what do you eat on Christmas Eve?

[Onedayinthesun]

Trying to decide if we should eat out and save the mess and stress, order a takeaway or cook something scummy?!

We are family of four and try to get together by 3pm on Christmas Eve and start our family Christmas once work and last minute bits & pieces are done.

Interested to hear what you are all planning to eat on Christmas Eve?

I will be drinking a lot of champagne and stuffing myself silly.

Family tradition = prawn cocktail, beef/veg stroganoff and choc log (the fat free one), filled with jam and fresh cream

We always have a Thai takeaway, it used to be Chinese but we got a Thai takeaway a few years ago and switched.

homemade pierogi. Im not very good at them, but my family are kind about them.

no idea why I am on the Christmas food threads in early November

OhYouBadKitten mine always used to fall apart until my babcia told me her secret...make the dough the day before, and wrap it in wet cling film overnight! I did it...and now I get near perfect pierogi everytime

Steak and potato dauphinois. Onion rings.

oh fab sparkly, I'll do that :)

Kitten Also, (you probably already know this) if the filling is too hot or too cold when you put it in, they will crack when you boil/steam them!

Happy Munching!!!

I need lessons from you! Ive had to learn from internet recipes and they arent quite right! I make them in advance then freeze before boiling, boil from frozen then fry.

Lotta take your NHS ID card to collect your pizza for 50% off or 25% on delivery if you show the delivery driver. Works at nandos too :)

How do you all have time to do all this in Christmas Eve? Does no-one work? I can't remember being at home on Christmas Eve before 6pm since I a working adult.

An easy meal of pizza and garlic bread is usually all we get time for!

We have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. The combination of a 2yo and 5yo, visting grandparents and 3 visiting dogs it was getting too stressful trying to fit it all in on the day.

We now take the kids and dogs out on Christmas Eve morning and then spend the afternoon decorating the table and cooking the meal - makes the preparation into a fun thing rather than there being any ill feeling due to some people being stuck in the kitchen missing out on the fun IYSWIM.

Christmas Day generally involves buffet type food.

BadKitten and if you have a European supermarket near you, they might have ready made frozen ones if you're in a mood for cheating mine does just the dough, ready made and frozen, so you just thaw and then make them as usual...still yummy! I'm making some today just because all this pierogi talk has made me crave them

Ive not seen just the dough - I will have to have a look next time. Would be a good compromise!

Snowballs and nuts.

The last three years and this one we have driven 7 hours after work to visit DH parents! We usually arrive between 10 and 11. So I make the car picnic of all car picnics! Treat after treat! Its just lovely to have DH alone to talk to for so long!
At home it's always Irish stew!

How do you all have time to do all this in Christmas Eve? Does no-one work? I can't remember being at home on Christmas Eve before 6pm since I a working adult.

It is usually called 'annual leave'.

In my case it is called 'being self employed'.

We usually have salmon en croute with fries, but this year to make life easier (less cooking/mess) we're having a very laid-back cheeseboard type thing - baked Camembert, vintage cheddar, manchego etc with cold cuts and various relishes and homemade bread. We've found that a lighter meal works best on Christmas eve what with all the rich food next day. There will also be lots of cava, I should think

Tradition in our house is Chinese on christmas eve.

We haven't really hit on a tradition yet as we've been either at home or with family. We've had a pie from the local butchers with mash and veg a few times. 2 years ago we had Chinese at my grandparents. I'm voting for pie this year.

Ham (done in the slow cooker), jacket spuds, cauliflower cheese and pineapple sauce. I haven't decided which green veg to have with it though, it'll depend on what we decide to have on Christmas day.

soup for lunch, takeaway for dinner :)

We have goulash or chicken paprikas with latkes, and cheesecake.

Out for drinks with neighbours from 4ish, then dinner around 6 with turkey, roasties, carrots, broccoli, gravy, etc. Choc cake with brandy sauce for dessert.
Our main day is Christmas Eve. Dinner is followed by presents, lots of bubbly, piano playing, calling relatives (all abroad), playing games and watching a DVD very late, before bedtime, which is around 1-3 in the morning for everyone, including little ones.

This year I'm thinking of slow cooked spiced beef in sandwiches on nice bread with a sweet mustard and gherkins. Nice and simple and barely any washing up : )