Christmas lunch - guests, contributions and leftovers

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I can’t decide who IBU here so please help.

There’s a small number of us for Christmas lunch, we’re hosting. SIL (single, no children) has bought the turkey crown under duress. For completeness, we host every year for her and PIL (for the last 10 or so years) and haven’t previously asked for anything. Nothing has ever been offered either, no drinks brought round as a thank you. Now SIL is saying she will take all of the turkey leftovers!

I can’t decide if that’s fine as she’s paid for it or if she’s being a CF as she’s getting the whole Christmas dinner prepared (she won’t lift a finger while she’s here, never does).

So who IBU - me for expecting the leftovers to be left, or her for taking them all?!

Tell her not to bother as you're not that hard up, cook your own turkey and give leftovers as you see fit cheeky cow

Last year I would host.

My daughter is hosting 9 of us, 4 in her direct family group. The other 2 couples and single person are all contributing by buying and cooking what they're bringing. As her mum I'm cooking a turkey crown and doing some veg. The others are doing the same bar the turkey crown. Our crown will complement the turkey she is cooking. It's only fair to do it this way IMO.

I can't say i'd be desperate to eat any leftover food from anyone to be honest.

Let her fucking take it she'll probably chuck it in the bin by 28th.

This is one of the funniest threads of Christmas 2024. I would also be tempted to make an alternative meat that I know everyone else will prefer so that she’s left taking most of a turkey crown home which unfortunately came out exceptionally dry this year.

Don’t have her back next year!

Why are you telling your Mum what to do?

Oh tight cow. I’d make a big show of packing up the leftovers for her. Give her a look and never invite her again.

I'd be tempted to drop a piece on the floor and then add it back into the pile either with/or without her knowledge. At least then I'd have the satisfaction of knowing she'd maybe find some grit in it when she eats it later.

My BIL is similar to this, although he has never bought a turkey, just the cans of drink that he has.

Fill your Tupperware tub when she's not looking and hide it out of site.................🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Also, make sure you put the leftovers in a huge Tupperware with the carcass and juices 😂

Loudly tell everyone at lunch not to have too much turkey because SIL paid for it and wants to take the leftovers home. Tell them all next year it'll be back to normal, we will buy all the food and so everyone can help themselves. It's just this one year SIL paid for something, so doesn't want everyone just eating all her money.

Every time she asks for drink, roast spud, pudding etc... just say "No problem, that'll cost a slice of turkey" 😉
But in reality is probably how most of the leftovers, and give her a little scrap at the end - cheeky bint!

She's not going to sit there watching the turkey to make sure people don't take too much is she? Would make for an awkward meal! Make sure she doesn't take any other leftovers other than turkey! Also, would a turkey crown even have much leftovers? 5 adults plus kids? Bet she buys the smallest one!

Honestly OP, it’s going to be awkward anyway. Just say this and get it off your chest!

Why not spell it out to her? Point out she has never contributed despite being better off
You think that's unfair. With luck she'll storm off ....

I'm really sorry SIL but you bought such a small turkey there were no leftovers, would seem a nice bitchy comment to make

Yanbu.

if I take contributions to a meal, I don’t expect to take leftovers home with me!!

I do usually offer up leftovers, particularly as we have a stupidly small fridge. Just a general “everyone take a bit with you, it’s all got to go” type comment.

and I always give my dad plenty to take home as he’s elderly and lives alone. So he really appreciates having tasty things to pick at for a few days after Christmas.

I'd call her out on it

Eat as much as you can and lick all of the remaining pieces.

It's cheeky. Make this the last year you do it.

Oh Jesus, no that's a CF. You're hosting her yet again, buying it is the least she can do! You'll be cooking, no doubt providing drinks, desserts, etc with all prep and clean up. She shouldn't be expecting a doggy bag, that's crazy!

Say "oh it was too dry and crumbled, must have overcooked it, the part we had was the middle bit." 🤣 Or just give everybody loads and say there's no leftovers! Hide any if there is, and still say that.

If I was a petty person I might leave the leftover turkey carcass (after removing sufficient for my own family's boxing day sandwiches) on the side for the cat/dog to find

I'd buy my own turkey and tell her on the day you wanted left overs for Boxing Day so she can have the whole turkey to herself.

She'll then have to cook it herself and probably won't be able to eat it all, so will have wasted her money.

Well, it's easy to figure out why she has so much money😂
Wanting to bring the left overs of the turkey crown back to hers! Holy Lord

She's being selfish and ridiculous, but I'm not sure what her being single has to do with anything...