Something like salmon but not salmon

[RupertTheBear]

I hope someone can give me some inspiration as I just can't think today! Our family traditional meal for Christmas Eve is a whole baked salmon, new pots, green veg and hollandaise. It's faff free, light, looks impressive and leftovers freeze well. However this year MIL will be here and she is allergic to all fish. I just can't think what to do instead.
It needs to be fairly easy as Xmas Eve is always mad busy, no leftovers, not heavy, but a little bit special. Any ideas?

We always have baked Vacherin with new pots, cornichons, nice bread & lashings of good wine.

Mmmm - faff free & delicious.

Could you buy a ready baked ham? I recently got one from our local farm shop and it was delicious. Or just follow the usual tradition for everyone but do your MIL something else that is easy and you know she likes. You could bake her a chicken breast in foil or something like that in the oven while you do the salmon.

What's Vacherin??

We have ham for Christmas Day breakfast.

THink I will have to go with doing her something different if I can't come up with a better option

Ooh it's cheese. Looks lush but not sure it is light??

Errrm, if you ate a whole one probably not but I do 1/2 per person & certainly don't feel bloated after - a real seasonal treat (it's only available in late Autumn/Winter) & bloody lovely, I stick holes in & put some thyme & garlic in & pour some of the white wine we're drinking with it over the top, bake for about 25 mins & serve.

that sounds Awesome. Room for one more on Christmas Eve, spiders?

That sounds fab. Can you get it in the supermarket?

Waitrose do, otherwise your local friendly deli or cheesemonger (would be easy to find online, usually about £6 a cheese, so fairly pricey but comparable in price & specialness to a salmon), the boxes it comes in & you bake it in are made of spruce too, which adds to the whole Christmassy feel.

DH & I pack the children off to bed, light the fire, crack open the wine, stick the carols on & let the cheese-fest commence.

Can't wait.

What "sort" of cheese is it?? Is it strong, mild, goaty etc. I only ask because I like to all eat together on Christmas Eve (dcs are 4 and 7). The kids arent fussy at all but not sure they will go for cheese. We would love it though.

It's very mild, creamy, cheesy cheese, it's not challenging, has a slight aroma & flavour of the spruce.

Four-year old friendly I would most certainly say.

Almost fondue-like - leave out the garlic, wine & thyme for them if they're not keen - if they like cheese sauce they'd wolf it.

Children love it as they get to dip.

Nice chicory salad on the side for the adults would be good, I also serve chacuterie with it, so any nice cured meats.

I also want ideas for something like salmon that is not salmon (and although the cheese sounds amazing I can't see my mum going for it). I always do a whole salmon for Christmas Eve only we have moved house and I just don't think it will fit in my horrible small inherited oven. Salmon steaks just don't feel special enough: can anybody suggest an alternative fishy thing (or should I treat this as my opportunity to buy a fish kettle and poach it?)

bigbadbarry
How about baking two or more sea bass with lemon and garlic and olive oil: this can be done in a much smaller pan than a salmon. Or how about a really good fish curry? I love that for Christmas Eve, before the meat and potato fest of the next few days

My mother won't touch curry either but sea bass is a really good idea: definitely special enough to be festive. I might do it with soy, ginger, spring onions etc, served with rice. Though lemon/garlic/oil sounds lovely too. Hmm.

Mums can be awkward can't they! What about that posh fishy thing where you bake it in a crust of salt?

With sea bass?
I think she might be a bit catsbum at that too :)