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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Budget ideas for Christmas food and treats

73 replies

shreddednips · 11/10/2019 23:13

This year I'm hosting Christmas for the first time. We will have 5 adults plus a baby for Christmas Eve dinner and then 8 adults plus baby for Christmas lunch.
We lost my lovely grandpa just after my baby son was born in January so it's our first Christmas without him and also my DS's first Christmas. I'm determined to make it special, especially as I know my mum is so sad her dad is no longer with us to celebrate.
We have a very limited budget. I've been busily squirrelling a little away here and there and have saved up a modest pot for buying Christmas food. I'm also planning on buying some stuff each week with the big shop to spread it out.
We shop at Aldi, Lidl and occasionally Tesco. Does anyone know any bargain Christmas products that are worth buying from these shops? I've found that Aldi bargains can be hit and miss so I'd be really grateful for recommendations, and any other budget Christmas catering ideas you have! Thanks 😊

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Barbarara · 12/10/2019 16:24

I know this is too obvious to be worth mentioning but I didn’t realise but the more sides you cook, the less you need of each. First Christmas I cooked enough veg for a full portion of everything for everyone and we were swamped in leftovers

sawyersfishbiscuits · 12/10/2019 16:37

Fabulous thread!

Don't forget that Lidl and Aldi do fabulous fresh veg offers just before Christmas so we always get ours from there.

Keep an eye out in M&S for turkeys, I've been in there a couple of weeks before Christmas and got yellow stickered fresh Turkey crowns and put them in the freezer ready for Christmas Day. Really yummy stuffed and ready basted ones.

As PPs have said Gammon in the slow cooker is fab, nice with cloudy apple juice, cloves and anything Christmassy like cinnamon or mixed spice.

🌲🌲🌲🌲

shreddednips · 12/10/2019 16:44

That's a really good point about the sides, I always over cater so I'll bear that in mind (apart from the roast potatoes, you can never have too many!)
Didn't know that about the veg offers at Aldi and Lidl. I'll have a look.
I think I'll be brave and wait until just before to decide on meat, if I can get a fancy turkey crown on yellow sticker I will but at least I know I've got slow cooker beef or gammon up my sleeve!
Honestly thank you all so much, I think it will be really special and I'm excited now! My mum is too which I'm so glad about.

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PotteringAlong · 12/10/2019 16:55

Aldi also do fruity puddings that come in shot glass type things. I don’t know what they’re called but I buy them every year and they’re delightful.

Also remember it’s going to be cold - free up space in the fridge by keeping drinks outside by the back door!

PotteringAlong · 12/10/2019 16:57

On a thread on here one year someone said that they go to KFC, by 2 massive tubs of their gravy and then just freeze and reheat for Christmas.

I’ve never done it but I think of it as a tip every year Smile

shreddednips · 12/10/2019 17:03

Drinks outside is genius!
The KFC thing is hilarious 😂 I'm sure my grandpa would tell me to just so ham, egg and chips.

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Ninkaninus · 12/10/2019 18:10

It sounds as if you’ve got it covered but since you may well still be doing a small turkey or goose (depending on what you are able to find on Christmas Eve), I’ll reiterate what everyone else has said - if you end up cooking a bird, it will need to rest anyway, and if you cover it in foil and put a tea towel over it will stay hot and delicious for an hour and a half. We always cook our bird first, leave it to rest quite happily, and then do potatoes/stuffing/sides.

Beware on the ham in cola tip - it’s the slow roast equivalent of marmite. Some people love it, others...not so much. You could do a trial run and see what you think. Otherwise you can just bung it in your slow cooker with whatever aromatics you like and it’s pretty much fool proof whichever way you choose to do it.

A good red cabbage side can be made in advance and microwave to heat - or as I said, we buy ours pre made.

Aldi have got their chocolate florentines in stock now - I bought my first two boxes today! £2.29 yes, expensive for the amount you get but you only need a few each.

Can also highly recommend their almond mince pies. My OH is very much a traditionalist and doesn’t usually like novelty versions of traditional sweets, but he really liked them. Also picked up our first box today - He’s having a couple tonight!

Budget ideas for Christmas food and treats
Budget ideas for Christmas food and treats
OliveOwl · 12/10/2019 18:14

KFC at Christmas is a massive thing in Japan

Ninkaninus · 12/10/2019 18:16

Yes, since Christmas isn’t traditional there, it’s become their traditional thing to do for that holiday.

Ninkaninus · 12/10/2019 18:17

Oh forgot you wouldn’t actually eat the ham yourself so you can’t do a taste run!

stormsurfer · 12/10/2019 18:43

I wanted to add about the roast beef... I really don't think you need to do the browning and flouring stage in the BBC good food recipe, not the finishing it off in the oven stage.. I just put my straight into the slow cooker, the at the end bring it out to rest.

Ninkaninus · 12/10/2019 18:45

Ohhhh if you do roast beef you absolutely must make a celeriac remoulade to go with it! Soooo good. Nigel Slater has a great recipe.

shreddednips · 12/10/2019 18:57

No can't taste any of the meat unfortunately, which is why I will buy a couple of packs of emergency sausages just in case it's an absolute disaster!
I like celeriac, what's a remoulade?

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Ninkaninus · 12/10/2019 19:05

It makes a great accompaniment to lots of things, but is especially good with beef.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/27/nigel-slater-classic-celeriac-remoulade

shreddednips · 12/10/2019 19:12

Thanks, that looks delicious!

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RockingMyFiftiesNot · 12/10/2019 19:25

.
I'd buy a turkey (frozen is absolutely fine and cheaper) rather than a chicken and make the most of the leftovers. .
Cook more veg than needed on Christmas Day.
On Boxing Day, chop leftover veg, stuffing , sausages etc and some turkey. Make a white sauce, mix with all the leftovers, top with shop bought puff pastry. Cook 40 mins and you have the most amazing pie.

Chop up some turkey, mix with mayo and a little curry paste/curry powder. Use as sand which filler. Or chop less finely and serve with salad.

Freeze any leftover turkey to use for meals in Jan.

Homemade soup or baked potatoes and various toppings make for cheap but tasty lunches.

As others have said, have a list of things others can bring and don't be afraid to ask. Eg cheese, pate, baguettes
Also ask people to bring 'whatever they would like to drink

Hot roast pork sandwiches served with coleslaw are lovely too, I often serve these on Christmas Eve.

Chilli is cheap and easy and a nice change from festive food.

AuchAyeTheNo · 12/10/2019 19:33

Definitely get people to chip in. We have about 12/15 at xmas and split it into families. Once brings the starter, one does dessert, one does cheese etc. Makes life so much easier

starryeyedsnowgirl · 12/10/2019 19:50

Christmas dinner is so much about the sides. We usually do ham (sometimes cooked the day before and served cold as it's fine with all the hot sides and saves hassle).

Sausages with bacon (if uiu are in a supermarket at the end of November/start of December you can often luck out on sausages as they get them in so early no one buys them and they end up yellow stickered then freeze). On the day if you pop them on a long bamboo skewer for the bbq it's easy to turn one row at a time in the oven. You could get some vegan sausages too if you have a favourite.

Stuffing- do a vegan one.
Red cabbage- make now and freeze. I do delta's one but throw it in the slow cooker.

Cauliflower cheese- can you make a vegan version? Must be able to. Make in advance and reheat on the day.

Roast parsnips and sweet potatoes etc could leave this out of struggling with over space.

Some boiled/ steamed veggies on the hob. Just having a range like broccoli, carrots, green beans etc. Its the variety which is exciting. Jamie oliver o think has some flavoured butter recipes you can make in advance to spice them up a little.

Yorkshire puddings can add to the variety and the ones that take 4 minutes are pretty ok if oven space is at a premium.

Roast potatoes. Yum we do these whilst the meat is resting on a higher oven.

Get someone to bring a cold starter they can sort at the table so you dont need to bother with it. We do either smoked salmon and brown bread or melon and grapes. Having a starter makes it all seem like a special meal but us quite low effort.

Also get someone to bring dessert, someone to bring cranberry sauce and table decorations (crackers if you do them). And someone else to bring drinks.

Loads of dishes looks amazing and makes it a special deal, but isn't a crazy amount of work if you prepare in advance. Also if there are loads of dishes there isn't too.kuch pressure on any one thing. If its not perfect no one will notice.

Serin · 12/10/2019 21:01

Some years I cook the Turkey on Christmas eve, then carve it and put it in a tray with gravy, so that all I have to do on Xmas day is reheat it. Always lovely and (apologies for this word, I know MN hates it) "moist".

Aldi does the best puff pastry ever, and we have tried them all.

On Xmas eve we have a huge hot pot made by a local butchers shop, not cheap but worth it for the lack of effort.

Trifle is a lovely easy dessert that we all love, I have frozen blackcurrants so will use those.

reluctantbrit · 13/10/2019 16:01

We normally do a Capon (super large castrated rooster) instead of a turkey as none of really likes the taste. They are around 6-10 pounds in weight, you need to check with your local butcher.

Lidl’s Christmas items are lovely, we are Germans and buy there every year. Their Yule log was a bit overly sweet though, I do my own most years but had guests last year and needed a back up.

Delegate starter and dessert. Get only what really will be eaten instead of buying for the sake of it because it may belong to Christmas. We never do a heavy dessert, far too much after a main meal. A favourite here is Pannacotta (won’t work for you as it has gelatine in it) but something similar light may be good.

Barbarara · 13/10/2019 17:02

Aldi florentines are terrible value. I’ve had a whole box disappear on the drive home Leaving nothing but nutty crumbs Confused I had to buy about 6 boxes for everyone I managed to share with guests.

FluffyAlpaca19 · 13/10/2019 18:44

Desert is always lemon cheese cake as that is very light on the tummy after a big meal.

If you're serving a late lunch then put starters out at 12/1pm as a light lunch. Then 3/4pm when you have your dinner, you're not ratty and famished!

Whatevskev · 13/10/2019 21:38

Pre do your roasties it’s genius!

Pat boil well then drain and shake to get fluffy edges
Coat in S&P plus a bit of flour then put on a tray separately in freezer. Once frozen you can put in a big bag

On day just heat fat in tray then add the frozen pots and roast as normal. They take about an extra ten mins

It saves all the hassle and extra pans on the day

Pre do stuffing and sauces and gravy

On the day roast meat/ steam veg and re heat anything else
Roasties can go in oven when meat comes out to rest

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