Please criticise my Xmas menu

[Roushi]

Just planning my contributions to the Christmas meal. I have been given appetisers and drinks.

I am just trying to strike that balance of making the day special but obviously not wanting to go overboard as there is so much gluttony on Christmas anyway.

Plan:

Appetisers
antipasti wreath
brie and cranberry parcels
Christmas tree shaped cheese ball and crackers (this was introduced to me by an American ex - not sure if it’s well known here but it is essentially a blend of cream cheese and other cheeses in the shape of a Christmas tree, some people add Boursin)

I reckon the above is good as it will take no time to make plus they can be picked at for a while and should not spoil. I was thinking of doing more canapé style food but I feel like it’s more of a pain in the arse to do.

but is obvious with my choices I’m kind of taking the easy route?

Drinks
Mulled cider
Berry cocktail of some sort
Champagne, wine (I’m not buying)

I am also going to make a white chocolate and raspberry Yule log which has sort of become my specialty. I enjoy baking and the person on pudding is fine with me doing so.

Is there anything you would take out? There will be no kids and 8 adults.

I always find mumsnetters think of things that don’t even enter my mind

I know to many this post is a bit unnecessary but I just get stage fright with food on big occasions.

Thanks in advance.

I had assumed this was instead of lunch not as well as. I would really struggle to eat pastries for breakfast, this as a snack and then Christmas lunch. They seem more like things for an evening buffet. Would suggest cutting out one the shaped things and putting a few lighter bits instead.

(Should add that I have a big appetite and love cheese.)

And the mozzarella snowman and the trees. Im all excited now.

I assume that the photos are for illustrative purposes, but you might want to think about portion sizes. Some people will eat a lot and then they will be stuffed before their turkey dinner.

Take someone who normally eats 2,000 calories per day. It's Christmas, so let's go nuts and give them 2,000 calories just for lunch, and let's forget about the calories in the wine. (I'm not trying to use calories to nag about eating too much — it's just a convenient way of measuring how the food will fill people up!) Wetherspoons helpfully lists their Christmas dinner platter at 1,079 calories.

That wreath looks like it has 20–24 skewers on it and I doubt if you'll get much change from 250 calories per skewer, so if someone eats three they're up to 750 before they've dug into the soft cheese pyramid or hit the brie & cranberry parcels.

Personally I would go with one of the three and then some nice raw veggies, maybe with a chili-mayo dip, and some home-made spicy nuts for those who just want something to nibble with that naughty pre-noon bubbly (coconutraita.blogspot.com/2009/12/chilli-roasted-cashew-nuts.html). It would be a toss-up for me between the skewers and the brie & cranberry parcels, although I'd probably go for the parcels since I suspect the skewers are less spectacular if you aren't serving enough to make a full-sized wreath.

The challenge is to serve less and make it look like more than it is, partly to save on waste (as a PP implied, you won't find the leftovers of the pyramid very appetising-looking) but also to avoid everyone running out of steam before seconds of roast potatoes are offered.

(Aside: American recipes, which I think that both of your food pictures show, are often ridiculously over-sized. They seem to assume that there is no set budget and that food waste is not something anyone needs to worry about.)

I would assume that adults are capable of managing their own appetites and Christmas Day is not the time to be counting calories. Particularly not on anyone else's behalf.

I assume also the OP is not going to be standing there forcing pastries down guests' throats. If you can't eat anything before the main course then don't eat it! Most people can manage a small pastry or two and then a turkey dinner.

I normally eat about 1800 calories a day but that's not to say I can't manage 2000 calories in one meal.

I really love cheese, but it is more an after dinner thing for me, unless ot is a wee quantity like your brie and cranberry parcels, or a mini filo pie with goat cheese red onion chutney or something.

I would do blinis, or wee squares of soda bread. There are so many more toppings than smoked salmon.

It looks amazing but I think it’s too much if lunch is served at 2. I’d either push lunch back or reduce the amount.

Maybe you could do something smaller and then have a cheese / charcuterie board later in the evening.

There are so many more toppings than smoked salmon, but smoked salmon is absolutely delicious and lots of people like it so why not have that?

The OP isn't competing on Masterchef.

I am a Christmas piglet but do like to make sure I have plenty of room for the main meal. Afterwards is my time for picking at endless things, once I know I've done the roast potatoes and pigs in blankets justice basically. Growing up we never had a starter for Christmas lunch and we do now as DH is used to it, but it's quite light.

Calories are utterly immaterial on Christmas Day!

No, but she's said upthread that the people she's cooking for aren't keen on it!

Too much cheese and I wouldn't have it for a starter thing at all given cheese board is usual for after dinner / nibbles later on. Light melba toast with a pate of sorts maybe ?

I'm so sorry but a Christmas tree shaped cheese ball sounds absolutely revolting!

I think I'd be a bit ...hmmm, if someone turned up with what is effectively enough food for a lunch as an appetizer.

Ah sorry, I missed that.

I do Christmas dinner for nine usually and we can easily polish off 40-50 canapes between us as a starter, full turkey dinner with all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, champagne and wine and we are all either slim or average sized. And three of the company are over 80.

Please don't take me as a slim picky eather - nothing could be further from the truth LOL - but are people really going to eat this much food between breakfast and lunch?

I'd have thought the wreath on its own would be more than enough.

I love the wreath idea, but think you could play with with it and make it lighter. What if it was half skewers and half crudites, with a bowl of dip in the middle?

Aren’t cucumber sticks just too dull for Christmas Day though? You can have a platter of crudites any day and the OP clearly wants to have fun making something special.

Which is why I suggested half skewers and half crudites - the main complaint on here is that it's too heavy and too cheesy - this would be a way to make it lighter and fresher, but having a similar type wreath

Potential Areas for Improvement

1. Balancing Richness: With the cheese-heavy appetizers (brie parcels and cheese ball), you might want to introduce a lighter option to avoid overloading on dairy. Consider adding:
2. Vegetable Crudités and Dips: Simple, colorful, and refreshing alongside richer offerings.
3. Mini Smoked Salmon Blinis: Elegant, easy, and a nice contrast to the other flavors.
4. Antipasti Wreath Composition: While antipasti is a safe bet, make sure it’s balanced with a variety of textures and flavors:
5. Add fresh elements like cherry tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers, and artichokes.
6. Include some crunch, such as breadsticks or grissini, arranged artfully in the wreath.
7. Drinks Variety: While the drinks are classic, consider adding a non-alcoholic festive option for those who might not want alcohol:
8. Mocktail Version of the Berry Cocktail: Use sparkling water or ginger ale as a base.
9. Non-Alcoholic Mulled Punch: A spiced apple juice blend with orange, cinnamon, and cloves.
10. Canapé Consideration: While canapés are more labor-intensive, having 1–2 bite-sized options can elevate the menu:
11. Mini Caprese Skewers: Mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, and basil on toothpicks drizzled with balsamic glaze.
12. Puff Pastry Pinwheels: Fill with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, or prosciutto for a simple yet elegant touch.
13. Dessert Timing: Since your Yule log is rich and white chocolate-based, check if the main dessert being served complements or contrasts it. If it’s similarly indulgent, perhaps adjust to a smaller log or add a fresh element like a berry coulis.

Extra Suggestions

• Your menu doesn’t feel like you’re taking the "easy route"; it’s efficient and well-thought-out for an appetizer and drinks contribution. The addition of 1–2 lighter or contrasting elements would ensure balance and variety.
• Confidence is key! Presentation can elevate even simple dishes—use garnishes like fresh rosemary, cranberries, or edible gold dust for a festive touch.
• Prepare as much as you can the day before to minimize stress. Appetisers like the cheese ball and antipasti can be assembled ahead of time and stored.

Hope these Help @Roushi

You can never have too much cheese at Christmas!

that i agree with

Way, way too much food for what is essentially a starter. You're catering for a full meal, not a few nibbles.

I'd either do something traditional like prawn cocktail as a starter, or I'd do a selection of bite sized canapes -no more than about 5 /6 per person. So the brie parcels could be one. A fancy cocktail skewer with mozzerella/salami milano/olive could be another. Tiny gazapacos as per a pp could be another, blini and salmon could be one etc. Actually putting out 2 of each of those pp would be fine. Then everyone could have one of each plus a second one of the one or two they fancy another of.

Looks wonderful the presentation is amazing, but I hate olives. The wreath I could pick at but the tree with the olives I wouldn’t even try.