I feel guilty about this - should I

[shinybaubles]

Let me start by saying I can cook pretty well, and have cooked for large numbers at Christmas ( all from scratch), this year it will be us 4 and pil, and I am tempted, well more than tempted to get it all ready done at M&S or Waitrose - out of sheer laziness. Lovely pils won't care, but I am feeling guilty already looking at my full basket online. What to do ? Votes please.

You already know the answer if you have a basket full !

Or you could do what I do....let DH do the cooking.

MrsChristmas I have had a full basket for 2 days

Well, by hanging onto it for 2 days tells me that you really really really want the easy option this year !

Go to checkout and BUY !

No guilt, just a lovely ready-made Christmas. I wouldn't get all hot and sweaty for no-one on Christmas Day. It would be beans on toast if it was left to me. I do everything else all bloody year !

I vote for the route that gives you a year off because you've done your time cooking Christmas dinner.

Go for it - there are no prizes for putting in more effort than it needs. If you can afford to go for the ready-made options, then put your feet up and enjoy it. There's enough else to put the work into at Christmas!

DH really doesn't see my point and just says to spend what I want buy it and enjoy Christmas, I am clearly over thinking it as I am worried I will be very cross with myself on Christmas Day.
I do want the easy option but I also feel like cooking is what I do.

AmuminScotland yes this year we can afford it after being absolutely broke for the last 5 years - another reason it feels strange to spend the money now we can actually afford it.

aw you've got a lovely dh there!

come on, tell us how much you're spending?!

I love xmas shoping food lists

Could you not do half and half?

Buy in the stuff that's a faff to do yourself and then enjoy cooking the bits that seem extra special if they are homemade?

Agree with your DH.

You are overthinking. Give yourself this year off, and enjoy it !

Maybe compromise and make a special meal for New Year ? So that you can ease your 'guilt' ?

I used to feel like you. Till I realised that I'm not Superwoman, and nor do I have to be. You need to learn to relax and enjoy less responsibility !

See, the only problem you really have is if you take the easy option and everyone comments on how much nicer this years dinner is !

JOKE !!!

cjbartlett - we don't spend much at Christmas as we are pretty short on family and I feel guilty about buying too many presents for the little ones, I am currently up to £180 on M&S but must admit to filling my basket with random things like chicken drumsticks and many desserts - which will make for an interesting Christmas dinner.

Did you remember the shortbread, shiny ? M & S have some on offer, half price at the mo, I think !

I love going to M & S and getting 'nibbly bits'.

That's so true MrsC - you have made me lol.
That's not a bad idea piprabbit - I would like to do the turkey myself really enjoy brining etc. A compromise might be in order.

There you go !

Cook turkey, all else is lazy bastards easy food !

I do love shortbread am the only one in this family.
Well I am going to be doing all the cooking for us 4 and ds +bil from the 16th - 23, then us ad pils from 23-27, then all the cooking for us and ds+bil from 27 - 2 Jan. So I guess I can take it easy on the day.

I know I'm going to regret this...but what is brining?

It's putting the turkey in a bucket of brine and leaving outside overnight - makes it moist and less prone to dryness, also a fun bit of cooking for the kids to help with.
example

You can also do the ham in coca-cola. Delicious.

I prefer honey and oranges studded with cloves. The oranges go so well with the ham.

You have earned a day off ! Be Free ! And eat lots of shortbread, and drink lots of drink.

Well I never .

I do love the ham in coke.

It is delicious.

I love every aspect of 'Christmas' food. So many treats and delectable eatables you don't have any other time of the year.

I am being very good. I went out the weekend and did about £50 on nuts and sweets and bits . They are now hidden from the DCs put away till Christmas. I am trying so hard not to cave and have a few.

DO IT, woman.

give yourself a goddarn break.

And I speak as absolutely the most gigantic, puritan, purse-lipped, judgey, never-bought-a-packet-of-anything-in-my-life food snob

You are all so lovely - thankyou. The ScarlettPimpernel - we share many of those character traits - hence the guilt.

Not in the UK - sadly - but will be home from the 16th -and have persuaded lovely pils to fly over for the holidays - way too excited for my own good.