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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if there are people on here who've never cooked a Christmas dinner before?

257 replies

FortunesFave · 22/12/2020 08:57

And how old are you? I was really surprised when someone I know on FB posted that they were so sad not to be travelling to their parents with their family this year and that she's never cooked a Christmas dinner in her life.

She's 50!

Her parents are in their late 70s and early 80s!

Do these people not feel guilty or weird about going home like this every year?

I mean...going home is lovely...but surely you could muck in with the cooking if your parents are that elderly?

OP posts:
MRex · 23/12/2020 06:47

We made pizza last Sunday. As much as DS loves pizza, it's not very festive!

userxx · 23/12/2020 06:58

@StickTheKettleOnAlice God no, still way too hungover from Christmas Eve, the only thing I'd consume on Xmas day was vodka and ibuprofen 🤷‍♂️.

Longtalljosie · 23/12/2020 07:01

I have but very rarely. I was single for a long time before meeting DH so no question of hosting. PIL would hate not to host so no question of them every being away for Christmas. Parents prefer to host or go to my sisters as her house is bigger. DH vegetarian so Sunday roast not a thing in my house. Of course I help in the kitchen but that’s usually peeling vegetables

StickTheKettleOnAlice · 23/12/2020 07:03

@userxx oh no brutal! I never liked going out xmas eve and preferred new year at that age as liked Christmas too much (just as well with the circumstances!)

inquietant · 23/12/2020 07:07

If you have never made a roast dinner, do you do any other cooking? What???? Because only English people cook?

Of course we cook, our family cooks everything from scratch, including bread every day.

I have never cooked a roast dinner.

AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 23/12/2020 07:10

37 and have never cooked one.

I do all the cooking (most from scratch) the rest of the time but DH likes the 'science' of cooking a roast so for the last 7 years I've left him to it.

PoloNeckKnickers · 23/12/2020 07:11

I'm 53 and have never cooked a traditional Christmas dinner. I don't think I've ever cooked a whole chicken, never mind a turkey. My DH is cooking this year- he'll be putting an M&S nut roast in the oven and chopping a few veg to go with.

inquietant · 23/12/2020 07:13

Wow I can’t believe all of you that have never done a roast have u got children ?

Comments like this blow my mind! Grin

Wow, yes, I have children and have never cooked a roast dinner. And?

Pinkfreesias · 23/12/2020 07:14

I'm 50 and have never cooked a turkey. This year, as we now can't travel to my family in England, we'll be having a scaled down Xmas lunch. Luckily, we'd bought a turkey joint last week, just in case the regulations changed and lo & behold, they did. There will be just the two of us so a full bird would have been wasted. Neither of us would have known how to cook it any way.

ravensoaponarope · 23/12/2020 07:16

Me. 50. autistic. Live alone. Can't cook.

Happylittlethoughts · 23/12/2020 07:21

Me ... never ! 54

malificent7 · 23/12/2020 07:26

Im 43...dad normally does it. This year it's my turn as can't go to dad's. I am excited but i love doing a roast. Only a tiny turkey joint as dp Veggie.

malificent7 · 23/12/2020 07:28

Roast dinner is the eadiest thing to cook ever. Just bung it all in the oven. Prep veg and steam. Roast potatoes are a bit more tricky as involve peeling but par boil, shake em about to fluff the surface. Put oil in tray and heat for a bit. Bung in spuds and cook till brown.

mummabubs · 23/12/2020 07:28

32, I cook a roast nearly every weekend but have never done Christmas Day before (including never having cooked a turkey so this year should be interesting!)

malificent7 · 23/12/2020 07:28

Easiest

inquietant · 23/12/2020 07:33

@malificent7

Roast dinner is the eadiest thing to cook ever. Just bung it all in the oven. Prep veg and steam. Roast potatoes are a bit more tricky as involve peeling but par boil, shake em about to fluff the surface. Put oil in tray and heat for a bit. Bung in spuds and cook till brown.
Agree with this, a few of my friends can basically only cook roast dinners as it is the one thing they learnt from their homes.

That's why I find the comments about 'do you cook at all' so odd - roast dinners are entry level cookery really, as it is timing not complex processes.

prowlingbrooms · 23/12/2020 07:35

I’m 54 and have always eaten my mothers amazing Christmas dinner. She cooks for 29, I kid you not. This year she won’t as she is isolating. My sister in law has taken over. She is an excellent cook. I am not. I will miss my mother’s amazing lunch. The whole shebang. Makes me sad.

plannit · 23/12/2020 07:40

Me. 40.

I'm a 20+ year vegan and a veggie before that. Family always say they won't eat a vegan Christmas dinner and I won't cook meat. So we have been at an impasse.

userxx · 23/12/2020 07:46

@StickTheKettleOnAlice I loved the whole month of December, there'd be something going on most night. I'd give anything to have that enthusiasm and energy these days 🤣. What a difference 25 years makes!!

BumDiggyDiggyDiggyBumDiggyBum · 23/12/2020 07:56

Making my first this year at 33! I’ve cooked lots of roast dinners but this is my first Christmas dinner. Normally go to my parents but going to BIL and SIL this year, wouldn’t trust her with a slice of toast so I’m cooking and bringing it.

I’ve made everything from scratch so pate, chutney, stuffing, pigs, turkey, stock and gateaux sponge already made and in the freezer. Take them out tonight to defrost, ice and decorate gateaux tomorrow and make caramel cake and prawn sauce. Then only really roasties, mash and veg to do Christmas Day 🙌🏻

madcow88 · 23/12/2020 08:47

I cooked my first last year at 31.

thetaleunfolds · 23/12/2020 08:51

35 and never. My mum won’t let me in the kitchen to help

I also never had a partner to spend Christmas with - my ex and I were together almost 10 years but he or I always went home (overseas) to parents so we never spent Christmas home together to do the meal etc

This is the first year I won’t be spending it with my mum. It’ll just be me and my DS(2)

thecatneuterer · 23/12/2020 09:10

I've nearly 60 and have never cooked a christmas dinner, or a roast of any kind. But then I haven't bothered with Christmas at all since leaving home at 18, plus I've also been vegetarian/vegan since then.

Pinktornado · 23/12/2020 09:13

40 and never have either. DP always does ‘the bird’. I do the Brussels sprouts and Yorkshire puddings (don’t @ me, they’re my favourite part of the meal Grin) as he doesn’t like them

Ifailed · 23/12/2020 09:30

roast dinners are entry level cookery really, as it is timing not complex processes.

I agree, but when I read what people eat for xmas dinner, e.g. turkey & beef, roast & mashed spuds, cauliflower cheese, 57 different types of stuffing and so on, it's not the cooking that's daunting, it's juggling the pans with a typical cooker, and even having enough pans, dishes etc to cook everything and then serve it all at once. I wonder how much gets quietly discarded.