To ask alternatives to Christmas roast dinner

[elephantmarchingin]

I'm not a huge fan of roasts they also tend to make me feel bloated and sick (no idea why!)

Can anyone give me alternatives for Christmas that are still special but not a full roast - or is this just totally weird and unheard of!

Aibu to ask what you have for Christmas dinner that aren't your normal roast!

Whole side of salmon, roasted on top of crunchy new potatoes and lots of veg with a fabulous chilled white wine

Then your favorite dessert

@TimBoothseyes - do you have a recipe for that cheesecake? Sounds lovely!

I don’t like east dinners, Christmas Day we have fresh lobster, fries, garlic aioli, salad and crusty bread.

I was just going to post seafood and pavlova. The first year we lived in Australia we cooked a duck on the BBQ and had it in a traditional roast, but it was too much. So next year I know I got lobster and other seafood and did a platter. Yes follows by a pavlova for dessert.

Chocolates to start
Cheese and biscuits with a bottle of wine
More chocolates

Indeed.
Google Catherine Tate Show No turkey OP. It is a great sketch.

We refuse to go to my ILs for Christmas as they have a festive cottage pie, as a roast is ‘too much effort’

They miss out on seeing the kids for the festive period but it’s their own fault!

Haha. Will just be myself DH and 3 year old DS so no worries of causing mayhem.

I don't mind gammon but normally have with new potatoes and salad bits so may have that but swap salad out for something more Christmassy!

Sounds like my kind of meal

Beef Wellington or fish? I love a Christmas dinner to be honest but you can do whatever you like. Why not think of a few options and have a vote?

Last year we just let everyone pick their favourite meal. The kids both wanted chicken wraps and DH and I had some Chinese food from m&s. Everyone happy, hardly any cooking involved. I don't particularly like Turkey so why bother? We spent the morning playing with the kids and eating quality street instead of slaving over a roast dinner.

Just bung edible glitter on the potatoes and salad

Otherwise choose something which you enjoy but don't have very often because its a little more trouble or costly than you would prepare on a frequent basis.

If inviting others, you do need to think about them but its surprising how many people are more than happy to have something different for a change.

We're having an Ottolenghi inspired Middle Eastern feast this Xmas. Quite appropriate really

@C8H10N4O2 to be honest DS would eat anything at all with glitter!

Have whatever you like, from super indulgent luxury seafood to quick and easy toad in the hole. If you've got children, let them join in choosing the meal, then everyone will be happy.

With avian flu the worst it has been in decades, and many Norfolk turkey and geese farms in difficulty, availability could be limited and prices sky high, so this is a good year to break with tradition and try something different.

We did curry last year, it was devine, much less prep than a roast and a firm family favourite. Plus who doesn't love an onion bhaji!

Christmas pie from Turners Pies, they deliver! With mash and sides! So good and easy and means I'm not in the kitchen all day. Kids always want a Christmas Colin from Marks but I do at least one fancy dessert too!

We never have a roast - too many vegetarians and vegans here. But our adult DC look back fondly on the time we had a crisis on Christmas Day and we had pizzas out of the freezer once we got sorted out.

We’re having steak, Dolphin nose potatoes and probably a side salad or/and a tub of ‘luxury’ coldsore.

If I had my complete choice I would have a massive fresh seafood platter adorned by nothing but lemon and some nice bread with champagne.

Growing up we usually had bbqs (hot country) until my Jewish parents became more observant and we stopped celebrating Christmas when i was about 14.

But a traditional christmas for me is basically bbq, salads, seafood and ice cream.

I got it from here. I use low fat versions of the cream and philly though and I didn't do the decoration as I'm rubbish at that kind of thing

www.janespatisserie.com/2016/12/28/no-bake-limoncello-cheesecake/

Dolphin nose potatoes sound amazing!
(Yes I know it's a typo: it's a great one!)

We always have prawns with a chilli mango dipping sauce, cold chicken or ham, potato salad, other types of salads, fried rice that my mum makes and pavlova and/or choc ripple cake to finish it off. Might not sound like much but there's always plenty of left overs that lasts a few days.

Then have yours/DH's favourite meal, let DS choose the pud, glitter on everything on his plate.

Not that I've ever used glitter as an incentive on a small child's plate at a grown up family meal you understand...

Thank you @TimBoothseyes