M&S Christmas Food Ordering Thread 2014

[mumtoone1]

For those of you not aware, the christmas food catalogue from M&S comes out next Thursday 9th October 2014 and also goes live on their website then too.

They are doing an early bird again whereby if you place your order before 10th November and if it exceeds 70 (gone up quite a bit this year) then you can choose between Gold Label Chardonnay (75cl) or Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon (75cl) - While stocks last; substitute available. Wine will be received.

I'm assuming the substitute will be a box of chocolates.

Dates for last orders:

• Christmas - 15th December 2014

• New Year 20th December 2014

I can't wait to get my order in.

I ordered an hour ago and the earliest collection for Christmas Eve I could get was 9am - some people must have been on fire and got their orders in quick!

I've gone for the bacon lattice turkey crown with stuffing.....and the fillet beef there's only 2 of us and a 4 and 18 month old
Premium veg selection, premium garnish, beef and turkey gravy and the white chocolate bombe. Was tempted by the dauphinois potatoes but resisted!
Will be picking up at 10am on Xmas eve, super excited!

4 year old*

Mmmmm that sounds yummy.

in a dramatic turn of events I've decided not to collect and just go on the 23rd/24th.

we've been invited to MIL for christmas dinner and she doesn't want M&S.

I'm wanting stuff from the brochure for christmas eve (Turkey Roulade) and Boxing Day (Sausage roll Wreath) along with the Turkey Gravy and a couple of the puddings (Passionfruit Mousse and White Chocolate Bombe) but as its not for the big day can afford to pick up and lose out and get alternatives if neccessary.

Everything looks amazing.

mumtoone1 - "in a dramatic turn of events"

I really like the look of the chocolate/praline dessert with the gold rings on it for christmas eve buffet before DD goes to bed. But it's massive & there's only 3 of us on christmas eve in the evening. Will it keep a few days in the fridge?

I just ordered mine! We got the seasonal saver with the chocolate and raspberry Christmas tree.

I chose a pick up slot on 23rd December evening. Is this too early? Am I doing it wrong?

Done.
Free Range Butter Basted Turkey Breast £32.50 1 £32.50

Sugar Baked Gammon £25.00 1 £25.00

Cheese, Chutney & Oatcakes Selection £25.00 1 £25.00

Honey Roast Parsnip, Camembert & Mustard Pithivier £14.00 1 £14.00

I don't do sides or veg as I like many many sausages and wrap my own. MIL likes to make her own paxo balls ( bleuuch ) and I am not keen on ready puds, they tend to be style over substance.
I will buy cranberry sauce but it comes with bread sauce combo and I make my own so will pick that up in store.
I was amazed that I couldn't get an early bird slot for the 23rd they are filling up fast !

Dob the 23rd is good, you are not doing it wrong. I went for that seasonal saver too.

I have just placed my order but it didn't mention the wine despite the order being over £70 in the confirmation email.

I want to order a sandwich platter for Christmas Eve but it looks as though you can't order them for collection any later than the 19th

I recieved an email today with the voucher for the free wine. You have to print it out or show the email to the store before 30th November.

I'm getting a turkey crown and mushroom Wellington. Can't wait! Xx

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but does getting the veg ect from M&S actually make things easier?

Is the turkey/veg ect in trays that can go straight into the oven?

I'm thinking about going for the seasonal saver but I'm worried about how good the potatoes will be?

Sorry one more question!
I've only got a small oven, will that be a problem?

You can probably tell I'm not a very confident cook!

I got the rib of beef, seafood platter and the Porchetta pork belly last year.

The 1st two weren't that good to be honest, the rib of beef was quite tasteless even with a lots of seasoning and it shrivelled loads. The seafood platter was bog standard ordinary as well. I got a much tastier rib of beef from my local butcher in a previous year and we were eating it for days

The pork belly joint for New Years day was really really nice and i'll get one of those again

Walking the Seasonal Saver makes things so easy. The veg is done in the microwave and the turkey comes in it's own foil tray that can be thrown away after. It is almost too easy and I did feel a bit guilty as my guests were commenting on how nice this or that was. We had carrots, sprouts, parsnips, red cabbage, roast potatoes, stuffing, two types of bacon sausage things, cranberry with lovely big berries, gravy, bread sauce, turkey with stuffing and it wasn't harder than a normal roast dinner. I spent the morning making the table look lovely and spending time with the DC whilst the turkey was cooking and then did a bit of microwave magic on the veg and there it was, a lovely spread with no stress, waste or mess.

I picked up the book in store but haven't looked at it yet.

Last year I bought a pack of Waitrose red cabbage but forgot to cook it, so it sat in the freezer till Easter I was dubious it's got port/it's got spices/it's too purple, but we cooked it and it was bloody lovely .

So that will be on the list.
My DC eat chicken
My guinea-pig expect the veg trimmings so mine won't be pre-prepared (imagine their judgey faces)

Off to drool over the puddings now, check which ones are vegetarian......

I've gone for the beef.
I don't like turkey :)
Also the veg pack and pigs in blankets and stuffing.
Pud will be the big Xmas tree mousse thing.
I will get yorkshires and more veg when I pick it up.
Yum yum

Has anyone tried the big pork pie or game pie?

I'm a little disappointed in it this year - there doesn't seem to be as much 'wow' pieces.

Last year we ordered the butter basted turkey breast. I cooked it in a homemade brandy and marmalade marinade and if was lush - very tender and a good taste.

I absolutely love their bread sauce as well - so will be picking some of that up in store.

Got all the veggies separate from Marks and Sparks last year too - the red cabbage is fab, didn't bother with the potatoes (mostly because I do the best toasties in the world ) but the other bits were good.

We also got a buffet for forty quid...tbh I wouldn't bother again as it was VERY FAFFY with lots of assembly required and also not the sort of stuff you could put out hot and still eat cold. This year we'll just stick with Iceland party food I thing. Also, you had to cook most of it all at once - you couldn't just do half the mini burgers or half the mini hotdogs, so a lot got wasted.

Thanks chicken that was really helpful. Really impressed that the veg can go in the microwave! That is my kind of cooking.

I think I'll probably make my own roasties too as I really don't think you can beat homemade.

When it says it serves 6, does it actually serve 6?

Just placed my order. Very happy now. Christmas planning is well underway

I've been wondering why a lot if the desserts are 'moussey'? I'm not keen on mousse based desserts, hope the white choc bombe is nice though. I'll be making a champers trifle for myself the adults to eat

Ooooh I got an e mail with a free wine or choc this morning!
:)
Will get the choc obv.

I was very torn between the bombe and the Xmas tree tbh...but as it's only for 3 people I thought the bombe was too big...

Oh god. I've just been informed I've got to cook for 9 people this year. (Plus 2 toddlers)

6 was bad enough. Will definitely be needing m&s to help!