Does anyone do a buffet rather a "proper" Christmas lunch?

[GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal]

Does it feel something's missing if you do? Just thinking I don't particularly feel like spending most of Christmas Day in the kitchen making a massive roast, and we really like all the tasty "party" food you get at Christmas, and thinking it might be nice for us all to spend the day relaxing and grazing on lovely tasty food.

But I'm worried if we do that the day will lack a "structure" and we'll get to the end of the day and think "oh, was that it?"

I don't even really like turkey - although tbf we had turkey last year, so this year would be a beef year - and we have plenty of roasts throughout the year, so it's not like the family are missing out.

No, I've no idea why I'm wondering about this on such a hot July day either!

There's only 3 of us for Xmas Day..all adults. I've never cooked a traditional dinner. We often go out for lunch ..last year we obviously couldn't, so went for a 5 mile walk in glorious sunshine to our favourite place. Came back to shepherds pie.

YABU

It's July

I love a big Christmas dinner and while I’m happy to cook it, I wouldn’t be bothered doing it all at any other time. There’s a lot of special recipes that have sentimental value, some passed down three generations, etc. We aren’t a Sunday roast family so the Christmas meal feels really special.

But we always have time off at Christmas so there are other days for grazing and relaxing. I think that factor is key when deciding how you want to organise your Christmas meals. I vastly prefer the day after Christmas when I can lie around ignoring all responsibilities and let the dc survive on selection boxes and turkey sandwiches. If I had to get back to work, I’d want a day like that for Christmas Day instead.

@spotcheck

YABU

It's July

It's the Christmas board. 🎅

@spotcheck

YABU

It's July

Actually YABU this is the Christmas board 🎅🏻

Thanks all! Didn't mean to abandon thread, have been out enjoying the lovely weather (yes I know it's July, thank you!)

I think this thread has confirmed for me I don't want to do a roast at all! I think I do them often enough they don't actually feel special, IYSWIM?

DD absolutely loves a steak though, so I'm thinking that maybe for Xmas Eve I'll splash out on some really good steaks (with lovely beef dripping chips - DS not that keen on steak but loves chips!), do I buffet/grazing affair on Xmas Day, and maybe persuade DH we should have lunch out on Boxing Day. NYE is when I normally do a "party food" buffet, but I'm thinking instead I might invite a couple of friends round and do a fancy, grown up dinner then?

Typing all this whilst lying in my garden in my swimsuit with a cold G&T! 😆

@spotcheck

YABU

It's July

^ this

Couldn’t you have waited til August at least?
Monsters

I do a bbq on Christmas day. It's delicious.

For years now we have had Christmas Dinnner on Christmas Eve. In the evening too, and small gift exchanges.
Christmas Day is then reserved for picky bits/leftovers/chocolate/alcohol 😁

We did a bed get one year and all agreed it just didn’t feel like proper Christmas so we reverted back to turkey roast!
I don’t find a roast very stressful like lots of people seem to though and when I did the buffet it was more faff with all the things that needed to go in the oven, laying everything out etc!

We do a traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, but Boxing Day is always a buffet, even if there are just the two of us. This year might be a bit different, as I'm pregnant and due on Christmas Day, so whether they come early, late or on time I don't think I'll feel like cooking a big roast!

I don't find it stressful as such; I'm a good cook and I enjoy it. But I'm the ONLY cook in the family, so I spend most of the day in the kitchen preparing the breakfast (bacon rolls, salmon bagels and Bucks Fizz, usually), Christmas lunch and evening sandwiches and snacks!

I'd like to have a year where I just do what my DH and DM do, and hang out with the kids in front of the telly. Usually by the time I finally sit down everyone's knackered and half asleep!

Massive Christmas dinner here, missed out last year so looking forward to it however need to be realistic as to who will come, DD's all grown up

Yes!
I like the way the Polish do things. I have a polish friend who celebrates with their Christmas meal on Christmas eve. They then have a buffet Christmas Day. This means their day is chilled out for the person cooking as it can very much be prepared in advance.

Another Christmas I really enjoyed was when my glass hob cracked and only a single ring was working. I cooked all my vegetables slowly over the days leading up to Christmas Day, put them into buttered baking dishes. I kept them outside in a secure place to chill and on the day put them into a hot oven. That year was the easiest year ever.

We have a big breakfast/brunch of either pastries (frozen that I just bung in the oven) with fruit, or bacon/egg/sausage sandwiches or homemade sausage McMuffins.
And then a picky buffet in the evening.

@DespairingHomeowner

Thank you!!!!
Ideally September, but I'll concede August.

😂

I've done a buffet for the last two Christmases.

DD is five, and I want to be with her, not stuck in the kitchen away from all the fun.

Christmas Dinner does happen - usually on the Sunday after Christmas but this year that Sunday is Boxing Day ( will make alternative arrangements!)

We do and have for a few years now. We have 'Christmas dinner' on Boxing Day.

Grazing all day is awesome. Don't feel like we miss anything really.

I like the faffing about with vegetables and comandeering the TV while I do it . Sometimes if I'm organised I peel some on Christmas Eve but not too far ahead.

We have a buffet on NYE which is delicious

We did last Christmas dad as ds was at his dad's, we had smoked salmon, prawns, salads, sausage rolls, fancy bread, cheeses & crackers then had our Christmas Dinner on Boxing Day.

We plan on a buffet/easier meal this year as I'm due baby 2 at Christmas (csection) and don't want to deal with the faff of a big roast, even if DH cooks and washes up and I definitely don't want to be going to family fresh out of surgery and a new baby so buffet it is. I like the idea of chilling in pj's, watching my nearly 3 year old play with his toys all day and eat whenever x

We are having home made chicken pie and bread and butter pudding (probably with some kind of festive twist) this year and the kids will have whatever their favourite is at the time. We will have a Christmas dinner at some point but not on Christmas Day.

I’m toying with the idea of doing a Christmas Lunch on Boxing Day instead and party food on the day itself. Traditionally we have fish and chips Christmas Eve and the idea of yummy food to graze on all day sounds amazing!

I am getting so inspired by this thread.! We had a dismal Christmas last year for various reasons.

I am now feeling inspired to;

• Have a nice supper on Christmas eve- something salmon and seafood related

-buffet Christmas day

• my favourite gammon/cauliflower cheese and peas for Boxing day.

No, the nice easy buffet is for Boxing Day.

But we never have Christmas dinner until around 5 - how on earth people manage to have it on the table for 1 pm defeats me - such a rush for whoever’s cooking. I can’t imagine even wanting a major meal then - at least not in this house, where a late breakfast/brunch is the norm.