to not be particularly happy about cooking Christmas dinner for 18 people on Christmas day?

[luckymummy74]

That would be 8 adults and 10 kids aged between 1 and 16 yrs of age. It will involve 3 highchairs ( I have one).

Also, 4 veggies (not that I'm anti-veggie, on the contrary, I eat a lot of veggie food) but 2 eat fish and 2 don't, so I will have to cook 3 separate meals in total.

A lot of the kids are quite fussy too.....

I don't really have room in my house for this many people.

DH thinks I'm being unreasonable that I'm not very enthusiastic about this.....

Any thoughts, or tips to how to get thru the day?!!!

I would die from stress related problems if I had to cook for that many people, good luck.... You must be very brave or very good in the kitchen, or both

What about a Christmas buffet? Canteen style. Hot turkey sandwiches, baked new potato halves filled with stuffing and apple sauce, etc?

Or get a takeaway

I like the sound of Kewcumber's cranbeery sauce

Sounds hellish. You are brave!

I would send out an email and suggest that you do this every year from now on as you realise there is so much work to do for one person;

We need the following

starters and canapes/snacks - I will do

Food for the kids - I will do
roast turkey
roast potatoes
veg

Xmas Pud
Choc pud
Fruit pud

wine and beer - we will provide 3 bottles of wine and a box of beer,

coffee and chocolates - I will do

We will also need another 12 chairs and cutlery and plates. Could someone provide this please.

Please put your name against what you can bring and forward the email back to me.

DONE!!

Oh and

I think an email to everyone well in advance telling them what they are responsible for, eg:

PIL - a couple of hostess trays of 'starters' to be eaten with a pre-dinner drink
SIL - mince pies/brandy butter/whatever
BIL - some wine
VEGGIES - veggie alternative

etc etc

Make it clear that you will provide the venue and the basic main meal but everyone is expected to bring a contribution. Surely they wouldn't expect to turn up empty handed when there are that many of you?

Fussy kids - IGNORE THEM. They eat what's provided or don't eat - end of story. I would only provide an alternative for a child with allergies, no other reason.

ProfYaffle - "cranbeery" sauce is essential for a Merry Christmas.

takeaway sounds like a fab idea! Are takeaways open Xmas day?
Can you imagine ordering for 18 poeple 'How many popadmos was that? Who's having a starter?
They'd need a van!

let the mums sort the babies, have a childs sitting first, their parents sort what they will eat from the food you have provided. let the older kids look after babies and adults sit in peace, im sure all the veggies would be happy with a nut roast.there done.

And why if he feels bad about it has he chosen this year when you have a baby and a toddler to cope with?

I think contributions sound like a good idea, not forgetting a veggie dish (not fish), in quantities more than sufficient for all the veggies plus anyone else who'd like a taste. And party food type nibbles for kids sound like a good idea, especially if they're things that can be got ready made or with minimal preparation (like sausage rolls, cheese, crisps). Make a list of what's needed and invite people to say if they plan to bring something which isn't on the list too (a chance for parents of fussy kids to make sure that their offspring are catered for)?

Sorry but I must defend my DH, he did volunteer us to do Christmas dinner, not just me. He's really helpful around the house and will defintiely do his fair share, he's really good like that. The whole prospect still daunts me, even with his help. He's not feeling 'bad' elkiedee, not sure where that was written but it wasn't me who wrote it!!

Buffet not an option I'm afraid, I did think of that but MIL is very traditional. Also, she will think that if his sisters can do it (i.e. her daughters) why can't I?!!

I'm already planning now.....think I will just do Christmas pudding and mince pies for pudding, I'm all for keeping it simple!

Think I might even just get all frozen veg, potatoes and parsnips etc etc, would that be OK? Then there's no peeling!

Can't remember who asked but no, I do not have a massive table! We have a large-ish table in the dining room that seats 6-8 and then a small round table in the kitchen which seats 4-5. I was thinking the kids coudl just eat in the kitchen (although there are 10 of them ) but I think MIL would make a comment about us all sitting together.

Oh, and BTW, the only reason I begrudgingly agreed to this was to make DH agree that this was the one and only time I would do it, and that from now on, we have Christmas dinner just the four of us then meet up with them later for presents .

I think I will be able to handle it just knowing that fact!!!

Honestly thank you to all of you, you have given me some great ideas and tips.

LM xxx

Haven't read all the thread, but a top tip my mum gave me... when you've got more people than can sensibly fit around your table, go to a diy store or a hardware place and get a large piece of MDF, something the right shape for your table but a foot or so larger all the way round. It will enable you to fit more around the table. When you've got a table cloth over the top you can't tell at all.

'If your MIL insists on a starter,'

Tell her she's more than welcome to bring one along!

No advice or tips just wanted to post that i am totally in awe of you for doing Christmas Dinner for 18!!!

I did it for 8 the year before last and was totally stressed out. Never again.

Good Luck

Well an easy starter is smoked salmon on blinis - needn't cost much as you can be very sparing with the salmon.

Why does anyone have a starter before Christmas dinner? It's not traditional - and how can you fit it in? If there must be gluttony on a grand scale have stilton after the pud. And dates!

Some hot nibbles with drinks beforehand might be an option - but not for me if I had food fo 18 on the go!

We have a spare table from ikea for £20ish which we keep, legs removed in the garage for Christmas etc.

It will all be fine if you plan ahead.

Make ahead and freeze (or fridge for few days)

Stuffing
Cabbage
Veg dish (nut roast?)
Pudding

Get people to bring

Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Snacks (my bro brings mince pies, stollen. danish etc)

Get dh to set table on Christmas Eve with borrowed chairs and cutlery which he has arranged for people to bring

On the day

Roast turkey
Roast veg (peel few days before and keep in a bucket of water in your garage/garden)
Microwave peas
Heat up frozen stuff

Get MIL to make gravy.

Forget about starter

Forget about fish

Fussy eaters can eat cake

These people are your family. Its not the queen. If the didn't like you they wouldn't be coming on Christmas day. They are coming for the company, not Michelin star service.

blu The starter is my favourite!

Do something simple but spectacular that your MIL / SIL have never done - like indoor sparklers at the table to light when the flaming pud comes in.

Iceland are doing prawn rings for £3 at the moment. You could get a couple of them and some crusty bread if you absolutely must have a starter

Good luck - I wouldn't want to do it, though I've done Xmas lunch (with starters, puddings and all trimmings for 10). Not again, though.

Re the kids. Put them in the kitchen round the small table. There is nothing wrong with that, and it's YOUR HOUSE YOUR RULES. MIL can moan or not as she sees fit. In your house it is not practical/possible to put all of you round the table. When I was small, kids always got their own table on big family occasions and we loved it. No one to tell you to sit up straight, elbows off the table, don't tip the chair etc etc. The older kids can be in charge.