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Original poster

To ask if anyone else has NEVER cooked Christmas dinner

273 replies

OrtolanLBunting · 13/11/2023 07:43

Or lunch depending on when you have the main meal.

I'm well into middle age but have never done it. Am happy to peel veg, set the table, clear away and wash up every single thing.

But cook it - never! wouldn't know where to start. And don't go saying it's just a Sunday roast cos I've never done one of those either.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
CyberCritical · 13/11/2023 08:17

I've never done the kind of Xmas dinner you read about on here where you're cooking for hours, slaving away in the kitchen, generating a weeks worth of washing up.

I get a turkey crown or chicken, pre-prepped roast potatoes in goose fat, pre-prepped other veg, paxo stuffing, a pot of nice ready made gravy, frozen Yorkies etc It's just a matter of putting everything in the oven and leaving it for a while.

This year we've decided we can't even be bothered with that so we're doing baked Camembert and baguettes for lunch and Chinese takeaway for dinner.

Devilsmommy · 13/11/2023 08:18

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/11/2023 08:11

You've not met my nearly 91yo mother, I see. We won't be spending Christmas with her as we live a long way apart and she's going to my brother's, but if we did stay with her I guarantee she would want to do the whole thing herself. Not over-elaborate, but a full roast - turkey crown, bought roast potatoes, gravy, stuffing pack from the butcher, sprouts etc, followed by pudding. When I stay with her, I am constantly saying 'Can I do anything?' and finding she's already done it all. I am occasionally allowed to prepare some sprouts. She is a phenomenon.

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Your mom sounds fabulous 🤩

ChristmasFullHouse · 13/11/2023 08:21

A roast is one of the easiest things you can cook. Put meat in oven. So much is prepared now anyway that's literally all it is - maybe put on and take off some foil.

Potatoes - cut, mix with oil, put in oven. Par boil first if you like.

Pigs in blanket - put in oven.

Obviously you can prepare all sorts of sides from scratch but the basics aren't complicated.

Christmas dinner can be huge so I understand not doing the whole thing yourself but never putting a chicken or potatoes in the oven your whole life is unusual.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/11/2023 08:22

When it comes to cooking a traditional Christmas dinner, it's a great advantage if you actually enjoy eating it, as I do. If I didn't, I'd do it for others if I was confident they really loved it and looked forward to it, but otherwise we'd have made new traditions, I hope.

ChristmasFullHouse · 13/11/2023 08:22

I've never done the kind of Xmas dinner you read about on here where you're cooking for hours, slaving away in the kitchen, generating a weeks worth of washing up..
This is true for me too.

TheaBrandt · 13/11/2023 08:24

My mother and mother in law both healthy and mid 70s but over cooking for large groups and quite right too they’ve done their bit. My siblings and I take turns to host and the host couple do a joint effort helped out by others. The effort is a roast for a large group the timing can be tricky and lots to do in short time to bring it all together.

BodegaSushi · 13/11/2023 08:25

TheaBrandt · 13/11/2023 07:50

I do internally wince at great big adults still letting their elderly parents entirely host Christmas. Step up you should be doing it for them now.

My parents aren't elderly, they never did it either. When I was a child my grandparents did it (also not elderly at the time) and once they got older we went out for the meal instead.

Life is too short to spend it in the kitchen all day!

(And I've never cooked a Sunday roast either, the pub does a very good job!)

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/11/2023 08:25

Needmorelego · 13/11/2023 08:15

@tescocreditcard but I don't want to cook one. I don't like the food and I find cooking boring.
If I had to "host" a Christmas dinner then I would do something like pasta bake and garlic bread or fish and chips because that's what I like.
If I am going to the effort of cooking then it will be food I actually like.

Fair enough. I assume you would make it plain to your guests that that's what they would be getting, so if they wanted the usual British Christmas dinner they could make other arrangements, or plan to do it on another day.

Ballsbaill · 13/11/2023 08:26

No because I can't stand turkey. Christmas Dinner is just meat and 2 veg totally boring.

I went for lobster last year. 😋

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/11/2023 08:26

PS You like chips but not roast potatoes? They're not that different, surely?

3peassuit · 13/11/2023 08:26

I’ve been cooking the Christmas dinner for 15 for more than 40 years. I’d be delighted if I never set eyes on another turkey again.

BelfastSmile · 13/11/2023 08:26

I haven't - DH does ours. He's more specific about how he likes it done, and he finds it a hassle to have anyone else in the kitchen while he's doing it, so I let him crack on. To be honest, I'd be happy with a ham sandwich, though!

I could do it if I had to, though; I can do a Sunday roast.

CatamaranViper · 13/11/2023 08:26

TheaBrandt · 13/11/2023 07:50

I do internally wince at great big adults still letting their elderly parents entirely host Christmas. Step up you should be doing it for them now.

Ah so you mean take things away from people who enjoy them? My 'elderly' parents are fit and happy in their 60s and wouldn't dream of not cooking for the family. They'd be insulted if we tried to make them stop.

Sure other times of year we'll cook for them but take hosting away from them at Christmas? Fuck no

Roussette · 13/11/2023 08:28

I love a roast and I love Christmas dinner and it never involves slaving away, piles of washing up or cooking for hours. If it's like that, you're doing it wrong. But I do as much prep as possible and me and adult DCs just drink cocktails, eat delicious canapes and it just comes together with little effort.
I wouldn't miss it for the world.

DH carves the turkey, sorts out wine and other bits and it's just all so lovely.
I can't imagine sitting down to pasta bake or pizza which we have midweek when we're in a hurry!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/11/2023 08:29

KimberleyClark · 13/11/2023 08:11

If you can read you can learn to cook.

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But when it’s a case of CBA they’re never going to do it.

FrenchandSaunders · 13/11/2023 08:31

If I was invited to someone house for Christmas lunch and a pasta bake was served i would be so disappointed! I hope you make that clear beforehand!

Newnamesameoldlurker · 13/11/2023 08:31

I now host and buy all the food (in my 30s) but my parents still cook on the day. I do help. Trying to learn it as I agree it's wrong they're still doing it.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/11/2023 08:32

TheaBrandt · 13/11/2023 08:24

My mother and mother in law both healthy and mid 70s but over cooking for large groups and quite right too they’ve done their bit. My siblings and I take turns to host and the host couple do a joint effort helped out by others. The effort is a roast for a large group the timing can be tricky and lots to do in short time to bring it all together.

Yes, I agree about that. We've never had a huge family meal because the family is widely scattered and it's just not our tradition to gather together, but I imagine that is a much bigger undertaking.

BodegaSushi · 13/11/2023 08:32

Some people on this thread are taking it so personally that some people have never cooked a Christmas meal. Don't worry, we're not asking you to do it!

And no need to add the fictitious frail and elderly relative who must be the only person in the world who could do it instead Grin

DappledThings · 13/11/2023 08:33

Me. Aged 44. DH does all our cooking.

I did do a roast for the first time ever this year. DH left me very detailed instructions with timings for everything.

Morningtroubles · 13/11/2023 08:34

Me and I’m in my 50s.

BananaPyjamaLlama · 13/11/2023 08:35

Ive never cooked a traditional Sunday roast either tbh. I cook most days but Im veggie so what Im cooking is different. And although I like roast potatoes.......... Ive never truly mastered the art of cooking them (which annoys me!)

CurlewKate · 13/11/2023 08:36

Me! I haven't! I went straight from my mum cooking it to my dp apart from a couple of restaurants abroad.And I hope that never changes.

Maverickess · 13/11/2023 08:38

I'm 44 and I haven't, I could do it because I'm a fairly decent cook but I can't actually remember the last time I wasn't at work on Christmas Day so mine is normally one from work or a plated and microwaved one - sometimes the next day if I don't get chance to get to family at all.
We 'do' Christmas as a family on another date usually but it's normally presents, buffet type thing and sweets because we've all had one at some point, the ones who are working when they can and the ones who aren't on Christmas Day.

Stilldigging · 13/11/2023 08:40

Nope never cooked a roast or Christmas dinner, now late 40's. Thankfully DH is a good cook and enjoys doing it.