Opinions on my Christmas menu!

[HerbivorousRex]

I know it’s early but this is our first year hosting Christmas and I’m very excited (I love Christmas!)
Please could you look through my menu/plan for the day and let me know what you think!
I love baking and often cook for large numbers of people but I’ve never done Christmas before (I’m also veggie so I don’t want to miss anything that the meat eaters might want!)

We have 12 adults and 2 children coming for the day and we’ll eat lunch at 2pm.

Breakfast (9am after stockings):
Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels
Bacon sandwiches
Cranberry and orange mimosas
Tea/coffee/juice

Everyone staying with us goes for a long walk in the morning. Everyone else will arrive between 1-2pm. Pre-dinner drinks and nibbles.

• Spiced orange martini
• Cranberry gin fizz
• Nuts, crisps and dips
• Mince pies and gingerbread biscuits

Lunch (2.30pm)
Starter (plus pulling crackers and opening table presents):
Pate on sourdough toast with cornichons.

Main:
Goose or Turkey.
Beef.
Chestnut, mushroom and Stilton nut roast.
Pork, hazelnut and spiced apple stuffing
Pigs in blankets (veggie sausage for me).
Cauliflower and leek cheese with whole grain mustard.
Sprouts with roasted chestnuts and pancetta.
Spiced red cabbage.
Honey/spice glazed, roasted carrots and parsnips.
Mashed swede with loads of butter and black pepper.
Yorkshire puddings.
Roast potatoes.
Gravy.
Wine, water and sparkling apple juice.

Pudding:
Christmas pudding.
Christmas wreath pavlova (with berries).
Spiced chocolate orange tart.
Cream/custard/ice-cream/brandy butter.
Tea/coffee

Open presents round the tree. Play games. Christmas treasure hunt. Gingerbread house decorating competition.

Evening food (7pm):
Cheese/charcuterie board (with figs, apples/pears, salad, pickles, chutneys, olives etc).
Nice bread and crackers
Christmas cake, mince pies and gingerbread house.
Mulled wine, hot chocolate, expresso martinis.

Watch Christmas films (argue about whether ‘Die Hard’ counts as a Christmas film).

Is there anything I’ve missed or that you think I should add/cut?

It sounds amazing!

A few points:

If anyone is trying to lose weight they might appreciate some straightforward veg without pancetta or other add-ins.

It's possible that the kids (unless they're your own!) might not like chocolate orange or fruit based desserts and might prefer a Milk Chocolate Yule Log or something.

Three meat-based mains sounds like a lot of work!

I would like to come to your house for Christmas please.

@HerbivorousRex Are you sure you really want to do all of this? It looks honestly like you are making a rod for your own back.

Very nice and you have gone to a lot of trouble but are you running a hotel?

I'd love to come too. It all sounds fantastic!

@Squirrelblanket

Yorkshire pudding is amazing but doesn't belong on Christmas dinner..🤷🏻‍♀️

Glad I'm not coming to yours on Christmas. How disappointing

Skip the pre-dinner nibbles because people will ruin their lunch! Serve lunch slightly earlier (2:15?) if you are worried about people being hungry xx

Looks amazing...but I don't think you need all that meat..especially as your a vegetarian. I wouldn't expect a vegetarian to cook any meat so certainly not all that. No need for salmon and bacon, and just have one meat for dinner. Have vegetarian stuffing and no pancetta in the sprouts otherwise you're having to make separate dishes for the vegetarians.

No mince pies etc before dinner. Either pre-dinner nibbles or a starter not both. You may need a break before pudding - we always do - so could open presents then. We never eat in the evening as too full so I'd say the lovely sounding buffet for Boxing day.

Your guests are very lucky!

I just saw your pregnant too. For some reason I managed to host Christmas at 6 months pregnant both times! And I didn't have family that would help - it was all down to me. It was ok, although there were some tears. The worst thing though was I was boiling hot when pregnant and had my parents who live in a much sunnier climate and had to have the heating whacked up all day and night so I got no sleep! Sounds like you have a much more helpful family which is good.

I don't think some people have spotted that the two dc are not the OPs, they will be opening their main presents at home before going to the OPs for dinner.

Sounds amazing can I come?? 😋