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Christmas

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

Anyone else not doing a full Christmas dinner?

14 replies

LajesticVantrashell · 17/12/2019 20:11

It's just me, DH and DS (3) for Christmas Day then we're doing the big shebang at the IL's the day after so I don't really want to do the full Christmas dinner. Mainly because DS will be too excited, I hate cooking roasts and I don't want DH to closet himself away all day.

So if you're not doing the big Christmas dinner, what are you having on the day??

OP posts:
SleepwalkingThroughLife · 17/12/2019 20:14

I usually ask my children what they want which has led to (in separate years) baked potato, curry, pizza, beans on toast, literally anything. How about something light?

gerbo · 17/12/2019 20:20

Steak and chips! It's the children's choice.
Starter: cold meats, cheese, melon, might try baked Camembert
Main (hour or so later): steak, chips, bearnaise sauce, salad
Pud: key lime pie or Yule log and posh ice cream.

First time not roasting and I'm just excited that I'm not tied to a kitchen sweating and feeling rosy/like I'm missing the fun!

MuthaFunka61 · 17/12/2019 20:25

My sons are coming over on different days with their partner.
For the first visit its Caribbean Stew as my son is veggie and on the second visit it's jerk chicken,both being served with black eyed bean rice.
For puds it's another key lime pie,chocolate log,mince pies and a cheese board.

I'm bringing a bit of sunshine to a winter's day.

topcat2014 · 17/12/2019 20:30

Dd hates roasts so we are having lasagne with a bought Christmas pudding

AdaColeman · 17/12/2019 20:47

Why don't you do something that your toddler will enjoy, what are their favourite meals? Have that for lunch altogether with crackers paper hats etc. Then give toddler an early tea, sandwiches and cake. Once toddler is in bed asleep, serve a simple but nice meal for you and DH, steak and salad or salmon fillets and mixed vegetables for example.

No roast, not a great deal of time in the kitchen, you've all had something nice and toddler has enjoyed the day.

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 17/12/2019 20:55

All day buffet, as per the last two years. We all love it!

Morgan12 · 17/12/2019 21:08

Oh what's in the all day buffet?

Get a takeaway OP!

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 17/12/2019 21:15

Usual buffet-type stuff: cheese board, salads, dips, part-baked rolls, crisps, crudités, continental meat, BBQ'd salmon, BBQ'd pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, chicken goujons, oriental / Indian snacks. Loads really!

ritzbiscuits · 18/12/2019 03:30

We're not having the full roast this year, so excited! I'm fed up with the stress and missing out on being with my young son.

Turkey, stuffing sandwiches for us, plus cheese and antipasti boards on the table, crackers, crisps, salad etc. Selection of desserts - Trifle, Yule log, tiramisu. Have extra canapé nibbles for evening if needed: Tempura prawns, spring rolls, mini pizzas.

We're also having a Chinese takeaway on Christmas Eve and DH is cooking a curry on Boxing Day, already semi prepped.

ritzbiscuits · 18/12/2019 03:31

Oh and also roasting up a pile of pigs in blankets on Xmas day too!

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 18/12/2019 03:35

We always spend it at my mums but she’s working this year so we are having it at home with the kids, basically just lots of starters. Baked Camembert, cheese & crackers, mozzarella dippers, chilli cheese bites, pate, spring rolls, pigs in blankets. Iv never cooked a full turkey dinner before anyway

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 18/12/2019 03:37

We wanted to order a Chinese the night before but all local Chinese shut on a Tuesday round here

Pascha · 18/12/2019 07:29

The year that both boys got bikes as their main present we spent all afternoon in the park and had fishfingers sandwiches for tea Xmas Grin. Was lovely.

Now they both love a good roast so we do that.

BiddyPop · 18/12/2019 11:41

We are only 3 as well, as DD is not a fan of roasts, we only do them occasionally (and Christmas is one she is happy to eat). We do a lot of the prep, together as a family, on Christmas Eve afternoon (and DD is baking her cookies for Santa at the same time - I learned many years ago to have a safety net of baking a batch of cookies in early December and freezing half the dough, so can "slice and bake" if we are short of time or energy - or she can do them from scratch if she wants and its suitable on the day).

However, another favourite meal that we do on Christmas Eve is "Platter". Basically, it involves opening a lot of packets and tubs from M&S, local deli etc, having peeled an extra few carrots to make carrot sticks for dipping, getting the Christmas cheeses laid out, and making sure that my selection has included at least 1 favourite for every person. The final selection differs depending on what we can find and also how tastes change over the years, but there is enough to enjoy without going overboard. Mostly cold but sometimes a few hot things. Things like:
Cooked and cured meats (ham, parma ham, salamis, braseola, spiced beef ….)
Fish - smoked salmon, prawns (and marie rose sauce), squid rings, garlic mussels...
Salad - nice lettuce, carrot sticks, pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes, olives, spring onions...
Flat breads or bread sticks, nice crackers for cheese, possibly nice crusty bread
Dips - hummus, marie rose, pesto, salsa...
Pork pies, sausage rolls, scotch eggs
M&S party food from the oven
Cheese board has about 5/6 cheeses usually, at least 2 hard, 1 soft and 1 blue, and usually some grapes on the side

You can change it up to suit your tastes, and numbers. Most of it will keep to eat another day if you don't finish it all. And everyone just picks what they would like from the middle of the table.

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