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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?

OP posts:

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TheFuckingDogs · 14/12/2019 17:43

So true. People get way too het up about it! I’m a kitchen geek though so the whole preparing of Christmas dinner is my ultimate pleasure!

BlackSwanGreen · 14/12/2019 17:42

DH has a good way of cooking a big turkey that makes it a lot quicker - you cut off the legs and do them separately.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/12/2019 17:40

I do beef joint and lamb overnight in slow cookers,leave to cool then do veg,pigs in blankers etc at the time.Xero stress and delcious

ToEarlyForDecorations · 14/12/2019 17:39

On another note, I’ve just managed to simmer a whole bottle of mulled wine away down to nothing

Good job no one was there to see it or it would have been really embarrassing.

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 14/12/2019 17:39

I'm cooking for 13 including two vegans and won't be up that early! It's not even really a posh roast just a large one. I'm doing Turkey crown, gammon (cooked in cider then roasted with honey and mustard), roast potatoes, roast parsnips, mashed carrot and swede, sprouts with chestnuts, pigs in blankets (and their vegan equivalent) two types of stuffing one with sausage meat, cauliflower cheese (my family will revolt if I don't ) , a vegan main that I am buying prepared and gravy. All made from scratch, I'll prep some veg the day before and will cook the gammon Christmas Eve evening. I'll enlist preppers Christmas Day morning then just mosey in and out of the kitchen on and off until dinner time (about three). I'll also do scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and today with bucks fizz for breakfast. Oh I will make dessert on the Monday for the non Christmas pud folk, probably a Clementine cheesecake. It's not stressful if you're organised and a regular cook. If you usually just bung some Turkey drummers and waffles in the oven then suddenly try and do a roast and half a dozen side dishes I'd imagine it's a bit more of a challenge. Last time we hosted we just had a huge goose so it was even simpler.

Phillipa12 · 14/12/2019 17:37

Just a bigger Sunday roast, its all in the prep and delegation. 1 sister was in charge of cheese board, the other posh nibbles, puds made the day before, the only tricky bit is the last 45 mins and getting it all dished up and on the table hot, and i had 19 for lunch last year, mind you im rather pleased im not cooking this year.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 14/12/2019 17:34

Maybe she has an early lunch? We always eat in the evening anyway🤷‍♀️
On another note, I’ve just managed to simmer a whole bottle of mulled wine away down to nothing😱😱😱

easyandy101 · 14/12/2019 17:30

Always takes me ages cos we're all drunk by about 9am

ToEarlyForDecorations · 14/12/2019 17:30

Just a Sunday roast chicken ……….. with extras here. Prep veg Xmas eve job done. It's not worth stressing over.

Yep.

Yetanotherwinter · 14/12/2019 17:30

It’s absolutely just a roast dinner with a few extras. I don’t think there’s anything to be stressed about unless you’re cooking for double figures. I don’t understand why anyone would need to start prepping at 5am. I think women put so much pressure on themselves for everything to be perfect.

Teachermaths · 14/12/2019 17:29

Even large turkeys don't take more than 4 hours. If you're eating at 1, it needs to be in by 9, hardly crazy early.

You are right OP.

ilovesooty · 14/12/2019 17:29

Self inflicted torture. Why do it?

ToEarlyForDecorations · 14/12/2019 17:28

Yeah, the only difference to a normal roast dinner on Christmas Day, I've realised, is the side dishes, i.e. sausages in bacon, bread sauce. Followed by sherry trifle. We have Christmas pudding on Boxing Day.

I love to watch the Christmas cooking channel. The high falutin' things people think they have to do to prepare a meal on Christmas Day blows my mind !

People can do what they want to do. Or not.

BikeRunSki · 14/12/2019 17:28

Well yes, but I do all the prep on Boxing Day

Nothing like being prepared, but does it really last that long ?

Willow2017 · 14/12/2019 17:26

Why on earth will she need to start at 5am?
No matter what she is cooking it won't take 8 hrs to cook (no matter how big a turkey if she is doing one 2.5 -3hrs max unless it's bloody huge! then rest it while everything else cooks!)
Just a Sunday roast chicken or pork joint with extras here. Prep veg Xmas eve job done. It's not worth stressing over.

Lulualla · 14/12/2019 17:25

This is true. My mum makes the roast, but I make all the sides and puddings. Those are the fiddly time consuming parts and it does take ages!

Babamamananarama · 14/12/2019 17:21

I honestly think that Xmas dinner has morphed into an opportunity for martyrdom for some people.

YANBU, it's a Sunday roast and needn't take much more time and effort. Except it's usually served with a side-helping of resentment and a gallon of stress, which nobody really wants on their plate.

If you don't want to spend hours and hours in the kitchen then simplify it or don't do it at all. Be in charge of your own life, don't moan on and on about something that nobody is forcing you to do.

Ponoka7 · 14/12/2019 17:18

It depends if she's buying in prepared or making side dishes etc herself.

It isn't posh, but it has lots of extras.

I go to other people's to eat a dinner but me and my youngest DD are making our own chocolates and a yule log. My DD who is hosting is picking a cake for us to make. So Christmas Eve we'll be baking etc. Christmas day decorating. My youngest DD is a professional Chef. We're toying with the idea of making Profiteroles, as well.

AllergicToAMop · 14/12/2019 17:16

Try goose, people. Soooooo good! Unlike that fugly turkey

AllergicToAMop · 14/12/2019 17:15

I have to say that I am starting to understand why are some people starting to hate Christmas... Their own doing though imho...

countrygirl99 · 14/12/2019 17:15

That is why M&S desserts exist ( other nice desserts also available)

managedmis · 14/12/2019 17:15

I cook a turkey crown, a joint of beef and ham in the slow cooker, in bags.

^

For one day?! What?

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DrWAnker · 14/12/2019 17:15

Usually make dessert the day before amd sometimes yule log.
Starter also mostly prepped, usually soup or prawns or smoked salmon.
Peel and prep all veg on Christmas eve.
Chuck whatever meat in the oven in the morning. Nothing strenuous or stressful, just a bit more faff than usual, but nice faff .

managedmis · 14/12/2019 17:14

5am?

Who's she feeding, Henry the 8th?

MyEnormousTurnip · 14/12/2019 17:14

Well I do beef as we’re not keen on turkey and it takes the same amount of time as any other roast so YANBU. I might do a few extra bits but nothing worthy of hours and hours in the kitchen. Maybe a tray of pigs in blankets and some cauliflower cheese and/or cabbage.

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