What are you making for Christmas Eve dinner?

[JoshandJamie]

Please help me. I am just stuck - was going to do lamb shanks (see separate recipe post on that) but still don't feel I have the right Christmassy recipe for it.

I have found a recipe for panettone bread and butter putting which I'm thinking of doing.

I want something that can be prepared in advance because we're going to a church service that evening.

Ideas??

pasta! xmas eve dinner should be quick and easy with hardly and washin up and unlikely to get kids to hyped up.

xmas day and boxing day are the big meals for us

we are going to ex mil's for a buffet and present giving. will have chinese for tea as cant be arsed to cook by then and will prob be merry as couldnt drink last two xmas's due to being pg.wont be in any fit state to cook me thinks

sasa15 - delia has a good recipe for "luxury fish pie", but haddock is fine in it, no need to use monkfish or whatever expensive fish she recommends!

on christmas eve i am doing christmas dinner for my in laws and all dh side of family (12 adults, 7 children) in total...

then off to my mum's early christmas morning for christmas day there.... and another christmas dinner.

crazy
madness

I'm not, I am at my dad's and I expect my uncle to whisk up one of his vegetarian marvels but if I was I would do something simple, as has been suggested.

We usually have lasagna, salad and garlic bread but we may have a takeaway this year to cut down on kitchen time. Will be at my parents' house and my Dad does the cooking so a takeaway will give him a break.

Roasted side of salmon. I'll already have a house full of people who are staying over, who will only have had sandwiches at lunchtime due to travelling. Actually doesn't take too long to do.

We always have buffet style nibbles at Mum and Dads after we've been to the nativity service in church. ( I only go on xmas eve!)Its a little tradition for us. When I was younger I used to get the stockings out and get all excited!!!

MIL is doing full Christms dinner on Christmas eve, as this is when Sil and partner will be there too. She is then doing Scampi and chips an the day itself, no bother, more time to go to church and play with presents etc., so sensible, I see the poinbt completely, but why do I feel cheated? We are at my P's fo Boxing day lunch, think she might do the full works again then...

My MIL has taken it upon herself to bring a huge beef joint (unasked for) so I have to cook it on Christmas Eve - I would much rather have something fishy or vegetarian like baked salmon or ricotta and spinach cannelloni. I shall make up for it by refusing to cook on Boxing Day, even though we will have 10 guests - cold beef/turkey/salads/leftover cheese/choc etc will have to do. I shall continue to drink myself into a stupor to get through it .

I am thinking of rib of roast beef with yorkshire puds. I know it sounds like a big effort, but actually when cooking for large numbers I find a roast easier than an elaborate recipe.

Beans on toast, if they are lucky!