AIBU to wonder how exactly to prep Xmas dinner for an unknown number?

[JustUseTheDoorSanta]

One group have a single positive LFT. Unclear when PCR result will come and how other attendees will feel if it's negative.
One group has a sniffle and negative LFT, but are going for PCR.
One group are more vulnerable and getting more nervous by the minute with the other groups testing, even if none of those end up coming they might cancel in panic.
Then there's the 3 of us, we definitely want to eat.

I'm really confused about how to prep for an unknown number though. I probably have enough food for everyone, but would still buy some extra potatoes, dessert, crackers and small bits if it's all of them. Do I prep the full ham, prep full turkey, wrap all sausages, wash and chop all veg and then freeze bits to portion? Freeze before or after cooking? What's everyone else doing, AIBU from feeling a bit frazzled about how to manage the quantities?

Tell them the cut off for faffing and being nervous is tomorrow. Positive tests are a different beast.

You will know by Christmas Eve though surely? No need to do anything before then other than maybe buy the few extra bits you mentioned?

How many days in advance do you normally prep?

I am a "do it all on the day" person though

Just buy freezable or frozen food and cook it on the day.
Buy more than you could ever need because frozen stuff is frozen.

@happychristmasbum - I don't want extra crackers, potatoes and dessert if they aren't coming though! If we shop then that needs to be tomorrow; we have plans on 23rd and prep Xmas Eve.

Well in that case you will have to give them a deadline. I wouldn't do that myself but it's up to you.

I would rather but the extra and not worry about it. Save the crackers til next year. Potatoes are 39p a bag at Tesco. Desserts will always get eaten in my house!

I would just cater for the maximum possible number and we'd have lots of leftovers if people didn't make it. We love Christmas dinner leftovers though and it would all get eaten.

What’s the number we are actually talking about rather “groups”?!

Ask each group to bring a dessert and crackers?

@oftenbaffled

What’s the number we are actually talking about rather “groups”?!

14 in total. 3 are us, 2 vulnerable nervous, 4 in LFT positive house and 5 in the other house.

The 2 vulnerable nervous won’t come. If they do, they’re can’t be particularly vulnerable or nervous given the LFT positive

Will the 4 in the LFT house actually want to leave another household member alone with? Doubt it.

So that leaves 5 in other house… and seeing as the LFT family are t coming… no reason for them not to

So I’d reckon on 5 guests but over cook a little on off chance. Worse case your 5 guests go home with leftover and you have a manageable,e amount of leftovers to work through

LFT positive lot aren’t coming - rule them out.

Other family with sniffle much more likely to come, rule them in.

Nervous vulnerables - could go either way.

So I’d say you’re prepping for 8-10 people.

And, as a PP says, crackers & a dessert each of brought by the larger families.

If they stay at home they’ll want crackers and dessert anyway, and if they come you’ll have enough.

You buy 6 crackers (3 if you and 2 vulnerables).

My plan is to drop dinner off to any of our guests who end up isolating. But they’re all under an hour away.

If that’s not an option, I’d just plan to eat well through January.

I've often had to stretch meals. The trick is to have a few extra courses and some extra veg. readily to hand. For Christmas I would plan on a basic three course meal. A cold starter - e.g. smoked salmon and salad;Main Course turkey,stuffing,three or four veg and boiled potatoes,gravy/sauce,pigs in blankets and a pudding course. If more than the three of you are there, add as required - a soup course ( buy ready made ), have frozen roast potatoes and extra frozen veg to add to the main course;add a cheese course- one packet of oatcakes is enough to go round 14 as part of such a large meal ( cost £1) ;add cake. You're always going to be able to store and use extra soup,frozen veg ,oatcakes and cheese. If you want to save time on the soup and ensure easy long term storage of any not required, get some tins of Baxters onion soup and add a good sloosh of brandy to however much you need. No one will know it's not home made provided you bury the cans deep enough in the bin. You could also get frozen garlic bread to have with it.

Thanks all, I'll plan to cook for 10.
Starters can be set up Xmas Eve from various bits, canape style so that'll stretch.
Now I've looked there's probably enough potatoes given all the other veg, I'll make yorkshire puddings if we end up the full 10.
I'll prep the veg into mixed bags, so they can go in the oven or in the freezer depending on quantity.
A cheese course is a great idea thanks, that can pad out dessert and I will get DH to get something extra tomorrow anyway (he needs to now as he negotiated starting on the chocolate yule log on the basis of doing a dessert run!). DH can get extra crackers.

We can't drop off food unfortunately, everyone is in all different directions.

I'm prepping on Christmas Eve this year every year because I'm not that organised hitting the shops at 6am. Everyone is arriving at 3pm but have been told to do lfts on Thursday then not do any more!

Not a chance that the LFT positive family will leave that member home alone surely?! And if they did, I’d be a little…

But an extra bag of potatoes and a freezable pudding - they’ll keep well for later if guests don’t show. Buy more chipolatas and you can freeze them if guests don’t come.

Try not to worry, if people can come ask them to bring a course or dish each.

LFT positive house has another poorly person, they're definitely out. The house of 5 has 2 more poorly people but all LFT negative, they are getting PCR but either way might be too poorly come Christmas day, possibly super cold. The nervous pair are more nervous. Scaling back...

But if the y have two poorly people, irrespective of COVID, surely very unlikely to come?

Cancel the 2 big unwell households, let the nervous people come and not be nervous.

I think it will end up with just your household

@TeenMinusTests

Cancel the 2 big unwell households, let the nervous people come and not be nervous.

This seems sensible.

Nervous pair just came over, looks most likely to be the 5 of us now. The others are getting food drop-offs to do their own Xmas dinners at home.