NO Christmas lunch on Christmas Day!!!

[Staringatthetiles]

Has anyone ever done this and if so what was your alternative?

I don’t want to go into the reasons why but would love to hear if anyone opted out of cooking Christmas dinner especially any creative alternatives that will appeal to a family of 5 with 2 preteens.

DH and I once made a Thai banquet. It took a lot of prep though- more than doing a roast turkey!

Me personally no, though one year (when eldest was a toddler), I had to work Christmas day, so we just pretended it was the next day and did Christmas then (actual Christmas was just a normal day and no idea what she and dh ate).

But growing up for about 10 years, it was just my mum and I. My mum was a horrible cook. Just a normal dinner was about the extent of what she could cook. Never cooked a Sunday lunch in my life that I can remember. So she couldn't really justify cooking a Christmas (or Easter) lunch for just the 2 of us - also I was vegetarian, so that was an added complication! We used to go out to a vegetarian Chinese restaurant instead. It was lovely and surprisingly busy and festive.

@fetchacloth

I've been out for a Balti on Christmas day before. That was great - I hate turkey, and most roast meals I find boring. Also no washing up afterwards.😁

Me too and will be doing so again this year. I hate having to slave in the kitchen all day, the day resembles most Sundays. Instead this year we will be going for a walk then to the pub now dd is 18 and for our curry....bliss!

Many European countries traditionally have their big meal in the evening on Christmas Eve.

We sometimes have Christmas Dinner instead of Lunch.

And will have a light lunch of smoked salmon and blinis.

@Scarydinosaurs

I’ve done fillet steak with chips. It was great!

OMG that so has my name on it!

We had lamb shanks and veg from cook a few years ago, very enjoyable but I missed traditional Christmas dinner

When the children were quite little they weren't interested in a full roast dinner so we didn't bother, just did chicken and rice, or fish finger sandwiches. I wasn't bothered, less stress for us.

I do a big fry up brunch (with pigs in blankets) then put out a buffet about 5pm, then eat leftovers on Boxing Day. Done it for years, we all love it

We go to a local steakhouse the food is amazing. I then cook a scaled down version of Christmas dinner on boxing Day. No stress

i am an oldie living alone, I usually go and do a Christmas dinner round at my Sons house,in the same village as me. Last Christmas I didn't go round,because of covid stuff. My son went and ordered me a Christmas dinner thingfrom a pub,doing takeaway Christmas dinner, he went to collect it, so just went to his car to get it.

Good of him, but the food was horrible. two thin pieces of chicken breast, and tasteless,the thinest gravy I have ever seen, poured over the chicken. A blob of burnt sage and onion stuffing, some peas, and a bit of sloppy overdone brocolli, and one tiny carrot. Next was a burnt mince pie, and a small rubbery christmas pudding with a blob of cold custard on top. I don't like Christmas pudding, so gave it to the birds in my bird feeder..

My son didn't tell me about this treat until the last minute so to speak,,so had to eat the great feast,no matter what. It tasted better with supping some Baileys with it.

We had lasagne a couple of Christmas’s ago and to be honest I think I will do it again this year with all the food shortages. Much less stress and my family love my lasagne (I do too) ☺️

@Mirw

Insecure, low self esteem and a husband that never says a good word to her. Gently tell her she is good at what she does, but please stop all the texts with lists. 1 text am, 1 pm max every day.

Is this on the right thread?

A few years ago me and the boys had a picnic on the front room floor complete with picnic blanket ! Best and easiest Christmas Day ever for me !

I met someone on holiday once, told me her family's best every Christmas was a long walk in the hills and home for egg and chips.

Steak and chips

One of my sisters often does a kind of picky buffet type thing, with mini pizzas, onion bhajis, sausage rolls (vegan options available), cheese, biscuits, mini desserts, etc and if they're feeling really energetic, sandwiches cut into small triangles.

If I ever have to cook dinner for more than 2 people again on a Christmas Day (shudder - or any other occasion come to that), I'd be tempted to do either a sandwich bar type thing with various breads, fillings, salads, cold cuts OR a couple of pasta options (macaroni cheese, bolognese) OR a couple of pots of curry (one vegan) and rice and bread for people to help themselves to. Most of which can be prepared the day, or several days before, or kept in the freezer until needed. That's the main reason it's less work than attempting to get everything prepared to be hot at the same time in a kitchen that's around the size of a couple of small shower cubicles...(or that often feels like it, anyway).

I am a big cook but just cba with Xmas. There's something about how boring and samey the food is, but my husband loves it. So I order all the trad stuff from Cook and then when my family are around give myself the same budget/time saved for excellent things that I wouldn't have normally, like scallops, proper Japanese, home-made sushi and so on, and it makes it fun again for the kids.

And for a truly awesome Christmas treat, tip some Pedro Ximenez sherry over good quality vanilla ice-cream.

SO good.

So many different ways of celebrating Christmas🧑‍🎄🎄 For those who do a buffet style day, can you give me ideas of what you have to eat please.

We've had Indian takeaway for the last 5years. Still have the Xmas crackers and dressed up table, but no cooking and much less washing up.

There's loads of opportunity to eat a Turkey roast in December.

@Agadorsparticus

There's loads of opportunity to eat a Turkey roast in December.

And any other month, for that matter! I am indifferent to Turkey. Would never choose it for a ‘special’ meal. There are so many nicer food options out there!

We have party food. Haven't done proper lunch for years.

Best Christmas ever was steak and chips with Diane sauce snuggled up on the sofa with DH under a duvet. Was complete and utter bliss.

We always have sausage ,Mash and Savoy cabbage . Kids love that I am not slaving away in the kitchen .

Xxxx