Can anyone else not be bothered to do a turkey roast just for immediate family?

[HTH1]

We’re probably not seeing anyone else on Xmas day and I’m guessing we’re not the only ones. What is everyone doing for lunch as not sure if it will be depressing not to do the traditional thing (or maybe someone has more fun, better ideas)?

Yeah one goose definitely wouldn’t stretch.

Getting half a crown from the butchers and a fillet of beef. Will do roast potatoes, pigs in blankets obviouslyyyy, parsnip puree, roasted veg, Brussels and pancetta, sausage meat stuffing...the list is endless. And Iceland party food because why not.....and about 5 desserts

I’m doing the works for me, DH and toddler DS as we all love roasts and want to keep traditions alive (though a crown not a whole turkey).

We’ll have it about 5pm though when DS has his usual dinner time; I’ll do something else at lunch time. Probably prawn cocktail as an early starter for me and DH and something nice for DS.

I don't like Turkey, well I can eat it but I don't particularly think it's nice. I'll be making dinner for just me, DH, 3 yr old and baby! He knows I'd love to not do the big traditional dinner but he loves it and to be fair the kids will too.

I suggested lamb but was told it's not Christmas without Turkey 🙄 We never had Turkey when I was growing up, it was often steak 🤷🏻‍♀️ random I know. As a teenager I then went off steak so I used to get a takeaway 😂 Often bought night before and reheated as they were all closed. I love the starters and dessert just not in to the main.

@StrippedFridge goose feeds 4-6 adults- you need to cook it on a trivet as it’ll sit in the fat (loads pours out in cooking). Remove the fat with a spoon from the tin at least once during cooking.

It’s a faff but delicious and totally worth it.

There’s more meat on it than people here say- but you need to turn it over, strip all the meat from underneath the bird and obviously use the legs too to get a really good amount of meat for 6 adults.

We love it in this house and always recommend it.

Im going lazy and buying the full range of m and a canapés and doing 'Xmas tapas' rather than doing a roast for my son and husband. I'm also pregnant and can't stand up long enough to cook anything without feeling like I'm going to pass out. Sadly, we conform to gender stereotypes and my husband is extremely unlikely to do any sort of cooking. So I'm thinking f@ck it ... lots of yummy sausage rolls and stuff will be easy and quick!

@MeowMeowLikeACow yes! I'm doing party food too! One year to just skip the fuss!

Yippee us too! I told DD she could have anything she wanted for Christmas lunch (knowing it won't be a roast as neither of us like them). She's gone for a giant Yorkshire filled with pigs in blankets I will be having pasta because I love it, possibly with a few piggies on the side. So nice to feel completely free to have food we genuinely like, and that won't be stressful to cook or need loads of time in the kitchen.

I totally second a rib of beef or goose, or duck! I don't do loads of sides either - roast potatoes and maybe 3 veg and gravy, so just like an extra nice Sunday roast. I've started cooking a ham on Christmas Eve - dead easy and then there are extra leftovers. Last year we had pancakes for late breakfast, snacks and presents in the afternoon and beef for an early dinner. It was great and low stress!

I love a roast and do at least one a week, on the colder months. I've ordered a stuffed turkey breast joint, this year, for simplicity.

I always get a couple of the M&S crowns - just whack them in the oven with no prep, they are DELICIOUS and moist.

Christmas tapas sounds quite a good idea
I’m not sure what to do. Never done Christmas with just the 4 of us so will probably massively over cater if I do the usual meal.

Gammon with all the sides

We had a Chinese last year, we bought it Xmas eve and reheated it all on Xmas day.

This year the kids have requested KFC so we’ll be doing the same again.

I must admit it was bloody lovely last year and not having to cook a dinner was a bonus too

I treated the family to a goose last year and was really disappointed, it was so similar to pork. this year I'm planning to do leg of lamb marinated in olive oil, garlic and rosemary.

We are having a Christmas BBQ with salads followed by dessert.
My mil is making arachini and tiramisu, sil salad and fruit, DH and BIL are manning the bbq and I’m making sausage rolls, salad, ham and pavlova.

I’m in Aus though so I expect it will be hot.

We have a citrus glazed ham with cheesy baked hash browns and a veggie side with cranberry sauce and a bread. Usually a banana pudding or a cake for dessert.

We usually have a houseful so DH said we'd make it simpler this year. Except anything I've suggested missing out he has laughed and gone 'haha no of course we must have gammon/port sauce/braised cabbage/4 different veg. So of course we'll be eaten leftover versions of Christmas dinner until Valentine's Day!

Surely even with a turkey it's just a roast dinner?? (Well a roast with pigs in blankets) I think the reason people make it into a big thing is usually numbers of guest rather than it being a particularly onerous thing to cook.

Given that we'll probably get a smaller turkey than normal and have it even with 4 of us - also because we love cold turkey, mash, cheese and pickle on Boxing Day (and if we're lucky turkey curry the day after)

Just me and DP, and the cat - we’re still having a traditional Christmas dinner, but pretty much all M&S whack in the oven stuff bar the veg. My SIL usually does the most amazing puddings so we need to think of something that will fill that gap. I’ve already bought a Christmas pudding but DP doesn’t like them, so that will be only for ME.

We always do a sort of tapas/cheese night on Hogmanay, then pizzas on New Year’s Day.

[quote VestaTilley]@StrippedFridge goose feeds 4-6 adults- you need to cook it on a trivet as it’ll sit in the fat (loads pours out in cooking). Remove the fat with a spoon from the tin at least once during cooking.

It’s a faff but delicious and totally worth it.

There’s more meat on it than people here say- but you need to turn it over, strip all the meat from underneath the bird and obviously use the legs too to get a really good amount of meat for 6 adults.

We love it in this house and always recommend it.[/quote]
I love goose and I’m quite miffed that we’re not having it this year (it was DH’s turn to choose 🙄).

I will, but only because I LOVE roast turkey.

Otherwise no I wouldn’t. Might still just do a chicken anyway.

We’re having the full shebang and there’s only me, DH and DD (3) I’m actually really looking forward to doing it at a pace (and a time) I want to without stressing about a single bloody visitor 🙌🏻

Yanbu to have whatever you most want but yabu if you all want turkey but just cant be bothered as its immediate family only. Of course only if everyone mucks in- if it's all on you and you normally do loads and loads I get why it may feel like too much. Scaled down version?

We usually have turkey,ham,sausage meat stuffing and roast..unsure if this is an Irish thing or not..but I would definitely just have ham and sausage meat stuffing for days, with at least 2 types if not 3 of potatoes