To ask what you’d leave out of Christmas dinner if you didn’t have to consider others?

[Cherrysoup]

For me, it would be most of the veg.

I was grateful to be invited to a family member’s Christmas dinner last year, but with 4 different stuffings and endless veg, I was a bit bewildered! Fabulous, but so much work for the hosts. The company was fantastic, I wouldn’t have cared if we’d had toast!

I think I’d stick to chicken, not turkey, one stuffing and roasties. Possibly green beans, because they’re delicious with gravy. 🍴

Actually the turkey. Would much prefer chicken

Sprouts. They are utterly minging. I eat one a year just in case my palate has changed but I absolutely hate them.

The whole bloody thing. Xmas dinner is only bearable because it provides loads of tasty left-overs for a cold meat and pickles blow-out (with Bubble & Squeak) on Boxing Day.

Everything except the chestnuts

Roast meals are ok but not really my favourite.

I do love chestnuts though

A veggie main, mushroom wellington. Roasties and parsnips done in vegetable oil. Steamed vegetables (carrots, broccoli) and boiled peas. Cauliflower cheese using vegetarian friendly hard cheese. Original bisto gravy for me as it's vegetarian. Oh, wait. My lovely Sister does this for me already :) But yes she does do Turkey crown, pigs in blankets and meat stuffing for meat eaters too ;)

I love the veg. A meal is crap without it. Also wish turkey was more available year round.

Sprouts are lovely veg if you cook them right.

I don’t think I’d leave anything out as my Christmas dinners are always gobbled you as I make gammon with crackling.

This year, I’m doing a smaller gammon and a turkey crown with a better stuffing.

‘Bring it on!’ Is all I’ll say 🎄 😋

Turkey, definitely. It is really over rated in my opinion. I much prefer chicken but DH insists on turkey. And Christmas pudding is gross, but I just buy DH a one person one to do in the microwave anyway as the rest of the family agree with me.

Christmas pud gives me the shits.

Sprouts

I'd leave out everything apart from goosefat roasted parsnips and potatoes, sprouts, and pigs in blankets... and a really decent gravy.

Why do people do so few pigs in blankets????

I would have only:

Pigs in blankets
sausages
Paxo sage and onion stuffing (which I am not allowed by the family)
Roast parsnips
Roast potatoes
Cauliflower cheese
Bread sauce (lots)

Trifle

Sprouts. I hate them.

Brussel spouts - I cant stand them even when I was younger and I don’t plan on cooking them in my house

I might ditch the sprouts and carrots in favour of just green beans; I love those. And christmas pudding doesn't happen in our house because DH and the kids don't like it and all our visitors go on a lot about how full they are, so dessert is something lighter late in the day. I do sometimes get myself an individual pudding for another day but it's not the same when I'm having it on my own. I miss the post-christmas evenings when my dad would get up from his armchair and ask if anyone wanted some pudding, and he'd go and fry us each a slice in brandy butter and serve it with more brandy butter and cream, and we'd all enjoy it together and then slip into a contented stupor in front of the tv. Those were the days!

Another for gravy.

Love the parsnips though

I actually like turkey - and the endless turkey sandwiches and curry and with chips after Christmas. That said, you have to ignore the cooking instructions and be brave not to overcook it so it's all dry and stringy. Even with chicken I always knock off 5 minutes off the cooking time recommended by the supermarkets.

I don't like Brussels sprouts but everyone else does. Same with parsnips, yuck (though they are ok in soup). I don't really like cooked vegetables (when I am cooking a roast dinner I eat carrots and the broccoli stalks raw) and would be happy with turkey, roast potatoes and a yorkshire pudding and gravy (you need gravy to keep everything hot).

And I don't like Christmas crackers. Full of plastic tat and unfunny jokes but we have to read them because "it's tradition". For goodness sake (goes to live with Scrooge).

I’d definitely forget the veg of it was up to me.

I want roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and turkey imo veg is a waste of tummy space. I have to eat veg you know be healthy the rest of the year but surely a woman could be veg less Christmas Day

I really wish I liked Brussels sprouts but they don't even work raw for me.

I don't really like cooked vegetables (when I am cooking a roast dinner I eat carrots and the broccoli stalks raw)

I should say this is while I am preparing the dinner, not raw on the plate with all the cooked stuff!

The starter, doesn't matter what it is I don't need another course
Christmas pudding
Christmas cake
All chocolates
Carrots as they are the world's most over rated vegetable.

Definitely the desserts, not keen on Christmas cake, Christmas pudding or cream

The fucking lot! I’d buy a big ready made trifle and just have that, all to myself!

I would get rid of smoked salmon starters, little sausages wrapped in bacon in the main course, and Christmas pudding. But I love turkey, bread sauce, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts and would ideally just have a big plate of those things. Not really bothered about roast potatoes.

Sprouts - my mother needs them
Bread sauce - my brother brings it as his single contribution & everyone but him hates it

I would have add some alcohol - none because my brother is an alcoholic