it and having had a c-section I could hardly move. She was an absolute star and I miss her a lot. She would never have expected me to host, especially with no oven! I know you are keen to crack on but I think your in laws are cheeky and thoughtless.

ColonelJackONeil · 10/12/2017 14:47

You could do it but it sounds a bit much. Are you sure you wouldn't rather do what a pp suggested and get you Dh to bring something from a local restaurant home. I'm sure you could book something esp if he explained you are 39 weeks pg and have no cooker.
But if you are determined to cook I'd just do the nice cold starters, then the Beef in red wine in slow cooker with bought nuked mash. You don't really need to sear off the meat in slow cooker it comes out fine. I don't think roast potatoes would be quite right in the deep fryer plus the stew goes nicely with mash. Follow with a bought trifle, mince pies and chocolates.
I know it's not quite the tradition Christmas dinner but it will still be delicious and not so hard on you.

ItsNachoCheese · 10/12/2017 14:49

Can you get outside catering at all? A restaurant local to me are doing takeaway christmas dinners. Could that be any help? Would save a lot of hassle for you

OhBeggerItsMorning · 10/12/2017 15:01

If you are anywhere near me and you are interested in it you can borrow my halogen oven. It sits on your work top (like a slow cooker) and holds a lot. Will fit a big turkey or all your roast veg in, maybe both as it has an extension ring to make it bigger.

We are in Somerset if that is of any use, you are welcome to borrow it now so you can make use of it/practice using it until you have your kitchen sorted. Also, if it gets broken I won't make a fuss, these things happen.

Just let me know if you want it.

Or, as others have suggested, buy in ready cooked or get your visitors to bring ready made stuff with them.

ptumbi · 10/12/2017 15:01

The CoOp do a frozen christmas dinner in a box, I think for £6 serves two. Has turkey, gravy, potatoes, veg.

Get some of those with a xmas microwavable pud and custard.

bigbluebus · 10/12/2017 15:03

When is MIL comng over. Can't she cook a turkey/trukey crown in her oven and bring it to you cold. You can then just carve it and pour hot gravy over it.
I have a friend whose AGA broke a few days before Christmas once and they couldn't get the part needed to fix it in time She had family coming over for Christmas dinner and used the BBQ to cook some of it!

user1478863011 · 10/12/2017 15:04

You can buy a mini oven from Argos!

We did when ours broke and DH still uses "his little oven" when hes doing things for himself.

Don't know if its big enough for a roast dinner but its a good alternative!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 10/12/2017 15:05

I would make...

A reservation at nearest hotel for dinner.

Why the heck are you even thinking of doing this?!

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 10/12/2017 15:07

Does your microwave have an oven function too? If it does I would micowave potatoes and root vegetables then roast them in the oven and do the meat in the slow cooker. I would remove the meat and cover with foil before adding cornflower and wine to make the gravy.

Actually fuck that for a laugh, I’d order a Chinese.

LoniceraJaponica · 10/12/2017 15:10

Oops. I should have read the OP properly. I missed the 2 hours away. The rest of my post still stands. Everyone else should pitch in, or maybe consider not having the PILs there at all.

Osirus · 10/12/2017 15:14

We didn’t have a working oven (hob was fine) for many months (2 years I think!). So yes, it’s completely possible. We cooked our meat in the slow cooker.

Twuntingattheweekend · 10/12/2017 15:16

A big fat no...this is not your problem,you are having a baby...tell your guests and husband what appliances you have ,and let them sort out the cooking.they all should be more than happy to let you put yr feet up while they get on with it...you my dear will resting with a cup of tea and a mince pie...or you would be if I had anything to do with it...show my message to yr dh.

Runningwithscissors12 · 10/12/2017 15:17

You do nothing.

Everyone else sorts it out.

BarbaraofSevillle · 10/12/2017 15:17

Do people really think that restaurants will still be taking reservations for Christmas dinner at this late stage?

Even if they were, I wouldn't expect that the OP would want to make such a booking, given that she has no idea as to whether she will be able to attend and probably doesn't want to pay the enormous cost - even cheap chain carveries start at around £40+ per person and anywhere nice is going to be at least £60/70 each.

I don't think her plans are that bonkers, providing that she goes for a simple menu, gets help from everyone present and makes sure the plan is adaptable should the baby arrive on Christmas Eve/Day.

HolgerDanske · 10/12/2017 15:19

Slow cooker would be great for cooking a ham a day or two before, plus a turkey joint on the day. Microwaveable mash is very good these days. Sides can be fried or steamed in the microwave according to what you’ve got. Gravy can be bought premade and just heated again. M&S mandarin trifle would make a really lovely light pudding, just the right touch after a heavy meal. Cheeses, crackers and chutney along with some ales, for later in the evening.

HolgerDanske · 10/12/2017 15:20

M&S premade red cabbage is very nice, too.

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 10/12/2017 15:20

Why can’t theu prepare dinner at theirs and you can warm it up in yours? Put everything in tureens and microwave it. Not the best l dinner I know but when needs must. There’s no way my OH or his parents would have expected me to take care of Christmas dinner at that stage of the pregnancy. They are being pretty selfish OP. I’m amazed actually.

yorkshireyummymummy · 10/12/2017 15:24

Welli wouldn't be having anybody round if it was me.
However,if that's not an option I would ( tomorrow or Tuesday) make a boeuf bourginon in the slow cooker and then bung it in the freezer.
I would go to M&S and buy some salmon and mackerel pate and do that with toast for a starter.
Tubs of M&S mashed potato heated in microwave with some melting butter on top and some green beans done in microwave.
Then would get a pudding selection.........Cheesecke, profiteroles, sticky toffee pudding or similar sponge pudding that can be microwaved along with tubs of custard and pots of cream.
I would also buy a large piece of cooked ham which is great for slicing at.
I hope that everything goes smoothly with the birth and you and the baby are fine. And if it all goes to pot then McDonalds are open on Christmas Day!!

HolgerDanske · 10/12/2017 15:27

Gotta say I totally agree with everyone who says why on earth are you doing all the work. It does sound as if it might be nicer for you to stay at home (and obviously might be necessary!) but I really think you should supervise only, and your DH should take on the actual work on the day. Simple and easy, no stress, just have dinner when you have it, the turkey can sit there happily in the slow cooker until everything is ready.

TrinitySquirrel · 10/12/2017 15:27

Go buy a halogen cooker for £30 and you'll be sorted for months. We only every use ours and it makes the best roasts ever.

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 10/12/2017 15:28

Book dinner at a restaurant, hotel or pub!

HolgerDanske · 10/12/2017 15:31

I honestly wouldn’t go out. With a toddler and possibly a little one I’d be staying at home and having everyone muck in together. Going out is way too much of a production in my view and might not even be possible for everyone. But maybe that’s just me.

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