OMG, I'm hosting Xmas this year!

[NotQuiteCockney]

That's not a happy OMG up there, by the way.

We've always gone to MIL's for Xmas. We had some big building work done this year, so we now have loads of room at home, and had muttered about hosting, but SIL seemed to want to host too, and I certainly wasn't going to fight her for the priviledge!

But for other reasons, it makes sense to have it here, and we've all agreed this.

So. The problems:

1. I don't cook the same sort of food my MIL does. I plan to balance between tradition (yes there will be a big bird) and doing what I want (I might leave out parsnips). DH wants to just have spag bol, but I think that's pushing it a bit.

I think MIL will just want the food she does. I fear she will try to take things over. I think I will be best off banning her from the kitchen? (SIL can sous-chef, she's not going to tell me off, and she probably won't cry)

1. I fear MIL will want to stay here for a week or something. Which would kill me probably. Also, she has a problem with stairs, and all our loos are downstairs, and all our bedrooms upstairs. In the long term, we were discussing getting a murphy bed downstairs for guests, but this hasn't yet happened.

1. Aaaargh. I've never hosted Xmas. I'm a reasonably confident cook, but feeling the urge to start doing the menu now.

So yes, aaaaargh.

Hmm, I should try Delia.

I think my steotypical gay neighbour has Delia, will ask him. (Has loads of cookbooks, no hammers ... although I'm hoping his bf is technically competant, as I have to do some bike repairs this weekend, and might need help ...)

Oh, and MIL called yesterday to ask if we wanted her to get a turkey, and offering to bring some Xmas cakes. Which is great, she's offering help, not providing it without discussion. So maybe we'll be fine .

I haven't read the whole thread but you can not leave out parsnips. It would be like kicking the baby Jesus.

ps put MIL on the Thomas bed, in that bike room

I hate parsnips. They're gross. They have a glycaemic index of 723, 7 times as high as pure sugar. They are evil in root vegetable form.

Oh, and MIL is 6'2", so Thomas bed not quite going to cut it. Also, she has a hard time getting up and down from chairs, so beds on the floor are a bit of a non-starter.

NQC - you could be my DH's best friend!

He had a bad experience with parsnips at school and has never recovered! For school dinner the rule was you could pick anything from whatever was on offer but had to clear your plate. So DH wanders in and sees chips. Has a plate of chips. Sits down. Discovers not chips but parsnips. Had to eat all of them and has never been able to look one in the eye since!!

I buy them sometimes just to see the look of panic on his face!

My objection to them is mostly that I don't really see the point, and they're weirdly sweet. I do put them in things sometimes, but they're always a surprise. I didn't grow up with them, as we don't eat them in Canada.

I only like them mashed with carrots really. Yum. My mum didn't like them so we didn't have them!

Parsnips are just fab. Anything with a glycaemic index that high deserves some respect.