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AIBU?

To think Christmas dinner is actually a posh Sunday roast?

180 replies

wineoclockthanks · 14/12/2019 17:07

I was chatting to a friend who was stressing hugely about her Christmas dinner (for 6 people). She was saying she would have to be up at 5am at the latest to start preparing and would need to be in the kitchen for at least 5 hours etc

I know everyone does things differently but I'm not quite sure what the heck she'll be doing in there.

How much time will you (or your other half) be spending in the kitchen?

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Kit30 · 20/12/2019 00:26

Yes it's just a roast. No idea why people get so vexed about it, but they do. No idea why people get up at the crack of dawn to cook a turkey when they've got an oven with an automatic timer. Easiest way to cook beef is to do it for 24 hours- comes out perfectly.

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AwakeAmbs · 19/12/2019 23:49

Poor turkeys.

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GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 19/12/2019 23:39

I have just seen your post @bridgetreilly and I'm really sorry.

I didn't mean to be such an arse. Flowers

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Newmumatlast · 16/12/2019 20:54

I think it depends a. How used to cooking you are and b. How much you enjoy it as to whether or not it feels like a lot. I personally really enjoy cooking a roast and hosting so really enjoy cooking at Christmas too. I usually do at least 4 or 5 types of vegetables (carrots, peas, sweetcorn, broccoli or cauliflower and potatoes) for a sunday lunch so a few more for Christmas isnt much for me to manage. I usually do basic starters but a choice of a few like prawn cocktail, homemade soup, camembert and pate. For dessert I usually buy pre made if I dont have time. It isnt terribly fancy but I enjoy it. It doesnt take me as long as some people have said... we arent talking 5am start for example. If i can pre cook or prep things I will.

That said I think that the most important thing about christmas is being together and enjoying yourself so theres no point being in the kitchen all day and not joining in and no point stressing over cooking. It is better to go simple and effective - something you can manage and everyone will love it regardless as you're together

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Cremebrule · 16/12/2019 08:09

It is basically just a roast. We had a chicken this weekend with some pigs in blankets and our Christmas dinner won’t be much different really. But.. often people are catering for far bigger numbers and that’s where it gets tricky with oven space and coordination.

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PineappleDanish · 16/12/2019 07:50

Is your friend my MIL? She's a terrible cook and will be in teh kitchen all day to produce a christmas meal about 5pm. I'm not quite sure what she will be doing but she is the queen of faff. And it takes a LONG time to cook broccoli to that stage where it's not quite soup and a lovely shade of grey. Plus you have to cook the gravy (beef of course, to accompany the cold turkey) enough so you can carve a slice for people. Disgusting.

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Willow2017 · 16/12/2019 07:45

Ffs! FOOD NETWORK!!

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Willow2017 · 16/12/2019 07:44

Good network are currently running repeats of stress free Xmas with amie and Gordon with loads of tips for getting ready days in advance so you aren't in the kitchen for hours. And lots of ways to cook turkey or other meats perfectly without hassle. Starters and puds too and leftovers after Xmas day. It's my guilty pleasure even though I don't do turkey or half the other stuff.😁

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AllergicToAMop · 16/12/2019 00:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bridgetreilly · 15/12/2019 23:48

Sorry, but does this person hold a Christmas night farting competition instead of playing charades?

That's my dead grandmother, so no.

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gingerbiscuits · 15/12/2019 23:09

That's ridiculous! Some people thrive on making their lives difficult & moaning about it! Christmas lunch is hardly any different to a Sunday roast!! I'm sure as hell not going to be in the kitchen for hours or up at 5am to do ours!!

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GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 15/12/2019 22:57

Roast potatoes
Roast parsnips
Roast onion
Mashed potatoes
Carrots
Swede
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Courgettes
Peas
Green beans
Sprouts
Cabbage

Sorry, but does this person hold a Christmas night farting competition instead of playing charades?

That's far too much.

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BingoLittlesUncle · 15/12/2019 22:34

Yep. And to be honest I'd rather have a triple helping of shepherd's pie. That would be something special.

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joystir59 · 15/12/2019 22:32

62 here, wouldn't know where to start to cook a Christmas dinner.

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Parker231 · 15/12/2019 22:20

We rarely have a roast on a Sunday as we go out for brunch to our local deli. Roast, or similar is when friends or family visit. I’m not really interested in cooking but DH is good and we’ll have a lovely turkey and trimmings although no where as extensive as some of the posts I’ve read. Lunch will be turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, sprouts, parsnips and carrots.

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Redcherries · 15/12/2019 21:57

We do the whole lot every Sunday. I don’t understand the stress.

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sue51 · 15/12/2019 21:28

Its a Sunday roast with a few extra bits. For us roast spuds, loads of veg, roast salmon and beef followed by christmas christmas pud and mince pies. Usually 8-10 people. Everybody helps with clearing up.

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Snooper22 · 15/12/2019 21:02

Xmas dinner is easy..same as a Sunday roast!!

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PoodleJ · 15/12/2019 20:59

It’s Christmas dinner because it’ll have sprouts and pigs in blankets. I’ve even given up on turkey and just do chicken.
You can either view me as lazy or efficient.

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Notso · 15/12/2019 20:52

It's a roast dinner so you're not wrong.
However despite being what I'd call a competent cook I find cooking Christmas dinner a bit of a labour of love.
It's not so much the food but that on top of being knackered from Christmas Eve,
knackered from being up at the crack of dawn with the kids, being hungover and a bit pissed at the same time, being pestered by the kids, visited by various family members, etc.
For me it's not the wafting into the kitchen bunging this and popping that in and out of the oven that it seems to be for many on MN.

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ivykaty44 · 15/12/2019 20:42

I use a warming dish/hot dishes and pop in the four containers the vegetables- cook these al dente and pop in 46 minutes before we’re going to eat, so it’s meat and gravy and plates in oven with potatoes and parsnips

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The80sweregreat · 15/12/2019 20:37

It's way more than a normal roast.
I get hot and fed up : mostly worrying about if the turkey is properly cooked and the last minute dish up bit! Keeping things hot is also hard.
I'm not a natural cook though.
It is a posh roast , but it can be a headache.
Christmas is just stress really!

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ivykaty44 · 15/12/2019 20:28

Jamie Oliver isn’t my favourite chef but he’s on channel 4 now and showing how so many dishes can be made ahead ready for Xmas day

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Willow2017 · 15/12/2019 20:26

That sounds grim
😂😂😂 most cafes do that with every meal they put out!
How do you think you get your Sunday roast dinner or your chicken curry so quickly?

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MulticolourTinselOnTheTree · 15/12/2019 19:18

I meant to add my mum found cooking the dinner stressful, because she hated cooking. I took over as soon as I was able, often cooking at their house. Dad and I have it all under control.

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