Bravely asking for help with xmas menu

[mamechange]

Dessert is sorted - DH is a master pudding maker and I'm going to be lazy and buy the custard - tick

Main- something on the bbq ( not sure, maybe lamb rump) plus roast potatoes and heaps of other veg, and a turkey breast

Entree - heaps of bikkies and cheese and smoked salmon and dip amd good old prawn cocktails

And this year we will not make the mistake of playing Finska in the sun whilst getting very drunk!

It's not a lot of people 10 adults and a teenager. I think. (roughly could be one or two more)

Is that reasonable or not?

Yes, but I'd move cheese and biscuits to the end and/or later grazing.

Keep the starters all fishy (if you want more, try putting trout roe on sour cream/cream cheese on blinis/crackers)

Make the cheese a cheeseboard, with a good selection, crackers and posh crackers, grapes/figs/celery, chutneys, fruit paste thingies

I agree with the PP; cheese and biscuits should come after not before the main course. Otherwise all good.

So just the prawn cocktails for entree,mains and a really nice cheeseboard, and then after everybody has fallen asleep (my family!) then the pudding and custard,I get it sounds good. Ta. I was thinking of throwing my dogs and sons into the pool for some kind of race but that's probably not fair ( to my sons)

I always serve prawns and smoked salmon as quite a few people I know don’t eat prawns.

I recently had black cherry compote with cheese it was delicious.

It has to be black cherry. Not just 🍒.

Agree, cheese and biscuits after the main course but also after pudding, or as an alternative - not before pudding

OK. So prawm cocktails amd smoked salmon ( one of my boys does it very professionally with red onion and lemon and stuff on it), then the mains,then the dessert? My family fall asleep. So it's either dessert , sleep cheeseboard or cheeseboard, sleep , dessert. Hmm

I could just spray them with water pistols!

We have desert after main then play poker for a bit and have cheeseboard while doing this.

No sleeping though but we start to eat early by 1pm usually.

So it's either dessert , sleep cheeseboard or cheeseboard, sleep , dessert. Hmm

What a tough choice!!

The thing you've missed is "attempting to eat your bodyweight in Quality Street" as an alternative pudding

dessert at the main meal ... cheeseboard later in the evening

Oh that is a good idea. If I can keep them awake. One of my boys is a poker expert though ( used to get invited to tournaments , not a world class poker dude just local) Rummy I win all the time, that's an idea. Ta

I wouldn't want any red onion with prawns or smoked salmon. I think it would very overpowering and raw would ruin the main as it does leave a flavour in your mouth.

You haven't actually mentioned any of the sides for us to really give a decent opinion

Finksa goes on too long for us, especially with the "if you go over 50 start at 25" rule and lots of players

I'm more of the Guylian (sp) choc seashells girl. You leave a box of them in front of me and they are gooooone,
Cards is a good idea, better than sloshed Finska in the heat , and 2 years ago I rather drunkenly tried to saddle my horse (badly) and my poor oldest went completely sideways.Do not recommend. Had to call ambos. Don't have horse anymore - sold him to someone who had been looking for him and was much more capable. Stuck with evil Welsh pony though. Christmas at our place is always exciting! Gosh knows what will happen this year.
My money is on one of the sheep coming in the house ( we only have 2 - they are babydolls ( that's a breed) or the pony for another house visit.
Or the 4 dogs could escape or jump in the pool . I should set up a video. If you move to the country don't be an idiot like me and buy too many animals ( just a word of warning)

Hey, we get it. You're in NZ.

(Nobody else says bikkies) 😎

Sides are heaps of veg, obviously roast potatoes,buttered sugared carrots, peas and this salad I do every year that has rocket, feta, baby tomatoes and baked chopped sweet potatoes all covered in balsamic glaze. It's a good one.
Oh and my mum always brings her brocolli with corn and white sauce but I think I may have to do that this year 😟as she has not been well this year.

I don't eat smoked salmon so just leave it to son but it gets devoured?

No no no. We say bikkies in this big country quite near you . ( Oh and thanks for Melanie Bracewell she's awesome)😁Love to all the Kiwis ( I actually went to pre-school in Cristchurch so I'm a little bit Kiwi) ❤

I assumed Australia? 😃