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Christmas

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Original poster

If you were given a chicken casserole on Christmas Day, instead of a roast....

135 replies

HuevosRancheros · 21/10/2013 18:28

.....would you feel like you'd been cheated?

DH is veggie (so will have a quorn fillet casserole anyway), DCs are quite fussy, so I thought I'd do a casserole that can be made a couple of days before, so removing some of the 'timing stress' I seem to have when doing a roast drinking loads of Bucks Fizz during the morning has nothing to do with it, oh no
I would do a naice one, with shallots, baby mushrooms, chestnuts, port etc. And all the usual trimmings - roast potatoes and parsnips, brussels, etc. Could even push the boat out and do pigs in blankets Grin

But my in-laws are coming too. They are lovely, I know if I asked them about it, they would say it is fine, just to be nice and keep me happy. After all, I am cooking, they wouldn't complain.

So I need an unbiased, not-afraid-to-upset-me opinion please

Thanks :)

OP posts:
ThePuffyShirt · 21/10/2013 19:17

No! It has to be a roast with many trimmings.

saintmerryweather · 21/10/2013 19:17

id think havibg casserole plus trimmings would be weird. id cook a roast chicken

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 21/10/2013 19:18

I would be disappointed.

Why don't you buy the M&S stuff - the turkey and sausages etc?

herladyship · 21/10/2013 19:25

I'd be more than happy.. in fact, any chance I could come over? I'll bring a dessert & plenty of alcohol.. Wink

NutritiousAndDelicious · 21/10/2013 19:32

I'd cry. I'd be so so Sad

Original poster
HuevosRancheros · 21/10/2013 19:33

OK, so quite a divided opinion Grin
As you say, I should just ask in laws, which I will, but I kind of know they wouldn't dream of saying 'no', in the same way I wouldn't if the situation were reversed....

Thank you all :)

Can I now ask you politely to go over to my other Christmas thread about ideas of things I can put in Christmas crackers? Still looking for inspiration.

I thank you.... Wink

OP posts:
EngineeringExcellence · 21/10/2013 19:50

I really can't see a situation where what I was offered to eat, if someone else was cooking, could spoil my Christmas at all.

If you're talking about casseroling the chicken and then providing all the trimmings that usually come with a roast, then that sounds like an excellent Christmas Dinner to me and isn't it really about all sitting together passing overloads dishes around etc, not really the actual food? I love my food, but really, what you suggest sounds lovely. I bet those who would be "devastated" have never cooked Christmas dinner for themselves/others Wink

Just "ask" ILs. OK you know they won't say no, but at least they'll know, so if they really feel they're missing out they can do one on Boxing Day (or Christmas Eve, whenever)

Last time I did crackers I put miniatures in them so the adults had their after dinner liqueur - children had some choc and noise makers.

Marne · 21/10/2013 19:51

I'm not keen on chicken casserole ,the again I'm not keen on turkey either, would be happy with a fillet steak and home made chips though.

mameulah · 21/10/2013 19:52

I would be really, really disappointed too!

MrsFlintLockwood · 21/10/2013 19:55

I'd be gutted! Blush

I'd be happy with any meat - we often don't have turkey as it's just not worth it for a small family. For me the trimmings are more important than the meat - yorkies (I do not give a monkey's bum that they aren't traditional), pigs in blankets, stuffing etc.

We have roasts throughout the year but rarely do we do ALL the trimmings, so it is really special to me.

MadeOfStarDust · 21/10/2013 19:57

We always cook the turkey crown the night before, slice it and put it in gravy, keeps it nice and moist, still served with roasties and piggies..- not that different from a casserole....

petitdonkey · 21/10/2013 19:57

I would be gutted but I love my Christmas dinner - the first time I ever spent Christmas day away from my Mum's was the first year I was married - MiL cooked a beautiful lunch but I had a little cry because there was no bread sauce!!! (not in front of her obviously!!)

I would ask your in laws - not because they will say no but it will prepare them and they can plan a roast of their own at another time if they want to. (and your casserole sounds gorgeous!!)

FurryDogMother · 21/10/2013 19:58

Why not roast a goose? There's a lot less meat on it than a turkey - DH and I usually have one between us (from Lidl, so not a 'posh' goose) and it only feeds the 2 of us on Christmas Day, plus Boxing/ St Stephen's Day leftovers. Doing a roast isn't - well, to my mind, anyway - any more labour-intensive than a casserole, if you're planning on doing the veggies etc. to go with it.

MrsFlintLockwood · 21/10/2013 19:59

I bet those who would be "devastated" have never cooked Christmas dinner for themselves/others

Well that's bollocks for a start :o we cook every year thank you very much! :)

I wouldn't ever complain about what others serve up BUT it would definitely be nice to tell them in advance, as it's perfectly reasonable to 'expect' a traditional Xmas roast unless told otherwise. IMO. :)

trixymalixy · 21/10/2013 19:59

Gutted, I'd be majorly majorly gutted. Could you not buy a turkey crown rather than a full turkey?

VerySmallSqueak · 21/10/2013 20:00

I would be surprised but would quickly recover and be quite happy with a casserole.

MrsFlintLockwood · 21/10/2013 20:00

BTW last year when it was just four of us we got a little turkey crown thing from tesco, really cheap and perfectly nice (again, because to me the trimmings make the meal)

trixymalixy · 21/10/2013 20:00

And I've had 21 on Christmas day twice!!! I know exactly what's involved!!

KatieScarlett2833 · 21/10/2013 20:00

We never have turkey as I hate it.
However, I would cry if DH made something as ordinary on Christmas Day.
(I realise that at 44 I am too old to behave like a petulant child, but it's Christmas!)

ILoveAFullFridge · 21/10/2013 20:01

If I'm a guest in someone's home, and she cooks me a gorgeous meal that she has obviously taken trouble over, with tasty food, seasonal trimmings and happy company, then I will eat with savour and say "Thsnk you, that was delicious!"

And in my head I will say "What a lovely meal. I feel so welcomed!"

trixymalixy · 21/10/2013 20:02

Why chicken casserole? That's a mid week rubbish, saving money dinner. It's just not special enough for Xmas day. Steak or duck or salmon would be more special.

petitdonkey · 21/10/2013 20:03

And yes, I cook it myself - this year there is only the five of us and I will still do all the trimmings, the last five years I have cooked for between 12-16 people. I Love it!!

LauraChant · 21/10/2013 20:06

I see a casserole as not being very festive. I would be very disappointed and surprised!

raisah · 21/10/2013 20:07

Just get a small turkey crown or breast from m&s that you can bung in the oven an hour before the potatoes go in the oven so atleas your inlaws can have a traditional meal. If you have a slow cooker, you can cook your casserole in that & it will be one less thing to worry about.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/10/2013 20:08

Has to be a proper roast dinner with the Christmas Fiddly Bits.

DH and I are vegetarian. We have a Quorn Roast. The DC will each have a roast chicken breast (Taste the Difference Free Range, push the boat out Grin )
They are cooked and covered up, the Quorn Roast can be cooked, sliced and put in vegetable gravy.
Leaves room for all the extras.

If I'm cooking for my parents too I make a small good quality roast chicken.
Not as dry as turkey.

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