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?

I don't think it would be at all rude to ask them to cater for themselves considering that they have invited themselves.

I also don't think it would have been rude to say no you already have Christmas Day organised.

@QuiteQuaint - I am a confident cook and I can cook well with or without meat but if a vegetarian invited themselves for my Christmas dinner which is very much meat and animal fat based, I wouldn't be breaking my heart over buying a nice ready made vegetarian option from M&S or elsewhere. I would check with them and ask if they're bringing something but we love our roast duck, bacon etc. so that would be served for us for us.
Unless there's someone who doesn't eat certain things due to health reasons, I'm not budging.

@EdenFlower

They don't usually spend Christmas day with us...we usually see them either a few days before or in the new year. Not sure why they have asked if they can visit over Christmas this year- think lack of their own children around these days maybe, I usually have no problem cooking vegetarian when they visit, but Christmas dinner is different- it's hard enough cooking for large numbers as it is without having to provide different things for different people. I'm a good cook and would never serve guests ready-made supermarket food- everything is always homemade!

I'm an amazing cook but sometimes there's nothing wrong with good quality supermarket food. But if you like always cooking from scratch then look at it as an opportunity to excel at two meals!

I dunno...I think it would have been ok to have said "yes but you'll need to bring your own food" when they asked, but once you have said yes, then they are your guests and its up to you to cater IMO....but I'd do ready made and not expect to cook two separate meals and if they don't like it then tough titty.

As a veggie I'd be happy with an extra big helping of cauliflower cheese, some mashed potatoes, sage and onion stuffing and some honey roast carrots and parsnips, in fact I'd love it.

I appreciate mashed potatoes are controversial on a Christmas dinner but that's what we do around these parts, mashed and roast potatoes.

@YouJustFoldItIn, I'm afraid I'm firmly in the 'Oh god not bloody goat's cheese' camp. I'll add 'oh god not butternut squash or mushrooms and definitely not risotto' too

So what do you like for a special occasion then? Lentils? Beetroot? Mixed beans? Tofu? Only the vegetarian I most often cook for loathes tofu. But she loves mushrooms, She loves cheese and is very happy to eat anything in 'en croute' which is another thing that has been sneered at on here.

We are not mind readers and if we discounted every type of can't veggie food on the basis that lots of people might not like it you'd end up with a plain jacket potato or a plate of plain spaghetti. We are merely offering ideas that will work alongside a roast that the OP's guest might like.

I would not expect anything fancy like you suggest, and you mean well but meat eaters occasionally eat "vegetarian food" and think that's what vegetarians like.

Well I don't speak for all meat eaters nor do I think like all meat eaters, so I am not sure why you think you can speak for all vegetarians and assume that you think like all of them. Clearly you don't all like and dislike the same things as my friend can attest.

So what would make you happy on Christmas Day then, that's not 'fancy or complicated'? A tin of baked beans to have with the OP's root mash? A Sainsbury's Margerita pizza? A few Linda McCartney sausages thown in as an afterthought? Because that's not very Christmassy, it's the sort of thing you'd eat off a tray on your lap on a Tuesday after work, but if you are happy with that then so be it.

But for everyone like you there'll be another vegetarian bitching that the OP didn't make any effort and treated her like an inconvenience by serving boring, second rate food straight out of a packet.

EerieSilence

Thanks for letting me know. 🤪 I couldn’t give a fuck about your dinner or how you don’t accommodate guests. I was responding to OP who does want her guests there and for them to be happy. If you don’t ‘budge’ and make effort for people you love, that’s on you. 🥰

@PurpleDaisies

My question was would it be rude to ask them to bring their own (which would undoubtedly be home-cooked) with them.

Yes. It would be.

Disagree. They're gonna have to bring their own if they want to join. I'm not doubling up on everything, nor am I making things taste less nice.

Just do something that can be prepared and cooked the day before.
I usually do a stuffed pepper or squash with spiced rice and nut filling, and a tray of roast veg.
It only needs reheating so can go in foil covered after the beef has been removed to rest. It won't take up valuable oven space then.

*I just want a plate of food that is mostly veg and a bit of protein.

Any clues on that 'bit of protein'?

Christmas day there's usually loads to eat anyway so no biggie, but it is rubbish eating out when you are only offered the same old things that aren't very nice

Well yes there is^ loads to eat if you mean Turkish Delight, satsumas anf Twiglets. Unless I made you something especially, at my lunch table you'd be eating carrots and parsnips with a dollop of cranberry sauce. Everything else would be contaminated with meat or meat by-product.

Goats cheese tart or mini quiche to start perhaps.

Holland and Barratt do a Turkey less dinner. Even has veggie sausage in Facon.

@BIWI

Yes, that would be very rude!

You haven't actually bought or cooked anything yet, so plenty of time to change your plans.

But that's not fair on the OP. Why should she change her plans?

@YouJustFoldItIn

*I just want a plate of food that is mostly veg and a bit of protein.

Any clues on that 'bit of protein'?

Christmas day there's usually loads to eat anyway so no biggie, but it is rubbish eating out when you are only offered the same old things that aren't very nice

Well yes there is^ loads to eat if you mean Turkish Delight, satsumas anf Twiglets. Unless I made you something especially, at my lunch table you'd be eating carrots and parsnips with a dollop of cranberry sauce. Everything else would be contaminated with meat or meat by-product.

I’m genuinely amazed by this. Why so much meat?

Ah I would accommodate them as simply as possible. I’d say they are delighted you will have them, and assume they won’t expect anything fancy. I personally wouldn’t ask them to bring food.

@YouJustFoldItIn, not bloody beetroot that's for sure.

I just have normal food that doesn't have animals in it. The biggest problem with the "vegetarian food" is that it is usually carby and fatty, so isn't satisfying. It's not a balanced meal.

I'd probably make or buy something proteiny and have it with lots of veg. The veg might include squash but I'd pick a more interesting one.

I think I would just say to them that you had planned beef, and have ordered it. Would they like something vegetarian from m&s or would they like to bring their own homemade. All the trimmings can be veggie thats not a big deal.

You cant invite yourself to someones and expect them to make 2 dishes for you. Thats not fair. And its christmas, tradition suggests most people would have planned a meaty roast. They might just be happy for the trimmings as thats quite filling.

Maybe goose fat for the potatoes instead? Birds are less “meaty” than animals so it’s a notch down the meat ladder, a nice compromise option.

I think flexibility is a sign of intelligence and being gracious when hosting is a sign of good character. Why be stubborn. It's bloody November. You've got a whole month to tweak the menu.

Can I suggest you have a look at Delia’s parsnip roulade. I love it, quite a bit of it can be done the day before and in our family meat eaters enjoy it too.

@hotmeatymilk

Maybe goose fat for the potatoes instead? Birds are less “meaty” than animals so it’s a notch down the meat ladder, a nice compromise option.

This is the maddest one yet 🤣

What @CarrotSticks19 said. I'd not invite myself somewhere for a meal, without offering to bring my own if they weren't vegetarians

Just tell them what you've already planned for yourselves to eat and have a chat together about the veggie options

@EdenFlower

I didn't say no because it would be rude- and it will be nice to have them there. A bought nut roast and Bisto is not my style, or theirs! I would be embarrassed to serve guests that! My question was would it be rude to ask them to bring their own (which would undoubtedly be home-cooked) with them.

Actually what is rude is to invite yourself tk someone else's house especially for Christmas.

I mean they can't be that close to you if you can't have that simple discussion about what to cook for Christmas