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)?

We are always just the three of us and never had turkey as a) far too big and we don't like leftovers and b) none of us actually like the taste.

So, this year we will have a wild boar roast.

We all love a roast Turkey dinner, it's a no brainer in our house

@Pomegranatespompom
I’m wondering if reasonable to eat trifle all day.
TOTALLY reasonable! Particularly if it’s accompanied by several glasses of Bailey’s, you’re watching Christmas films and you stay in your PJ’s all day! 😂🤣

@StrippedFridge

Has anyone had goose? Was it good? How many did it serve? Easy to cook?

We did! It was easy to cook and was ok. Nice to try but no desperate to go again

@Walkley18
For those doing turkey crown, what's the best way to prepare (bacon etc.?) And the M & S ones, do you have to do anything or is it already added / are they fresh or frozen?
I always buy a fresh crown from M&S. Chop up a couple of satsumas into quarters, couple of carrots into large chunks, sit the crown on them. Smear butter over the skin, plenty salt and pepper, few sprigs of fresh thyme, cover in foil and follow the timings on the wrapper. Always delicious.

I’m so pleased to hear the views on trifle and baileys. I think I’ll order some new pjs too.
I may pop some party food in the oven for DH and DC.

Just 3 of us and for the last couple of years we have just had a buffet. Cook a turkey crown and a gammon on Xmas eve. And do some roast potatoes Xmas morning. Then its bread, cheeses and party buffet food with the cold meats. We just dip in and out of it and add to it if needed. We all love it

We always do the big turkey with homemade stuffing and Jamie's gravy (freeze it week or so in advance) etc for us and two young dc. I do a lot of prep the night before (leave potatoes peeledin ice cold water etc) so I don't feel it's a lot of work at all on the day.

I love roast dinner anyway so cooking a roast won’t be an issue for me. But I’ll buy one of the M&S turkey crowns, you don’t even need to take it out of the tray it comes in, bacon, stuffing already in residence, so just shove it in the oven and do whatever you want on the side.

Roast potatoes, carrots, peas, pigs in blankets and (aunt bessie’s) Yorkshire puddings. No-one in my house can stand parsnips or sprouts anyway so I wouldn’t have cooked them regardless.

If for any reason I can’t get a turkey then a chicken will suffice. We eat that as a regular thing anyway so no difference there....

Have never quite understood the stress people put themselves through for Christmas dinner. It’s just a glorified roast.

We did a smoked ham with mash and veg for Christmas the last time it was just us. So much easier and tastier than the faff of a turkey and we all prefer ham anyway.

We're ordering curries the night before. Can't be chewed cooking at all. It's going to be relaxed and hassle free.

I cook a mini roast most weekends for us anyway as it my favourite meal, mainly do chicken. I have hosted Christmas for various amounts of people for the past 20 yrs and never panic as after all it is just a posh roast. It may be the 3 of us or 6 if we use a bubble, I will do a turkey crown whatever, my roasties and yorkies are already prepared and in the freezer, doing my cauliflower cheese and pigs in blankets this weekend to freeze, do my mash the night before, just reheat it, so very little to actually do on Christmas Day, it's a well oiled machine. I love it. X

I buy a turkey breast roll for those who like turkey and roast it with lemon, garlic and herbs.

Turkey crown is smaller, or how about a duck?

@Pomegranatespompom

I’m wondering if reasonable to eat trifle all day.

Totally reasonable!

We will be having turkey and all the lovely trimmings as everyone loves it and looks forward to it. We can have takeaways ect anytime.

Thanks @LadyPenelope68 and @AlternativePerspective. I will look into both those methods.

In our case, as a family of 3, we still do a full (but small) turkey when we stay home for Christmas. I always have space to freeze a whole breast. We have a few festive favourites for leftovers that are only for Christmas. We like turkey itself.

Nowadays we don’t do too many full roasts so that is a treat. We all work together, doing prep on 24th and cooking on 25th at a relaxed pace. Mostly someone adding a tray to oven or taking something out whenever they get up from opening presents to refill their glass.

But Christmas Eve is a simpler meal - we Call it “Platter”. A mix of cold cooked and cured meats, fish, shellfish, olives, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, peppers, cheese, breadsticks, crackers, pate, hummus...nice things that are treats for us, each person has at least a few things they love even if they don’t love everything (although it’s how dd started eating and loving olives back in the day!) all just laid out in the middle for everyone to help themselves. Leftovers will be eaten over the following few days as we all snack our way through the season.

I’m very open to doing something completely different if that’s what others want - I also do a small but proper turkey roast for thanksgiving (today) so I would still have it once. But there is never a concrete suggestion put forward as an alternative.

Thanksgiving turkey - as it is an after work and midweek roast - is only ever a turkey breast with roast potatoes, gravy and some veg rather than a full feast like Christmas. But a breast joint is plenty for a meal for 3 and sometimes there’s enough for 1 set of lunch sandwiches leftover (sometimes not).

We don't know how we are working the 3 household rule yet but if my sister and family don't end up coming to us I am doing a cottage pie with peas, carrots and sprouts. If I feel inclined I might prep it Christmas Eve so I can just pop it in the oven and do the veg. I don't want to sit down to a full dinner if we are missing some family. Mum will do a full dinner on Boxing Day with pork so we won't miss out.

If DSIs and family do end up coming I will do a turkey crown but I am not spending ages in the kitchen this year. I want to play with the kids. So sprouts, carrots and peas will be the only veg, Will still do parsnips, stuffing and Yorkshire puddings though!!

None us really like turkey, we're having a beef fillet this year.

It's normally three or four of us, and I always cook a turkey as we like it. I cook the ham on Christmas Eve. After that, I don't cook for a week, and we just lay everything out and people help themselves.

I use all the meat off the turkey in soup, curries, pie filling, sandwiches, etc.

I will do a full Christmas dinner, turkey, roasties, stuffing, pigs in blankets, veg even if it is just me

Just me and DS this year. I do have a turkey crown and a rack of lamb on order as it was supposed to be 4 of us for 3 days.

Either I need to cancel the order, or 4 year old DS needs to get over his “hotdogs and chocolate pies for Christmas dinner” yen, and buckle up for a week of turkey...

It’s just a Sunday dinner really with more sides. Get a turkey crown or a chicken, or an interesting veggie option.

Someone mentioned doing a big meal on Xmas eve and then eating buffet food and leftovers on Xmas day,

We used to have cooked brunch then dinner late afternoon. Might do a breakfast buffet this year (sons dad will come over in the morning), dinner at 2 and then a buffet tea. Thinking of doing curry for Xmas eve with sides. After those two days, Boxing Day will be spent in PJs eating leftovers :)

Should add for Xmas dinner we will be having a vegan Wellington or similar with all the trimmings.