To buy ready made food for Christmas?

[SpicyMargarita1]

Honestly, I’m exhausted. DH and I work in a physically demanding job. We are working until late on Christmas Eve and have been working 7 days a week so we’ve got enough money to cover us for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

We are going to PIL for Christmas Day but we have to take our own food because we’re vegan and they aren’t.

Would IBU to take a ready made vegan roast and a tray of ready made veg? I just CBA to make everything from scratch. I’d rather spend some downtime with my DH and DC.

I’m an excellent cook, but I’m exhausted.

Your DH will understand, and PIL won't care because they're eating something else, so why on earth not?

Yeah, I’m tired this year. I love Xmas, I’m on leave from work, I have plenty of time but I just need a proper relaxed and chilled out couple of weeks and for me that means no getting stressed about food. We’re taking the in-laws to a restaurant on Boxing Day and Xmas eve and Xmas day we’re stocking the fridge and freezer with festive delicious ready to whack in the oven food. Everything will be in foil containers and will be simply a matter of open, cook and eat.

My SIL uses Aunt Bessie’s frozen roasties. They’re nice!

In days gone by when I used to do Christmas dinners, everything was ready made apart from the turkey. I just couldn't be bothered with all the faff when easier options were available.

But

This is crazy op! You are the one who's going to be eating it..it's not even like you're providing food for other people. Why should anyone else get to dictate how much effort YOU make feeding YOURSELF.

I'm veggie and if nobody else who's veggie joins me for Xmas dinner I will often just buy something pre-made for myself. It would never occur to me to feel a speck of guilt about that.

In fact, I'd be doing store bought desserts for everyone too in your shoes.

But I feel bad saying, “I know I was meant to be bringing roast potatoes and dessert, but nah, can’t be fucked. Too tired. Sorry.”

Seriously, buy the desserts. Roasties I think you'll struggle to get away with but nobody who genuinely cares about you would want you exhausting yourself making desserts.

Every year my MIL applauds me for my.roast potatoes. They are M&S ones in goosefat. I just take them out of the M&S packaging and throw it out and put them on my own baking tray. She thinks I am the roast potato queen 😆

I haven't even started shopping yet. Sigh. I just SO can't be arsed this year.

I had one of those too so I feel your pain. She made Christmas cake, Christmas puddings, Simnel Cake. You name it she made it but both of her DC moved out at 18, she never worked and she had an extraordinary amount of time on her hands.

You take what you want to take and don’t give DML’s ideals a second thought.

Similarly I have ‘made’ the Yorkshire puddings in advance and frozen them in a plain freezer bag. Thanks Aunt Bessie.

Unless your PILs are disabled, unwell, very elderly or flat out broke, I think it is pretty poor form not to fully host guests, and that includes catering for vegans. Especially for such close family members! And asking someone else to bring roast potatoes is plain weird.

If I was the MIL, I would be absolutely delighted to have the chance to give my exhausted son and DIL a well earned break and would be pouring over vegan recipe books for ideas to treat you with.

Yes and this. I agree with this also.

Well yes, you can’t say you’ll bring something and then not! Just buy a few packs of roast potatoes and a couple of festive desserts like a Christmas pudding and a Yule log, and whatever main you want.

I’ve just asked DH (equally overworked and exhausted) what he would do if he was in charge of providing food for Christmas and he’s offered these two solutions:

1. We volunteer at the homeless shelter so we don’t have to cook (we’ve donated money to them this year, we’re not really freeloaders).
2. If he has to provide the food, “… there will be pizza, chocolate and lots of crying.”

t least his expectations are low 😂

Several years ago DH and I were both recovering from injury and on our knees after a bereavement. We went to Waitrose and bought every single thing we needed for Christmas - in boxes, ready made, easy.

It was perfect. I'd advise anyone to do it in any circumstances.

I know others are saying it, but I have to add my two penny worth, why are you expected to take the food, if she does everything why isn’t she coving this. You don’t host and then say bring your own food oh and also potatoes for everyone AND desert !

my DIL called lasted night to confirm time of arrival length of stay and what could she bring. She’s lactose intolerance due to breast feeding at the moment and is vegetarian, eldest child also vegetarian. I told her to bring herself and the children . I did check I’ve bought the right things for her but that’s all.

you know what, I think if I was you I would be bloody minded and take paper plates for us all as well. After all you don’t want to put her out at all do you.

@Grumpynan you sound lovely ☺️

Love this!!!

Definitely not unreasonable. I usually buy the ready prepared Xmas pack of veggies from Sainsbury’s but missed the order date this year so I’ll be doing my own roasties and roasted veg as I just throw them all in one pan anyway. I’ve bought ready prepared stuffing, red cabbage and frozen dauphinois potatoes though, and I’ve always got chopped cabbage and broccoli which goes in a steamer bag in the microwave for 3 mins. Quick and easy especially as there’s only me and DH for lunch.

Ive done this, and like pp put the bought stuff into my own bowls and dishes. Voila, who would know?

Mary berry goose fat roasts frozen.
Chocolate roulade from one of the supermarkets

Christmas is about getting together and having fun, not killing yourself

We were invited for lunch today. Hosts friend was cooking but he's ill. We are going to pick up a lasagne and salad from Sainsbury's. All the fun, half the work.
(Host just diagnosed with MND so she's not really able)

We’re vegan, though. So the expectation is that we’ll bring our own food. And potatoes for all. And dessert. Because vegan potatoes and dessert is too hard for people.

@Musicaltheatremum sorry to hear about your friend.