Xmas food... tips & ideas

[Christmascrazyalways]

Hoping some of you are joining my furlough boredom - trying to plan ahead to my favourite time of year and block out the fact I’ll probably be made redundant & have no money in a few months

I need some ideas for a Christmas Eve buffet... will be 6 adults, a teen and 3 toddlers... my kitchen is the size of a 2p piece but it’s Christmas so we suffer

So far I’m thinking of a big ham cooked in Coca Cola... with leftovers for my Christmas Day buffet! Other ideas

• Camembert
• pigs in blankets
• pate & veg sticks
• small cheese board
• mini Yorkshire’s with beef and horseradish
• breaded prawns and dip
• salmon & cream cheese belinis
• mince pies

Any more ideas particularly for little ones? Ideas that can be prepped a good few hours or even a day in advance

Has anyone done a hot chocolate station? Or ideas for a dedicated toddler area? I am totally OTT but I love it! Lol!

Also Christmas cocktail recommendations?

Christmas cocktails - basically just roll the rim of any glass in a sugar syrup/white choc/something sticky and then in crushed candy canes - all cocktails are then festive

Sausage rolls can be made & frozen or left in the fridge for a few days.

For things like this, I often put a pork shoulder in the oven to slow cook all morning/afternoon and simply shred when ready. So easy and always goes down a storm.

Homemade sausage rolls.

If you’re doing a cheeseboard, why not add some nice Italian cooked meats.

For an easy make ahead dish, we often do mackerel pâté.

I do Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. It gives me more time to prepare, and the children love it. They usually go and see Santa, then come home to eat it in the dark with twinkly candles on the table. We often invite friends around too.

On Xmas day we have a big breakfast, and then a cold-cut buffet with the leftovers, plus other stuff. Husband and son do the breakfast; I do the buffet.

Sandwiches made with a Christmassy biscuit cutter. I like doing angel-shaped sandwiches, but a star or even a Christmas tree would be nice too.
Reindeer tarts www.taste.com.au/recipes/butternut-snap-rudolph-chocolate-tartlets/17961e8c-717e-400c-bf38-5ec5107473f8

I did a picnic tea for a 2 and 3 year old at the weekend and the most popular items by far were the sausage rolls, cheese and onion rolls, mini sausages and breadsticks with dips!

Calamari and garlic mayo
Feta and Spinach parcels
Simple tomato and olive oil bruschetta

Definitely cocktails! I like Nigella’s poinsettia fizz, which is highly drinkable.

For a buffet, a lot of a few things is better than a few of a lot of things.

The ham or slow cooked pork or beef (for pulled beef/pork) and something to serve it with - we've done similar with bao buns and coleslaw which is delicious. I noticed Aldi were doing mini brioche buns and it would be nice in those.

Something with pastry - a cold pie, quiche (if there are vegetarians in attendance you could make a veggie quiche) or stack of sausage rolls.

A vegetable bake - usually revert to Delia's oven baked ratatouille with tomatoes, onions, courgettes, peppers and feta - you can add little potatoes to make it go further.

A couple of salads - maybe coleslaw and a green salad.

Good cheese and fruit plate - mature cheddar, a squidgy cheese and a blue cheese with grapes, pears or maybe a stunt pineapple.

A rich desert - something with chocolate (retro black forest gateau) or a big lemon meringue pie.

Framboise is festive with fizz.

Love all your ideas! Added to my list...

God I wish I could book my supermarket delivery slot now 🙈 although I always forget something and end up in Tesco at 6am on Xmas eve!!!

Bowl of crisps to pick at - theres bound to be xmas flavoured crisps come out in the next few months :)

Gingerbread men for the little ones? Tesco normally does decorate your own kits.

There will probably be xmassy themed mr Kipling cakes and treats out too x

I've just cut this out of a restaurant review -

Roast cabbage with celeriac and Bulgarian spice. A quarter of red cabbage blanched then roasted (almost blackened). Served on the plate with creamy celeriac puree. Bulgarian spice (over the top, I assume) include fengreek, cumin and smoked paprika.

I can blanch the cabbage a day or so before, I suppose. I cook my turkey and ham in the Weber so can pop this in last thing. I might try it out this weekend with beef brisket.

Good God. I didn't realise how much I needed this thread. Place marking!!

Oh, and last year my preschooler became obsessed by Christmas tree crumpets, so we’re going to need to get those again too.

@ifigoup Ohhh I forgot about all the novelty shaped goodies that come out!! Deffo need them for the kids table!!

I saw in b&m yesterday the gingerbread & Christmas pudding mcvities!! Kicking myself for not buying them!

@TheSandgroper that sounds AMAZING

I agree with the PP that said lots of a few things than a few of lots of things.

I usually do mini sausage rolls and pizza cut into Christmas shapes for the children.

Crisps and dips

A salad with sides, coleslaw, couscous. BBC Good food have a Christmas slaw recipe which is quite tasty.

Pie/quiche

Some sort of hot meat for sandwiches in baguettes or rolls, pulled pork, shredded chicken and stuffing, honey ham, etc.

For something sweet I put out festive biscuits, nice chocolates, homemade cakes.

This year I think I'm going to do an afternoon tea style.

I love the Christmas cocktail idea with candy canes - definitely trying that 🍸

Last Sunday before Christmas we have an open house for friends and family. I tend to do the same food most years as it’s easy to plan and well received.

Ham joint cooked in honey served sliced.
Cheese board, antipasti meats, olives, crackers and quince jelly.
Homemade pork and black pudding sausage rolls.
Breads.
Crisps & dip.
Chocolates, tablet and reindeer ginger biscuits.

Prosecco, homemade cranberry gin and ales.

Loving these ideas. Am always rubbish with food so glad of this thread.

@Lockdownhairdontcare

Last Sunday before Christmas we have an open house for friends and family. I tend to do the same food most years as it’s easy to plan and well received.

Ham joint cooked in honey served sliced.
Cheese board, antipasti meats, olives, crackers and quince jelly.
Homemade pork and black pudding sausage rolls.
Breads.
Crisps & dip.
Chocolates, tablet and reindeer ginger biscuits.

Prosecco, homemade cranberry gin and ales.

Stolen ALL of your ideas. Thank you very much 🎅🏼🎄🥂.

@84claire84 enjoy. Stornaway or portobello back pudding is a must!

Last year M&S did lovely Christmas crisps, with special touches like a hint of prosecco and edible sparkles.

[quote Lockdownhairdontcare]@84claire84 enjoy. Stornaway or portobello back pudding is a must! [/quote]
Thank you very much x

Can I just say this is my first thread with over 3 comments and I’m secretly really pleased

How amazing is this not chocolate bar!! I wish all these little bits were in shops now so I could get really organised!

@Christmascrazyalways, in normal times I start an online shop in about September, ordering for the furthest date and then push it back every couple of weeks, putting stuff I know I'll want in the basket and then amending up to the deadline. The day the Christmas slot I want comes out I just amend the slot on the already-existing order.