Christmas BBQ

[mellongoose]

Apologies if this has been done.

DH would like to do a bbq this year. We are rural U.K. Close family coming (mostly open minded)!

Would love your suggestions, please.

So far, I'm thinking kebabs of turkey and pigs in blankets, served in pittas with bread sauce, thick gravy and stuffing?

Thanks 😊

Why?

Yes....but we live in a hot country. In the UK, not a chance. Eat indoors and if you're desperate for a bit of Dec outdoor activity, get the fire pit going for those who want to be outside. Chances are, it will piss down anyway...

I wouldn't in the uk tbh. It will be cold and possibly raining. Do you have outdoor heaters? Or would you be eating inside? If everyone wants to do it then I suppose there is no issue but I would have a back up in case it pisses it down.

We put joints on in this weather. So shoulder of lamb works well. We have a lidded bbq and it doesn't need too much tending once going. (Although i tend to drawer the line at eating outside.)

Ehh will you be sitting in the garden or will you be eating inside? That would be my idea of a nightmare but I guess there is people who like this.

I suppose you could cook most things on the bbq, just do all your favourite foods. I'd probably cook meat things in oven to start and finish in bbq, just to be sure.

We have spatchcocked a chicken on BBQ before which worked well, could do that with a small turkey.

Beware pigs in blankets - bacon can be problematic due to excess grease dripping into coals/gas and flaming up. But if you have a tin foil tray to catch the grease that should help.

Could do prawns in their shells or on skewers as a nod to starters.

Peppers stuffed with some bulgar wheat and suitable spices to go with pittas/Moroccan style?

If you have warm gear and are prepared for longer cooking than summer (due to external temps cooking bbq), then go for it any enjoy!

We do a neighborhood “snowed in bbq” if there’s enough snow to cover the ground - very in exciting emptying of fridges so usually sausages, wings, maybe burgers, served with hot wine for adults and hot squash for kids so we all enjoy the outdoors together. There can be up to 3 bbqs pulled out for that from various houses.

I am contemplating, if numbers are ok and have continued to reduce locally, planning ahead for 1 on the green over Christmas but not 25th, so we can all Catch up while outdoors and SD. As our sociable street have not had any gatherings all year apart from 2 seperate “Sunday evening beer on the green” half hours in summer when numbers were low and we were allowed gather outdoors.

If we do it, everyone will bring their own food and drink, glasses and plates, chairs etc - if loans of chairs are needed, wipes will be there to use as well, and we will spread out on the football pitch sized green out front.

DF also loves bbqing all year and does big lamb joints on charcoal in winter (we cook on gas as we generally cook after work so need speed and control not spending an hour waiting for coals to heat).

And do fried onions in another tinfoil tray or packet for the pittas - mmmmmm yum

@drumandthebass

Why?

Because it's something different from our usual. Because the kids might enjoy it. Because DH would like to. Because we can put shelters up, decorate with lights, light a bonfire.

To make it a Christmas to remember rather than one which will bleed into the memory of all the others.

People can go inside if they want to, I promise not to lock the doors 😆. If the forecast looks shocking we can always revert back to the usual Christmas dinner.

@BiddyPop that all sounds lovely 😊

Go for it OP why not?! Christmas Day isn't always foul weather, it was absolutely beautiful where we are last year, would have been perfect to wrap up warm and eat outside.

I didn't think BBQing part of Christmas dinner was that weird anyway, a few people I know slow cook a ham or a chicken in their (gas, lidded) BBQs when they don't have oven space left.

@mellongoose

Apologies if this has been done.

DH would like to do a bbq this year. We are rural U.K. Close family coming (mostly open minded)!

Would love your suggestions, please.

So far, I'm thinking kebabs of turkey and pigs in blankets, served in pittas with bread sauce, thick gravy and stuffing?

Thanks 😊

Sounds like a fantastic idea good idea and safer with regards to COVID. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🌲🎶🎄🌲❤️

Good idea.

Check your local Council with regards to having a bonfire. During this pandemic our Council has advised against them and anyone having one gets absolutely slated on facebook.

I was thinking this for NYE. DH did a snow one when he was at uni and they had a great time.

I wouldn't want to sit outside as we don't have the facilities but getting a meal up on the BBQ why not.

DD is a Scout and they always cook outside when on a camp, even if it is November.

We had a Christmas BBQ one year when I was a kid. DDad did the turkey on the BBQ. It was fantastic and is one of my favourite Christmas memories. I'd say go for it.

Sounds like a lovely idea!

Sounds fab!! you could wrap the Christmas pudding up in tinfoil and heat it on the bbq too! If you like that sort of thing anyway, I'd rather have trifle

God there are some miserable fuckers on this thread!

DO IT. You will have fun and an experience.

We've done it before in the past in the UK. We've also done reindeer steaks before. And Christmas themed pizza (everything from brie and cranberry to brussel sprout and pigs in blanket to turkey and stuffing pizza. If you have it in a roast you can have it on pizza!) We LOVE mixing it up and trying to do something different rather than a fucking boring turkey every single year.

Kebabs of turkey? Nope! I wouldn't do that personally. Its a bit too chewy/unforgiving if not cooked EXACTLY right and isn't great for much else but roasting for that reason.

I would spatchcock a chicken (or another small bird if you feel adventurous) and sling it on the BBQ though. DH has done chickens on camp fires in tin foil before with scouts, just with lemon wedges and its AMAZING. So perfectly doable on a bbq. Its not a difficult job. Just make sure its cooked through, not pink inside and the juices run clear. As long as your sides and trimmings are all christmassy, then I don't think you need turkey.

You do however need cranberry sauce as you seem to have forgotten it. Preferably a homemade one.

You can do flatbreads on an open fire too in a pan rather than pitabreads if you are feeling brave and adventurous.

Alternatively, fish is a great one for something fancy on the BBQ and it can be pretty festive to have something like Salmon.

I also recommend mince pie calzone in a pizza oven. Just pizza dough filled with mince pie filling, folded and cook. Just watch out for it being nuclear hot instead. (If you have a pizza bit for a BBQ then this works perfectly for your pudding).

Have fun!

@Mindymomo

Check your local Council with regards to having a bonfire. During this pandemic our Council has advised against them and anyone having one gets absolutely slated on facebook.

Have they advised against firepits too? They are much safer as they are controlled and size limited and don't involve fireworks.

Came on here as I was thinking about it. Think I’m sold now. Won’t be Christmas Day but god we all need a change this year and just reading it made me smile! I’m with you Op 😂

We do this! We have a side of salmon and we do the pigs in blankets too. It's selective items, not a full on BBQ.

Go for it, not sure why so many posters are scared of being outdoors in winter 🤨

Patio heaters, shelters, fire pit and bbq Turkey sounds perfect. You could do Yorkshire pudding wraps?

You should meet my dh. He’s been doing the Christmas Day bbq for the entire 16 years we’ve been together! He’s done
Turkey
Goose
Rib of beef
Ham
Fillet steak

We are in UK. One year (2010 I think) there was thick snow and he had to sweep it off the bbq before he started.
The joys of being married to a South African!

You can BBQ a turkey on charcoal if you're prepared to man it low and slow. Why not?!