Christmas Eve 'tea' or dinner

[Tootsieglitterballs]

What do you lovely folk do for Christmas Eve 'tea' or dinner with children?

I want to try and start a tradition for our little boy - me and DH always have cheese, pate etc, but that's when he gets in from work about 10pm, so I will eat something much earlier with our DS , I'm just stuck for ideas!

I really don't want to go down the takeaway / McDonald's route, but something that can be a tradition for me and him (plus any other children we may have in the future and DH if he has a rare Christmas Eve off work)

He's only 2 now, so he won't remember this year at all, but selfishly, I will!!

we always have a buffet, any leftovers go in the fridge for Christmas day tea to be joined by turkey sandwiches .

We alternate between going to my grandma's and her coming to us. Last time it was my turn we had pies from the local butcher. They didn't take long to cook and I did them with mash and peas. We've had a Chinese takeaway before. I think if it's just you and ds then a little buffet of sausage rolls, cucumber sticks, homous, party rings will be just up his street.

We don't really. We have our normal evening meal between 5-6 and that's it.

We have hot buffet, so mini pizzas, sausage rolls, and then more grown up stuff like spring rolls etc.

Juanbablo - I love the idea of pie! Although a little mini buffet would be quite nice too!

I am exactly the same OP! I want to start my own tradition with my family but am stuck My DS is only 9 months and will have pretty much same as always but I want my DH and I to be a bit different.

So far I have floated ideas of a pasta dish, one pan sausage casserole thing or a buffet.

It's become a bit of a tradition that we have pulled pork, baked rolls, apple sauce and rocket salad.

It's just easy because I tend to do a lot of Xmas Dinner prep during the day before and if the pork is slow cooking I don't need to think about it until it's time to eat.

Saying that, we're not at home for Xmas Dinner this year but I'll still do the pork!

The pies were delicious, I want to do that again but I've seen a very tempting pastry, cranberry, Camembert thing on Facebook.

We've often had fish pie, with lots of cheese-topped mash on top.

Not doing it this year for various reason (inc. a vegan who'll be with us) but my nearly-2 Gdd really likes it.
Not the least-faff thing to make, but it's always gone down well.

I'm going to do Christmas ham, eggs and chips. Both my kids love it and will eat it and the leftovers make a good roll for breakfast on Christmas day

We're having pizzas this year, but really, why are you trying to make or force 'traditions', they'll develop or they won't.
A forced tradition strikes me as weird and senseless.

DC insist on home made spag bol on Christmas Eve. A few years ago they claimed it was a tradition and now we have to have it. Fine by me. Easy to make in advance, I know they'll eat it. Then home made chocolate log roulade.

Ihavebrillohair - I can assure you I'm not weird and I'm not trying to force traditions - I was brought up on 'traditions' at Christmas, I have such fond memories of those christmas' , and to this day I still leave Christmas cake instead of a mince pie for santa, i sleep in fresh bedding on Christmas Eve, and I still get myself new PJs for Christmas Eve.

Now we have a family of our own, I'd like to introduce something different on Christmas Eve for me and my little boy, as it will just be us every Christmas Eve.

I'm simply looking for inspiration, as for the last at least 12 years, I've eaten cheese and pate on Christmas Eve at about 10pm at night when hubby gets in from work!

Oh, and I'm not senseless either , thank you very much.

I would just do the Same cheese and pate you always do. Just open some and eat a few with 2 year old. Within a few years he can stay up and eat it all together with you both anyway and that is your tradition

We have always gone the takeaway route before but we are going to have a cheese fondue this year. If it works out we might start a new tradition!

Also a glass mulled wine for you and hot apple and cinnamon for child

Ham egg and chips - the ham is baked either early on Christmas eve or on the 23rd, chips and eggs prepared as needed so it's easy to have early, late, whenever. Nice and simple, not too rich given what's coming the next day.

Our Christmas Eve meal consists of hot dogs and chilli sensations . Not even sure how it started but both DDs love it!

Our tradition is hot pork sandwiches and little sausages... My moms been having them since she was a child and she's 60 this year.

Christmas Eve wouldn't be the same without them!

Whatever you decide - enjoy!

Would he sit through a movie at the cinema? Maybe a little trip to the cinema with popcorn and home for hot chocolate and a Christmas themed bedtime story?

Snacky buffet bits that are easily whipped out of the freezer and into the oven. We eat them whilst in our new pyjamas, playing our new board game(s).

notagiraffe our tradition is home made spag bol too! It sort of started by accident in my family years ago, and we've carried it on!

yellowcrocus we always have fondue during the Christmas season. Since having a child (he's just 5) our NY celebrations with friends have always been in the afternoon, so we've ended up with fondue at home on NYE! Absolutely love a good fondue!

We go to the crib service at our local church - have to admit we don't go much throughout the year but the crib service is lovely and the children really like it and it really makes us feel properly 'christmassy'. That's around 5.30pm so usually home around 6.30 for a buffet tea. DH stays at home to do the food while we are at church.

We have pizza, and last year we made our own - a Christmas tree shaped one with cherry tomatoes for baubles and I cut little stars out of peppers, we also did a candy cane shaped one with pepperoni for the stripes