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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you think of this xmas dinner

318 replies

Shereturnsforonemore · 27/12/2022 15:53

Ok here goes
microwave pulled pork
frozen Brussels
frozen roast potatoes
frozen yorkshire pudding
ah bisto

Christmas pudding ( ready made) with tin custard.

drinks were a selection of beer vodka rose wine cider and soft drinks and fruit shoots

What would your reaction be ?

yanbu sounds nice
yabu yuk

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 27/12/2022 16:34

All that matter now is you fed your guests - they seemed to enjoy it - and another Christmas has passed. I don’t see why you would want to dwell on what strangers think.

Ch3wylemon · 27/12/2022 16:35

Discussed and agreed on in advance & it's completely fine. TBH I enjoy cooking and like to think I'm reasonably good at it and I definitely take short cuts where I can when cooking Christmas Dinner for a crowd. See all the martyr threads elsewhere for why aiming for perfection is a bad idea!

Obviously you are unreasonable not to do pigs in blankets- but if your family can forgive you...

Eselch · 27/12/2022 16:37

It’s missing all the joy from that plate!

No stuffing? Or pigs in blankets? Or bacony crispy roast sprouts? Or cauliflower cheese? Or parsnips? Or red cabbage? Or even vegetables apparently 😂

I would be disappointed, sorry OP!

titchy · 27/12/2022 16:37

You should have had another veg (and brandy cream to go with the pudding) but nothing wrong with aunt Bessie's yorkshires or roasties!

Dragonskin · 27/12/2022 16:37

I use frozen veg, and frozen yorkshires, so not a frozen food snob at all but you could have done some different veg (sprouts are the most controversial) such as peas, carrots and parsnips to at least give a bit of variety. Personally I think a simple buffet would have been better

If that dinner worked for your guests that's great, but I am confused why you are asking everyone here? You must know that overall it sounds basic and quite unpleasant as a Christmas meal

If I was served it I would eat and smile and say yum and not tell my hosts how I actually felt because I'm not a total dick, but to a total stranger asking if it sounds nice or yuck on the internet, I'll be honest

Anewhoo · 27/12/2022 16:37

Some people have pizza. Some have the full works. Others have toast. It’s really not an issue what you have is it? As long as it’s edible, surely it’s just more about spending the day together.

AuntieMarys · 27/12/2022 16:37

I'd have preferred a cheese board to be honest. What you cooked does sound grim.

FlounderingFruitcake · 27/12/2022 16:38

everyone mentioned how nice this year was as there was no pressure to finish it all as it had zero effort
I don’t know but that sounds like a thinly disguised hint that it might not have been that nice… Personally I don’t think it sounds great. But as you say, it wasn’t the point, and it doesn’t matter. It was about the people and welcoming them to your lovely new house!

KatherineJaneway · 27/12/2022 16:39

There's a bit of food snobbery going on here..... I'd love those people to do a blind taste test between properly cooked frozen stuff and home made.

Name the time and place. Happy to take that challenge.

Twiglets1 · 27/12/2022 16:40

Poor show.

labazslovesliving · 27/12/2022 16:40

it's a hot meal fairly well-balanced nutritionally nothing to complain about

Twiglets1 · 27/12/2022 16:41

AuntieMarys · 27/12/2022 16:37

I'd have preferred a cheese board to be honest. What you cooked does sound grim.

Maybe they served some dairylea cheese triangles later on 🤷🏼‍♀️

MintsPi · 27/12/2022 16:42

Not everyone has the money, time, budget, capabilities or facilities to cook a full on 'traditional' Xmas meal.

I get sick of the 'I've been up since 5am basing the turkey' martyr brigade.

I'd rather have a frozen meal with the OP if the other choice was a completely cooked from scratch meal with most of the stuck up snobby bitches on here.

BellePeppa · 27/12/2022 16:42

Nothing wrong with frozen sprouts but frozen potatoes are awful and never taste home made. Pulled pork is not something I particularly like but if I was hungry and knew the dinner was not going to be a home made one then I’m sure I’d be fine.

Tiltedandwilted · 27/12/2022 16:42

Spect8 · 27/12/2022 16:33

There's a bit of food snobbery going on here..... I'd love those people to do a blind taste test between properly cooked frozen stuff and home made.

Anyway, I am sure those posters will adamantly claim they can tell the difference from twenty paces. OK then, don't go anywhere frozen food is served (after cooking of course lol).

Many restaurants that are not high end buy in frozen and prepped stuff and desserts. What's the problem. Starve?

Not sure it’s the fact the food was frozen that’s the issue here, my issue would be it sounds absolutely vile.

would rather just order a pizza!

HollyBerri · 27/12/2022 16:44

I would have been a bit disappointed and we do use frozen Yorkshires and aunt Bessie’s parsnips. I like to do a big variety at Christmas - stuffing (packet as we all love it), mash, piggies, carrots, cauliflower cheese etc. However knowing your circumstances I would have offered to cook some stuff and bring it over (or buy some nice ready made to heat up).

Inextremis · 27/12/2022 16:44

So long as those who ate it were happy, that's all that matters. I do a more traditional Christmas dinner myself, but my favourite is the Boxing/St Stephen's Day leftovers, so would have happily eaten something someone else cooked on the day, and then made up for anything I was craving on the day after. The good company is the most important thing :) Hope you had a lovely day, OP, and congrats on the new house!

Madeyoulook · 27/12/2022 16:45

I would have preferred just buffet type food even if you just opened up the packets.

tedgran · 27/12/2022 16:46

All OK, but cream or brandy butter with the pud, I hate custard.

IHeartGeneHunt · 27/12/2022 16:46

If you'd cooked that for me I'd be happy.

RegularNameChangerVersion21 · 27/12/2022 16:46

I love Christmas dinner and don't mind cooking it so would never serve that myself. If I was given it as someone else's house I'd just eat it and probably enjoy it. No way would I judge.

LolaSmiles · 27/12/2022 16:46

If I knew a relative had just moved house and they couldn't cook, I'd probably have offered to host Christmas day myself if I'm honest.
It's nice you did you best and nobody should be rude about it, though if I was in their situation I'd privately wish we'd hosted instead.

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/12/2022 16:46

If you usually pay for a restaurant then you obviously appreciate good food - so it seems a bit weird for your alternative this year to be what sounds like an incredibly bland and poorly cooked assortment of things which don’t really go together. Surely there are tastier ready meals out there?

asdfgasdfg · 27/12/2022 16:47

Husband and I live on convnience food all year. The only thing I cook is the turkey on Christmas day, every thing else is convenience. My daughter still comes every year and her, her husband and my husband are all grateful.

FOJN · 27/12/2022 16:47

Your guests enjoyed it which is what matters but I would have found that a bit sad and would have preferred frozen pizza, garlic bread and salad. I don't think there is any need for people to stick to a traditional Christmas dinner but I do make an effort when I'm catering for other people, it's my way of saying my guests are welcome and worth the effort.