Vegetarians invited themselves for Christmas- got beef ordered!

[EdenFlower]

So, my vegetarian relatives and asked if they can join us for Christmas? I have it planned- joint of beef on order, I've perfected my roast potatoes and like them cooked in beef dripping, likewise the yorkshire pudding, my sprout recipe is cooked with pancetta, starter is parma ham and figs...and so on! Grrr! Now everything will need to adapted to be veggie because I'm not doing two versions of everything. It was already adapted to be gluten free for MIL but now two more special diet guests is a push.

Would it be rude to ask them to bring their own veggie options with them- nut roast and vegetarian gravy or whatever it is they eat?

@YouJustFoldItIn

Or an individual tart of caramelized red onions and goats cheese. You can make it and freeze it in advance.

Mushroom bourgignon pie made with red wine and a flaky pastry lid.

Nice sounds Christmassy and better than nut roast (not that I’ve eaten it but sounds a bit stodgy)

I'm a good cook and would never serve guests ready-made supermarket food- everything is always homemade!

This is your issue - not really the vegetarian relatives. Order a vegetarian main from Waitrose/M&S or wherever. Stick it in the oven and they can eat it with the vegetables you’re already cooking. (If potatoes are an issue, but some ready done ones especially for the guests.) They want to come and spend time with you, you get to see them, you don’t get any hassle. Easy. The “homemade” thing will, I’m almost certain, matter far, far more to you than it will do to anybody else.

@jackstini

I would say it's ruder to ask them to bring their own than to serve shop bought! You can get some lovely gourmet Wellington dishes

Maybe say, "we're having beef as it's already ordered, is there anything you would particularly like?" If they say "X" just buy one. If they offer to bring something then all good

also a good suggestion! you've now agreed to host, they will accept anything you offer graciously I'm sure.

When I've done similar celebration meals for meat eaters amd veggies I've done veggie sides all can share and a veggie and a meat main. I think it would be unwelcoming to ask them to bring their own food - makes them tiere 2 guests. You sound like a great cook so even with meat in the vegetable sides the meal would be great and all guests would feel welcome and relaxed.

@YouJustFoldItIn
Or an individual tart of caramelized red onions and goats cheese. You can make it and freeze it in advance.

yes! perfect!

I'm doing thanksgiving next week and sil is vegetarian. I do roast potatoes in ghee and omit pancetta from the brussels sprouts. lots of other vegetables too. I'm also making this which I think will be a big hit with the non vegetarians too

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020551-mushroom-bread-pudding

Oh god, not bloody goats cheese.

I thought that had disappeared as the default veggie option.

It isn't so hard to cook some of the potatoes in coconut oil is it? What would you do for a main if you could? Could you do something that's pre-freezable?

[quote Stovetopespresso]@YouJustFoldItIn
Or an individual tart of caramelized red onions and goats cheese. You can make it and freeze it in advance.

yes! perfect![/quote]
Ooh, yes- great idea and I've made similar before!

@YouJustFoldItIn, I thought so.

I love goats cheese tart like that, I rarely have it though as not low carb

What do you like Purple?

Or a veggie shepherd's pie with lentils, beans, mushrooms, etc.

A root veg, savoury herby crumble.

They would all work with the sides for the beef.

@Pallisers that looks lovely!I always love it when I make a veggie thing and all the meat eaters want some

How about? Hi family member,
Would absolutely love to have you over for Xmas, unfortunately the menu was already arranged and ordered, as my oven won't fit 2 lots could you bring xyz along with you?
Ta

Fuck that. I'm vegetarian and I always take my own dinner.

@YouJustFoldItIn I thought so.

Why? Am I suggesting things a proper veggie wouldn't like?

I don’t see the issue of buying pre-done and think that is less rude than asking they bring their own. Surely it’s not that difficult to adapt most things though. Put some of the potatoes into oil not dripping, most of the veg will be fine they can just skip the sprouts (or pick out the meat if they’re not strict). Get some sort of predominant or premade veg/ nut roast

I would make a spinach and feta pie and freeze it until Christmas.

@MarshaBradyo

I love goats cheese tart like that, I rarely have it though as not low carb

What do you like Purple?

Nut roast! Or veggie sausages.

Seriously, I would eat the goats cheese tart and be pleased to have been catered for.

I also really like onion tarts tatin or mushroom wellinton.

If there’s a good bread based stuffing, I’ll happily just not have the meat.

@MarshaBradyo

I love goats cheese tart like that, I rarely have it though as not low carb

What do you like Purple?

would a chickpea pastry be low carb?

I don't really know how you can claim to like people and talk so contemptuously about them, but...

Seriously none of this is difficult. A bit of cheese with the figs for a starter. Stuffed butternut squash with something a bit fancy for main - pomegranate seeds and spices, maybe some feta. That can be prepped in advance and bunged in the oven. Cook a few roasties in a separate tin in olive oil. Tell them the yorkshires & sprouts have meat in, sorry about that, sure you won't mind. Try not to pour beef gravy over dessert.

@Capferret

I would make a spinach and feta pie and freeze it until Christmas.

ooh might actually make spanakopita as we have some Greek heritage!

Stove I make exception for Christmas so I’d go all out and be fine

It was more that I wasn’t fed up with it yet so would look forward to it

Really like this thread for Christmas veggie ideas. Very festive and nice

You omitted the mushroom or butternut risotto and baked camembert otherwise you'd have just about suggested the entire offerings you'd be likely to ever see on a menu.

Apart from at christmas, when the choice is usually mushroom in pastry or nut roast.

My sister did my veggie toad in the hole one year. That was surprisingly delicious.