To think you can make a Christmas dinner without a cooker

[Oysterbabe]

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

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

I agree with everyone who said platters of cold, delicious, treaty stuff from M&S or Waitrose. Definitely don't plan to cook as you have no idea how you'll feel and at least this way any one of you can set it out.

Take a look at the bbc good food facebook page. They have just put up an article for Christmas recipes for Slow cooker

I think your DH and PIL are incredibly selfish to expect you to host and cook christmas dinner, given the circumstances.
If I'd been invited, I'd have told you not to be so silly, you need to be resting up, and I'd stay at home or go elsewhere. No way would I have accepted such an invitation.

I really think you should cancel.

Another one who can't quite believe people are happy for you to host.

If it was my fictitious daughter in law I'd insist they came to me or I'd pay for us to go out. But then she might be on here complaining I was taking over

Thanks for the offers of halogen ovens from a couple of you, that's very kind. We'll probably look to just buy one of we decide it would be worthwhile.

Lots of suggestions to go out and I agree that seems sensible but I'm reluctant. If we can find somewhere good at this stage I'll still have no idea if we'll be able to make it on the day and my 2 year old would constantly want to walk around and would probably annoy everyone. Also she loves MIL so if we have it here then she'll happily play with her and let me take to my bed with the baby if it's here and I decide to sack them all off and rest!

It does seem like a mad idea I know. Maybe I'll make it clear any arrangements are provisional and subject to change depending on baby's plans.

I am totally with you, going out would not be relaxing for me. At home you could always nap if you need to. Baby and toddler can be catered to as and when, whatever they need, and no one needs to stress over anything. It actually sounds lovely to me, a bit like one of those intrepid Christmases that people look back on fondly for years after. As long as you are not doing all the work on the day!

I’d order a Toby carvery take away each to be picked up the day before and microwaved on the day. Or pick up an Indian or Chinese takeaway on Christmas Eve and microwave.

If you really feel you must cook, I’d get the creamy microwave mash. Roasties in the dryer with pigs in blankets. Microwave the stuffing then ball up and fry in the fryer to warm through. Precook the joint in the slow cooker the night before then serve cold. Veg can all just go in the slow cooker then. Gravy using water from the kettle. The issue with this is if you go into labour the night before or Christmas Day.

Or something different but yummy. Chicken chasseur or a nice casserole. Veg cooked in with the casserole. Microwave mash. Uncut bread. You can choose everything the night before and make the stock. Then if labour hits, dump the stuff in and stick on low or leave instructions with mil.

PILs will understand that it will be a different kind of Christmas this year. Nobody is going to be happy if you overdo things. Simple, easy and prepped is the way to go. It can still be tasty x

We always BBQ our turkey in a kettle bbq. A foil tray of M&S or Waitrose potatoes will cook on the BBQ fine while the turkey is resting. Ditto chipolata sausages. Veg can be microwaved and gammon can cook in the slow cooker. If no BBQ you can cook a gammon joint overnight in the slow cooker to be sliced and served cold, and them when you get up stick a whole chicken in on low and it will be lovely by 1pm. Sausages on the George Foreman. You would have to live without roast potatoes and have microwave mash instead,

You’re setting yourself up for a shit Xmas day. You’ll be back here on Boxing Day complaining what a hard time you’re having, how PiL / DH don’t appreciate what you’re doing enough etc. when the truth is you’re the one wanting to cook Xmas dinner having just given birth and without a fully functioning kitchen. Whatever floats your boat but you don’t get any of my sympathies here.

What I would say is make sure whatever you decide on is something your Dh or possibly MiL could easily take over if you feel unwell or need a rest. Also if you did go into labour who is looking after your 2 year old? Maybe you will still need to have something available to feed them, or if not it would be good if the food you have could be saved until you can eat it and prevent any wastage. If it was something easy to cook it would come in handy after you get home with a new baby.

Duck and stuffing in slow cooker. Par boil potatoes and sprouts
then shallow fry with garlic and bacon. Microwave ready made frozen Yorkshires.

An electric hot plate is about £30 with two hobs. I've done a couple Christmas dinners with one and a microwave with oven function, but that was my choice.

Though I completely understand the desire to stay home when very pregnant and have family come to me. I would get various microwaveable dishes of veg etc (M&S, COOK-food.net), and do a luxurious stew like coq au vin in the slow cooker (could even do that in advance and be ready to microwave). So you can have a hot course - maybe some soup and bread as well, and then all the buffet type food people like.

So no cooking necessary on the day unless you wanted. Also could keep for another day if it turns out baby is a bit early or anything.

Maybe I'll make it clear any arrangements are provisional and subject to change depending on baby's plans.

If they need that pointing out to them they’re even more daft than I thought.

It's sad to see how many people are talking bad about your PILs... one poster even said you'll probably be back here boxing day moaning about your DH not appreciating you. They don't even know your DH .

Some PILs are lovely. Whether your heavily pregnant or have a new baby .. some PILs are the sort who don't get too involved and will actually be a welcomed help. They can play with the 2 year old while you rest. Christmas is about being with family. If a person who is heavily pregnant/ new born baby would rather be alone then I'm sure PILs would respect that. But to all the posters speaking bad about them.. maybe the op actually wants to spend time with them?

I am happy for them to come Yukbuck. My 2 year old does really love MIL and it's nice to have a bit of a break when she's here, as otherwise it's mummy-mummy-mummy constantly. They are coming to look after her when I go into labour so there's a reasonable chance they'd have been here anyway!

Yes I thought that op. It sounds like you get along and are clearly happy. It just made me sad to see other people talking bad when they don't even know them!
Hope it all goes Well!