would this be a shit Christmas dinner?

[Lullabyebye]

DP and I are hosting this year - first time ever. It’s my parents, his parents and his brother. My mum is a retired chef (a very good one) but with age and arthritis, she gets super stressed with Xmas and so we are completely taking over.

As a family we hate Turkey so usually have beef. We have preordered fore rib and a gammon joint. We will have all the normal trimmings. We like Yorkshire puddings and MIL has demanded them (I know there’s some strong opinions on this!) so I bought nice ones that I’ve put in the freezer.

My plan is to just not stress. It should be a nice meal but it’s just a fancy roast eh?
So for starters, my mum was going to make coquille st Jacque. But I tried some frozen ones from Aldi and they were delicious. No one else (in laws) needs know... that would be starters.

Dessert - we asked MIL to contribute and she said she’d make Sticky Toffee Pud, we have also got some Christmas puddings.

We are cooking everyone a big fry up first. We have some smoked salmon which I will probably do vol au vent style with cream cheese as a snack.

Is this lazy? I just don’t see the point in not enjoying the day because we are stressed. I’m usually quite efficient in the kitchen and I’ve smashed out a few roasts, but I’m not a regular cook.

Opinions?

YABU - just bloody cook it properly
YANBU - it’s not just about the food and it sounds fine

Sounds good to me.

You can do most prep ahead of time, peeling veg etc, so all you are dong on 25th is putting things in and out of ovens, or turning pots on and off, rather than loads of steps and stirring etc.

Yes, take whatever other steps to simplify it like the bought Cocquilles, DMIL bringing dessert etc.

I swear to God I'd feign sickness on the 23rd. I'm not even joking.

Your fry up dilemma makes me laugh and think of my in-laws. My FIL would absolutely (and has done) rock up at 11 and ask for a fry up. It's annoying as we serve the turkey early afternoon so the hob is usually fairly rammed and we're busy trying to prepare the lunch.

I thought I'd found the perfect solution by buying the least likely thing to need a fry up with it - an apricot pastry. My cunningness was totally thwarted when my FIL asked for an egg and bacon with it.

I'm getting less tactful with age so I'd probably just say be brave now and say no with the reason. If someone is kind enough to invite me to eat at their house, I don't dictate what they serve me and when, I'm simply grateful for a plate of food I haven't had to prepare.

Sounds fantastic, but a fry-up, snack and starter beforehand would leave me too stuffed to enjoy the dinner! I'd do a simple breakfast (saves effort) and cut out the starter tbh.

every single time she comes round she expects a cooked breakfast. She went onto say scrambled eggs, hashbrowns...all ok?

Wow. You know, just because someone expects something doesn't mean you have to give it to them. This isn't normal - I've never had a guest 'expect' a cooked breakfast from me.

(That's a long way of saying that I'd tell them to fuck off if they got arsey about me not cooking them a fry-up on Xmas day)

"every single time she comes round she expects a cooked breakfast. She went onto say scrambled eggs, hashbrowns...all ok?"

Erm, yes. All is ok with me thanks

Did you just get arsey because I said I'd imagine she meant croissants by "nice breakfast"? I can understand how that fight might happen now

Earlier you said it was your family that have fried foods for Christmas breakfast not your partners, that's unusual but explains why you might've come to that conclusion.

YANBU, it sounds great!

I’m not sure I could do a full fry up and then a big dinner though.

Are they coming for breakfast too - hence the fry-up? Seems a bit much

Wtf, Its Christmas day

We’ve got a turkey crown roast in the bag thing. I’m not going to stress over one bloody meal, it’s stupid

From what you've written your DP has much bigger issues with his parents than the Christmas Day menu.

Going along with all their selfish demands will not help that one iota.

This sounds so fraught. You'll have to keep us updated on the day OP! another job for you.. home-made crackers wtf!!
I'm so glad I don't have to spend Xmas with weird and ungrateful family members any more.

I just have frozen yorkies because I'm scared 'real' ones will go flat, but I find it quite easy to control the roast; while the meat is resting, I whack up the oven to finish off the veg and potatoes. In theory Yorkshire puddings could go in then.
Oh and i have to have horseradish.

@Cocomarine

Definitely no to the fry up. It all sounds good, except for the frozen Yorkshire puddings. I’ve never come across a frozen pre-made Yorkshire that wasn’t a MASSIVE disappointment- and I am no food snob or purist!

Agree with this, fry up and roast is too much. And nothing beats a proper Yorkshire pudding

Omg your in laws sound like a nightmare. I hope you replied saying actually no that's not OK. Cfs!

@myhobbyisouting

"every single time she comes round she expects a cooked breakfast. She went onto say scrambled eggs, hashbrowns...all ok?"

Erm, yes. All is ok with me thanks

Did you just get arsey because I said I'd imagine she meant croissants by "nice breakfast"? I can understand how that fight might happen now

Earlier you said it was your family that have fried foods for Christmas breakfast not your partners, that's unusual but explains why you might've come to that conclusion.

...every single time she comes round she expects a cooked breakfast. She went onto say "scrambled eggs, hashbrowns...all ok?".

Does the above read a little better?