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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:
theconstantinoplegardener · 22/12/2020 09:29

I'm in my mid forties and this will be the first time I'm in sole charge of Christmas lunch. Usually we go to my parents or the ILs and naturally I help, but I'm always very much the sous chef to DM/MIL's chef! That seems to be the way they like it!

I do often do a Sunday roast so I'm not too worried about Christmas dinner. I made my Christmas pudding months ago and I'm quite looking forward to doing things my way this year. No bread sauce this time!

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 22/12/2020 09:29

Me. Not a full on Christmas dinner. Either my mum, my brother or DH does it. They enjoy it. The maths of large bird plus trimmings in small over hurts my head. I’d happily give it a go if needed.

I do most the cooking for the rest of the year, so 0 guilt from me.

MrsToothyBitch · 22/12/2020 09:31

I'm 30 and I've never even cooked a roast- and I don't intend to start now tbh. I love cooking but I've never felt the need or desire to do a roast. I like them, but not that much. DP is the same so might as well do something we both like.

Otherwise, DM cooks it and enjoys doing so. I fail to see why as despite her claims it is easy, she seems to be chained to various compartments of the oven and turns into an utter ratbag who can't deal with anyone else in her kitchen. Plus she makes proper gravy I'm nowhere near ready to emulate.

Weepingwillows12 · 22/12/2020 09:31

Will add, have cooked plenty of roasts but we dont have a big enough house for the families to gather so never big roasts like a turkey. Sure I could manage if needed.

Alaimo · 22/12/2020 09:33

I'm a vegetarian, and have never cooked a turkey, but have cooked a veggie Christmas dinner the past 2 years. Last year we hosted PiLs, the year before that we hosted my parents. It seemed unfair that the parents always had to do the cooking/hosting, and it was nice to be able to invite them to ours instead.

Freetodowhatiwant · 22/12/2020 09:33

46 and never even cooked a roast dinner let alone a Christmas dinner. I’m not a great cook and I really don’t enjoy it. In usual times my mum and my husband share the cooking. My dad does a lot of cooking too but not Christmas dinner.

lazylinguist · 22/12/2020 09:37

Me! I'm 49. Until a few years ago we always alternated between my parents' and my in-laws, who are now in their early to mid seventies and pretty hale and hearty (especially PIL, who are super fit and active). Obviously we all help out, but only in a peeling veg, laying the table type capacity.

My DM has now (a bit reluctantly) retired from hosting Christmas. We now alternate between PIL and either dsis or us. We've hosted twice in the last five years and dh has cooked the Christmas lunch both times. He loves cooking and is much calmer cooking for guests than me. He's cooking this year too (for the 4 of us). I'll be making mince pies and a yule log. So no, I've never cooked a Christmas lunch, and don't feel even slightly guilty about it!

Nottherealslimshady · 22/12/2020 09:40

Wow I'm dead surprised!
I did my first last year at 24, doing this year too. I love my roast dinners.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 22/12/2020 09:43

I’m 45 and I’ve never cooked one. DH is in charge of cooking (although obviously I help with preparing the vegetables). Why would I know how to roast a turkey? I’ve been vegetarian since I was 16.

Gah81 · 22/12/2020 09:49

No I don't want to try! It's one meal on one day - power to your elbow if that is your preference, but for me life is too short and there are things I'd rather be doing :)

AhNowTed · 22/12/2020 09:50

55 and I don't cook. I've never cooked a roast of any description.

Luckily DH is a fine cook.

NameChange84 · 22/12/2020 09:51

I’m 36 and have never done the traditional Christmas dinner of turkey because we all hate turkey etc so technically you could say no. However, I do the veg, potatoes, gravy, extras etc. I think this year I will be roasting the beef joint as well so pretty much most of it. I do a roast every Sunday too anyway.

I do think it’s utterly shameful that many people expect elderly relatives to do it all and sit there like little kings and queens. My brother is one, he’ll invite himself somewhere and constantly speak about how great it is to be waited on hand and foot by in laws for example in their 80s. A lady at church is in her late 80s, about 4ft high, bent over with osteoporosis and does everything on Christmas Day for 14! I bet she will be relieved this year that it will be a smaller crowd.

AnnieKennyfanclub · 22/12/2020 09:52

Complete opposite here.. I started doing the full Christmas dinner when I was 15 and have done almost every year since. I even do it for whoever in the family is hosting.

The only times I haven’t had been when we’ve been at PIL for Christmas.

I think for some of us it’s an enjoyable part of Christmas - and if you have someone like me in your family you just might never get the chance!
Good luck to anyone trying it for the first time this year- just use Delia to get the bird timings right - nothing else is critical ( and remember the bird can be ‘rested’ for ages while you do the rest if needed!)

winterbabythistime · 22/12/2020 09:53

I haven't cooked a Christmas dinner (I've assisted). We host every year - my dh cooks it.

mamaoffourdc · 22/12/2020 09:54

Yep never and I'm 42

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 22/12/2020 09:54

@BeanToCup

If you've never hosted Xmas you won't have cooked one. There are loads of reasons why a person wouldn't have hosted Xmas - size of house, position in family, geographical location etc, all sorts of logistics and loyalties in play.

I will say though, for anyone who's previously been in this position but due to restrictions is now in charge and feeling nervous, that it's basically a roast dinner with posher sides and nothing to be worried about. Get your timings worked out, start your peeling and chopping as early as you can, stick some festive tunes on and away you go.

Yes. And I’d add if you don’t have a meat thermometer and can get out to get one, then do! It’s the single most important element. And I’d suggest having your Christmas dinner late afternoon or evening as well, as that means no stress over getting things on first thing in the morning. Just chill, relax and eat when it’s ready.
Harryfrog12 · 22/12/2020 09:54

Ive done one. Everything went well until i spilt the yorkshire pudding mix. I said never again but am planning on doing it next year in my new home. I have cooked plenty of roasts though

nitsandwormsdodger · 22/12/2020 09:56

47 never cooked anything like it in my life
We tend to do pub lunches and mil does camas dinner if we are there or here

CorianderQueen · 22/12/2020 09:56

I get it though, I've been making them since I was 21 and it does my head in when people try to help with more than chopping. They mess it up.

In the last three years I've had - someone opening the oven when my Yorkshire's were rising. Ruined.

Someone knocked all the roast potatoes in the BIN.

Someone turned the heat up on my creamed leeks. Burnt.

KeepSmiling89 · 22/12/2020 09:57

Never done it here. I'm 31 and DH is 49 (he hasn't either). We're on our own this year so got a 5 bird roast from Aldi and plan to save some for leftovers over the next few days.

We don't have the biggest house to host Christmas hence why we don't do it (we also couldn't afford it anyway)

middleager · 22/12/2020 09:57

I'm 47 and very pleased to say I've never prepared a chicken or turkey.

I'm vegetarian. I've begrudgingly put various silver trays of pre prepared joints into an oven.

For years when I visited my mother for Christmas (in my late teens and 20s) we'd go for an Indian meal on Christmas day as she hated cooking turkey too, being vegetarian also.

nitsandwormsdodger · 22/12/2020 09:58

I'm vegetarian so only heating up slices of turkey for the kids

SwedishEdith · 22/12/2020 09:58

No, mid-50s never cooked one, never needed to. My mother loved us going home for Christmas and my partner loves cooking when at home.

Why are some posters saying "Wow, I'm surprised, I love a roast". So do I and I can cook one. But for Christmas, I've never needed to.

nitsandwormsdodger · 22/12/2020 09:59

No interest what do ever cooking is a chore
I'm more useful in cleaning up after

RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 22/12/2020 10:02

Dh and i did a roast chicken in a bag (it was £1.25) for the first time a week ago

We are 51...we had no idea what to do with it when it came out (never carved anything, apart from a pumpkin) so dh just hacked away at it....which is wild carving I guess 🤔

Dh does our Christmas dinner but not from scratch

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