First time hosting Christmas- no dining room

[Acunningruse]

This will be our first year hosting Christmas, as my mum is now struggling to do it all plus we want to be at home with DCs (6 and 2) and their new toys.

Our house is a reasonable size but we have a long, thin kitchen diner, rather than separate dining room. My mum is already helpfully wondering aloud how we will manage, what a squeeze it will be, etc 🙄

How do you make Christmas lunch feel special if you are sat in the kitchen? Also half in the living room depending on how many come! I really want to create a relaxed and joyful atmosphere in stark contrast to my mums passive aggressive huffing yet refusing to let anyone help every year, but how can I do this when realistically we'll be surrounded by pots and pans?

Any tips from seasoned kitchen hosters welcomed!

Can you just use your Mum's house instead? She sits tight away from all the mess and just gets fed?

I borrowed a hostess trolley last year - it was brilliant. And we crammed 14 people round a table that seats 9 comfortably.

Thanks for all the tips! Love the one about scented oils on radiator.

Those asking if we could host at mums- definitely not an option as she would just end up doing everything. She's hosted us for 36 years so it's definitely time for us to take our turn it's just a case of making it work in a different layout.

Suggestions of putting table in lounge, I think would be too much faff to do this at same time as cooking dinner then take down again. I think our best bet is going to be 2 tables across the width of kitchen diner which will over flow into lounge slightly but not take up whole space. I hope!!! We have disability issues to consider as well as my grandparents both have walking frames.

Need to source more chairs!

I have argos/ikea folding chairs which live in the loft and come out for large gatherings. they can then be stood in the garden folded up with a bin bag over them if space is tight or along a wall if there is room. chairs were about £10 each and I have been using them for years and its great to be able to pull them out and open them up as and when required.

prior to this i collected mismatched dining chairs from freecycle and kept them in the garage but they take up loads of space so this works better for me now

The ikea folding chairs are quite comfortable, but could you arrange for some of your guests to loan you some chairs for the day just to avoid extra expense?

I hosted 14 last year in not a very big house, my dining room is very small so I moved my tv and a sofa in there and made a little snug, was small but cute and cosy and gave us somewhere comfy to sit on Xmas eve.
(I also had to store a sofa in the garage)
Then I had the dining tables in the lounge.
The kids pressies went in the dining room on Xmas morning.
It was only really the older generation that sat there before/after dinner. Everyone else either sat at the dining table drinking wine or were in the kitchen chatting whilst I prepared food.

we use camping chairs for over flow.....and camping tables to extend
as they dont take much space and just dress them like your normal table...
www.argos.co.uk/product/9278259?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|acid:444-797-0832|cid:189949525|agid:18091974325|tid:pla-98862634405|crid:77627773765|nw:g|rnd:5549281668477180912|dvc:c|adp:1o5|mt:|loc:9045944&gclid=CjwKCAjw54fdBRBbEiwAW28S9qxct7Nh0-djQLhDJsNpdCWZGeEeLRk0lGnrGBdUjPRy6K0a7PkfUxoCXkMQAvD_BwE

or this

www.millets.co.uk/equipment/147755-roll-top-double-table.html/272965/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping&istCompanyId=b238823a-59fd-4816-9c36-7dd47877f2a8&istItemId=raxrlqaqi&istBid=tzil&gclid=CjwKCAjw54fdBRBbEiwAW28S9jP1v8wyMYwxlPc0BRWBnzptd2-WVe5ixdgBvI9TLLYfNcdwRLB2pxoCNVcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

if you have counter top could you use a steamer for you veg or get yourself a steamer pan with layers ?

think your menu through and serve what people like rather than what you've always had ....we no longer do xmas pud as I'm the only that likes it ,so have a something chocolately usually (waitrose frozen desserts are great and just need defrosting for a couple of hours) and ice cream for those that like it
we have smoke salmon/gravadlax (waitrose or ikea) which is also frozen and defrosted...
a gammon (slow cooker) and a turkey crown type thing as most only want white meat and paxo for stuffing
however roast potatoes are a must do so drive teh timetable
veg is either steamer or microwave

all sauces etc are m&S or waitrose ......have found its worth spending a bit more to cook less....

I do sides in advance and froze/microwave on the day and have a really thought through timetable.. from serve time backwards!

for a special event feel - dress your table that will then be the focus.... rather than the kitchen
think about your lighting - often kitchen lighting is bright task lighting ... tealights/battery operated candle lights can add atmosphere and not as dangerous as candles! so see if you can dim the lights in your kitchen bit

I also have heatproof runners in the centre of the table and serve everything in the oven dishes with serving spoons, that way everyone has their plates and serves themselves, I carve the meat so that it is served in slices.
I've attached a pic of how mine looked last year, if you look beyond the table you can see the living room furniture squished into the dining room, it can work although it's very tight.

I've got a big kitchen with the table at one end and no dining room. Years ago when I could be arsed we used to carry the table into the living room and the kids liked it, because it was the one day a year when we did this.

Now, I try and get rid of stuff as it's used (easier now I've got a dishwasher) but before DH was washing up as I went along.

I think Xmas dinner is a right old faff. I have a severely disabled DS so we can't have dinner in some pub, which is what I'd 100% do otherwise.

12 people for dinner plus drop in visitors during your prep time? I wouldn’t do it in a small space. Not with older generation. I would have done it as a student with loads of mates, or a group of 20’s friends but this does sound really uncomfortable.

What about a long table in the hall?

I would also hate to eat with essential oils on radiators, total headache overload and interferes with your tasting of food. And can set off people with hay fever type allergies (me!).

So I am probably not the target audience for big on-too-of-each other living room scrums, so disregard me

I do wonder, though, how on Earth your kids are going to have space to play with new toys with 12 people and half the dining table in the living room . Stuff will get trodden on.

Ooh, I’m good at this one! I never have advice to offer on MN but big meals in small spaces is something I can do

• make sure you have an alternative to just having the big lights on, as kitchen lighting can be stark. A dimmer switch is the easiest solution (no extra things on work surfaces, no extra plugs in use, £5 from Homebase). Or turn off the big lights and have lamps / fairy lights.
• we use cheap (£2?) baking sheets from Sainsbury’s. They fit neatly in oven and best of all they stack perfectly once dirty so your kitchen stays neat, compared to cooking everything in eg Pyrex and ceramic dishes. And they fit between the prongs in a slimline dishwasher, like plates do. We serve off them at table, no one ‘notices’ iyswim because the table is pretty and crowded anyway.
• we have a trestle table with folding legs (£40, very strong) and lots of folding chairs / stacking stools, so we can do dinner for up to 24 . Cheapest right-size tablecloth is a single size bedsheet from Primark.
• we just run the dishwasher constantly on the 45 min cycle, that way plates cutlery and baking sheets are done in the time it takes to eat the next course.

Get a folding table from a charity shop, I had one that cost £5 it had two 'leafs' so once folded it took up hardly any room.

Or buy a plastic garden table, wrap in plastic because it might rain or snow and keep in the garden until ready to serve. Afterwards chuck in the garden.

Going against the grain here but i find foil trays are great, I normally put them inside a baking tray if it's heavy (like potatoes and turkey). When I'm done clean baking tray back into the oven, (so they aren't cluttering the side and cool down), foil baking tray into bin bag just outside door so mess is gone.

I agree you need someone washing as you go, they can just come in every half an hour or so. Have a bowl of hot soapy water in the go to put things in. I keep a bowl on the side for rubbish and tip it in the outside bag as I go.

Set the table the night before, yes it'll be a squeeze but that's fine. I'd rather be squeezed in with a happy host than sitting spaced out at a chilly (literally and metaphorically, mil I'm looking at you) dining table with a stressed host.

I wouldn't entertain starters. If you have to have something serve canapes (or crisps in a bowl!) in the living room. For pudding I'd have something really simple like brownies and ice cream or a ready made desert from m and s. In my house if I've cooked the minute dinner hits the table I'm off duty and don't lift a finger the rest of the day. Although I quite like getting leftovers put and cheese board with part baked loaves for tea. That goes on the table with paper plates and people can help themselves.

It'll be absolutely fab and your children will love staying home and playing all day.

Depending on your menu, you could prepare some food now and freeze to be baked in the oven that day.

The only thing I would add is that I always try and have all of the table dressing sorted and put aside the day before - so tablecloth, napkins, plates etc. Makes laying in a busy space much easier if you aren't trying to access cupboards where someone else is cooking/ washing up.

Have fun!

We bought a marquee a few years ago for a family event which we still resurrect each year for celebrations. Now is a good time to buy on cheaply in the clearance sales. We put together our dining table, 2 garden tables (1 borrowed from next door), chairs & put themed table cloths down and decorate with fairy lights and led candles.

Have a look on pinterest for ideas on Christmas marquee decor, people decorate it beautifully with fairy lights and greenery. Just line the opening right up to the patio door so it becomes an extension of your house and buy/hire/borrow outside heaters.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7904312

Something like this, we got hours from B&Q for a similar price. It's worth asking around if someone has one you can borrow or buy cheaply off subtree etc. It'll give you a desperate dining space and the indoor reception rooms can be used for lounging round & watching tv etc. The kids will have gunning running around inside and will hopefully leave you in peace.

Get a gazebo or borrow one for the garden. Get some electric heaters as it will be cold!

I'm big on keeping washing up to a minimum.

[santa]Paper plates on xmas day for breakfast tea- cakes & tea. Then you only need actual plates for dinner.
[santa]foil cooking trays )on baking trays)
[santa]Canned drinks where possible except during dinner.

Any veg that can be reheated in the microwave like carrots are cooked ahead.

Look at alternatives to a whole turkey. Stuffed breast joints are easier to carve and take up less oven space - even if you have to buy two. Leaves room for potato's & pigs in blankets.

And don't worryabout it!!!!!!!

Another vote for the foil trays. I also serve party type food as starters love M & S brie and cranberry parcels. Served on Christmas paper plates about an hour or so before dinner and not at the table but in the lounge. Means people are not sitting feeling hungry and no big deal if dinner runs a bit late. Most party food takes no more than 10 15 mins in oven

My recommendation would be buffet style serving (no need to panic about who likes/eats what) and prep as much as you can on Xmas eve and get everything in foil trays to be swapped in and out of the oven, then once empty, straight in the bin

So here's my failsafe way to prep for Christmas Day.
Few days before:
Cook all veg a few days before and put in microwaveable dishes ready to reheat on the day. Make mash and roasties, plus pigs in blankets and put in foil trays, cover with foil. Use water veggies were cooked in, plus meat juices, to make gravy. (I roast a chicken a couple of weeks before and freeze the stock). Make trifle but leave cream off. Make individual twice baked soufflés for vegetarians. Put in foil tray to re heat.
Day before.
Prepare starters: cold large platters of prawns, smoked salmon, smoked salmon pate on a bed of salad leaves. Large platter of egg mayonnaise on salad leaves. Cling film and refrigerate. Make Marie Rose sauce, slice and butter bread, wrap up well.
Clear everything that's not needed for the dinner from the kitchen worktops. Get all plates, cutlery and serving dishes ready. If possible, lay the table. Put dishwasher on and empty it once finished.
Christmas morning.
Put meat on to roast, timed to be ready an hour before you want to eat. Get all veg and spuds out of fridge. Put starters on table.
Once meat is cooked, cover very well with foil. Put spuds, soufflés and pigs in oven. When they are cooked, turn oven off, put plates in to warm up. Reheat veg in microwave and put in oven to keep warm. Heat gravy.
Eat starters.
Have a large washing up bowl ready for dirty plates and leave by back door when plates in.
Either start to serve up all spuds, veggies etc and pass plates round, or put all dishes on table so everyone helps themselves.
Drink wine!

Glad this thread 8 still going!

Any last minute dirty pots/cooking dishes etc I put outside under the summer bench (which is near the back door.) These can be the second load into the dishwasher.