Is this too much food for 5 people on Xmas day?

[Hoiz]

Breakfast
Pret frozen croissants
Cinnamon rolls
Coffee
Bucks Fizz

Houer D'oeuvres
Pigs in blanket (American style)
Chorizo and Scallops
Salmon and Cod Roe Blinis
Garlic Prawns
Caeser Salad skewer

Main Meal
Stuffed Chicken Joint
Roast Potatoes
Mash
Dauphinoise Potatoes
Honey Carrots
Bacon and Broccoli
Parsnips
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Pigs in blanket
Stuffing balls
Yorkshire pudding
Onion Gravy
Plain Gravy

Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding and Ice cream
Xmas Pudding
Yule Log
Cheese Platter
Mince Pies

Dinner
Leftovers

Drinks
Champagne
Wine
Bucks Fizz
Spicy Margharitas

Someone in the group is insisting on a starter but they have agreed to taking responsibility. TBC.

This will all be homemade (apart from pastries in morning and ice cream) so it’s a lot of work - 2 main people doing it. A third person will likely pitch in a fair amount.

Is it a normal amount of food? First year hosting but any less would not be what my family is used to. But I’m doing a lot more homemade stuff whereas in previous years some of the snack stuff and desserts would be M and S.

It sounds a lot. We only have 4 people for dinner, we will have croissant for breakfast, big roast around 3pm, maybe 3 desserts , I have ordered a Yule log and will either make a truffle or pavlova, dd1 has some cheesecake in the freezer). I would save mince pies and possibly Yule log to have in the evening with coffee?

We don’t do starters as we just can’t manage 3 courses and dessert is the most important course for me so I need space for it.

Sounds bloody delicious and you will eat like kings with those leftovers until new years!

Personally I'd make life as simple as possible by sacking off the starter thingys (the Belinis and scallops) and have those on boxing day if you're desperate.

You are def making loads of work for yourself, as long as you're fine with that then no problem! I'd make the dauphinoise, onion gravy and red cabbage in advance so they are just heat up jobs on the day, if your sister wants mash get her to make and bring it 😂

It's just 3 of us for Xmas so we do steak and chips (although swapping for parmesan and truffle roasted potatoes this year), with a few extras.

But yeah, great menu, but a LOT of time in the kitchen over xmas with it. Again, horses for courses so if you're fine with that then crack on, and don't forget to stock up on Gaviscon!

You don’t have to make everyone’s favourite things. Ditch the mash and the onion gravy. Two puddings is plenty: yule log and Christmas pud. A mince pie with a cup of tea for later, maybe with cheese and biscuits then. Definitely cut down on the canape choices and put crisps/nuts put instead.

Honestly yes. If I were in your shoes I would drop the starters, one vegetable dish, only do one type of gravy and two types of potatoes. I would buy the yule log too.

Yes it is much too much - and I over cater for everything! The only thing that might be lacking is the meat... One chicken joint for 5 people?

I never do starters as nobody has room to eat afterwards, but each to their own! 2 types of hors d'oeuvres should be plenty for only 5 people, we just have nibbles like nuts and fancy crisps. I don't have the time of energy to faff around with doing proper hors d'oeuvres.
No more than 2 kinds of potato are needed, and no more than 3 different veg. You don't need sprouts and cabbage. Too much fart producing brassica!
Sides look fine, I wouldn't do Yorkshire puddings especially with 3 different kinds of potato but I know other people like them. I would add cranberry sauce and bread sauce because my family like them... Not sure what kind of stuffing balls you are thinking of, especially if the chicken is already stuffed? I do turkey and do chestnut stuffing with that. Maybe a surfeit of stuffing?
Far too many pudding choices. Have one hot and one cold, with cheese and biscuits if you think it necessary. I don't think it necessary - we have cheeses etc in the evening. I always have a fruit bowl available for those who are too full for pudding but still want something sweet.

And you have forgotten the bread sauce!

As per a previous poster, ditching the cabbage is a good call because you have Brussels sprouts and because no-one wants reheated cabbage.

Too much. I wouldn’t survive at yours OP.
make sure you’ve got enough containers and tin foil to give away leftovers.

1 x starter, 1 x main, 1 x pudding (allergies excepted). You're not a bleeding restaurant,

I’m 30.

I cooked a roast last night for dinner with friends and it was no hassle at all (one of the best roasts I’ve ever had tbh - stuffed garlic and herb butter under the skin).

Im happy with the menu as it is now, thanks all for your input.

Merry Christmas!

I wouldn’t survive at yours OP.

No one is being force fed.

It sounds amazing!!

It is quite a lot but it’s Christmas!

And most of it can be eaten over a few days if there are leftovers, which is what I assumed most families did.

Why wouldn’t you survive? Lol

Most people can regulate their eating and stop when they’ve had enough.

If you don't mind, could you swing by and pick us up on the way?

Though first, I need to think about getting across the pond before Christmas. 😆

OP--that is a LOT of food! I am pretty sure you could feed a dozen people and still have leftovers. It all sounds very good, but you could drop at least one hors d'oeuvres, and at least one vegetable from dinner and still feed an army.

It really seems like a lot of pressure on you for 5 people. It's supposed to be a day for all to enjoy and not a bunch of stress. Maybe not do as much yourself, pick up a few of the things pre-made?

I grew up thinking my best friend's mother put on a large doing for Christmas, but you have knocked her out of the water by far, and they would have a lot more people!

We normally make a “bung it” pie with leftover veg and gravy. It is HEAVENLY. Even better than the Xmas dinner.

It does sound like you're a good host, have a lovely time 😍

Your guests are going to have a great time! You must be a wonderful cook to be able to get that all put together from scratch!

I hope you have a lovely Christmas holiday time!

Most of it can be fridge and left overed. On Christmas I would rather too much then too little !

Scallops may go bad though I'm worried about your safety so I'll just drop my address here to dispose of them..

Everything is fine apart from the stuffed chicken joint? It won't feed five people

There are five of us for Christmas, I'm doing roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, roast parsnips, red cabbage, carrots, peas and sprouts. We don't have a starter. Christmas pudding and a chocolate sponge pudding (one person doesn't like Christmas pudding) Supper will be cheese and biscuits, mince pies and Christmas cake. I hate that stuffed feeling you can get after eating too much. Nuts and crisps available for nibbling during the day.
Normal breakfast, some have cereal, others poached egg on toast.

sounds amazing! i’d love all that veg

but i couldn’t eat that much so early - no way couldn’t i eat a roast before 3-4

OP hasn't said her chicken is battery farmed.

Anyway - unless you are her sister or her mum (in which case you would be used to the family meal sizes) I don't think you are invited .

I think that hors d'oeuvres is too much before a big Christmas dinner let alone a starter as well.

Chicken ends up looking like this. Sister makes it fairly regularly as her show stopper. Always have enough (even for greedy dog). Her Xmas stuffing is something else