To be dreading a crap Christmas dinner?

[Napqueen1234]

Prepared to be told IABU as I should be grateful to get one at all/someone to cook for me. Basically we alternate years with MIL and my family and this year it’s my in laws. For context I’m 8 months pregnant so as a non drinker food is v important to me this year 😂.

My MIL is a terrible cook and takes no joy in hosting. We offered to host but were declined (DH family all 5 mins away from each other and we are 40 mins from there so it’s easier for them I suppose). Won’t cook food she doesn’t like e.g sprouts, pigs in blankets so we end up with a dry turkey crown, not much veg as she doesn’t like it and just a slightly depressing meal.

My dad loves Christmas and goes all out is good cook etc. I just feel so sad to be missing out on my normal Christmas meal the other years it hasn’t bothered me and is obviously part and parcel of taking turns and just life etc but this year I just feel gutted.

Snap me out of this ultimate first world problem please! We have offered to Help (we are making a hamper as a Christmas present of treats and taking Christmas pudding etc so have tried that!). My DH is an only child and not going/ having lunch at home is not an option!

Oh my gosh OP, I so sympathise! I used to dread the years we went to ex MIL’s for Christmas.. We didn’t get on at the best of times, and the dinner was just the icing on the cake. She would have nibbles and snacks out all day, encourage the children to eat them (all fine and generous) but then moan that they wouldn’t eat the meal. The only veg was frozen and boiled within an inch of its life (think cooking broccoli for 45 minutes!) The “roasties” were cooked in the deep fat fryer. I have some stomach problems, so have to avoid certain things (including fried foods) but generally a Christmas dinner I can eat no problem. Hers.. not so much! I would honestly start dreading it in October.
No advice but sending (and pigs in blankets! )

I would take cooked stuff I wanted and warm it up or keep it warm and add it to my plate when take meat you want to eat rather than dry turkey

For every thread complaining about the ILs Xmas Dinner, there's another one about Martyrs and just pulling together the kind of dinner which makes you happier. Just take along some extras for yourself. My ILs are lovely but their dinners aren't the sumptuous affairs some other families put together. I appreciate it anyway and have the things I like afterwards or the next day.

Ulysses, your post is very sensible. Of course it's only one day and people can have what they choose the next day.

There is always Boxing Day for another meal with all of your favourites. If you really dread it that much though, you could always claim you went into labour and only later discover it was a false alarm.

So unfair why should she host if she cant make the effort.
Your husband should stick up for both of you.
Take your preferred dishes with you

Only 40 mins away make and take all your own trimmings , put hot in cool box and as others say blame pregnancy! Then you won’t even have to cook it there assuming can be kept warm?