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?

@EdenFlower

Google says olive oil is best for roast potatoes! Not sure the smoke point thing is that relevant- beef dripping appears to have a lowish smoke point?

Pretty sure beef dripping has a high smoke point.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/which-fat-makes-best-roasties/amp

First result on Google. Makes no mention of olive oil. Maybe one of these options would be good?

I wouldn't say yuck.

If it's relatives, I say 'please don't buy or cook anything especially for me', but it's taken years for me to not be presented with something like a roast dinner with something like mushroom risotto on it.
You end up eating some of it just to be polite.

The plant-based/vegan stuff is worse because my sibling and I really struggle with it.

I don't eat meat.
My sister gave up meat long before I did (she's now a vegan) so we stopped cooking roasties etc in the meat juices a long time ago. To be honest, it was a good chance to experiment with different ways of cooking them and the roasties we make now are far nicer (and crispier!) than the non veggie ones we used to have.

Don't change your starter- you obviously picked it because you knew you would enjoy it and you should still have it. As previous posters have suggested, just replace the meat aspect with cheese for the non meat eaters. Next to zero extra prep for you that way and you still get the starter you had planned.

We still have a couple of meat eaters on Christmas Day, marginally more veggies/vegans. My mum has perfected her veggie gravy (lovingly reduced and frozen veggie stock whenever we cook veg in the weeks prior!) to the point where in the last couple of years, the meat eaters told her to stop making a separate meat version for them as hers was nicer! You could make a smaller batch of veggie gravy ahead of time and freeze. It will warm up FINE. Alternatively just buy one of the tubs of nice veggie gravy from the chiller in the supermarket. They won't know it's not homemade, it's not bisto.

Re sprouts- what we do is cook the bacon separately ahead of time. Cook and fry the sprouts and then whoever eats meat can have the bacon/pancetta added to theirs. To be honest though, if the rest of your veg is suitable for vegans they can just go without. If I went somewhere and there was just one type of veg I couldn't have I wouldn't care!

For the main- I would offer to bring something and I certainly wouldn't be offended if asked to, especially if I was being hosted and cooked for! I'm happy to eat meat subs/veggie sausages etc though. I would honestly be surprised if they knew the difference between a bought and a made nutroast- I cook a lot and I've never bothered to make my own nut roast!

Sorry for the essay, just wanted to offer my perspective from someone who doesn't eat meat but has meat eaters around on Christmas Day.

Surely if you are a vegetarian and you are visiting relatives who you know usually cook a traditional roast on Christmas day then you don't expect the host to provide two options just for you?
Yes, and I cook meat for my meat eating relatives.so cook twice when they visit.

They’d presumably be contributing to the feast so suggest they bring their own mains . Polite vegetarians would do that.
If you are coming to someone’s house where they aren’t vegetarian 5hen you do your best to fit in and not make a fuss

I agree that all guests need to be flexible. Your host feeds you and outs in the time and effort to make you a meal. In return, you smile, eat at least some of it and are grateful for their effort and company.
Those with very specific preferences need to be willing to put these aside when guests and to fit in as far as possible. Of course, mention allergies in advance. If there's something you really cannot and will to eat, that could be the main part of meal, mention it (keep this list to an absolute minimum) and accept that if an item appears on your plate that you do t want, you can just leave it and eat the rest. That's not a big deal.

Those who are tremendously fussy about what they will eat or the time they want to eat etc are not good guests if they voice these thoughts or expect things to fit around them.

As a guest, be flexible, helpful, positive and smiley. Ask what you can contribute to the meal in advance. If something specific is mentioned then agree you will bring it (so host knows they don't need to provide it and aren't left wondering if you will or won't) and if nothing is requested, get some drink and flowers or chocs to take. All of this applies to all guests, veggies or otherwise.

As a host, try to be welcoming and relaxed. Don't let the food and meal become more important than people. Ask for help or contributions in advance if you want them and don t expect people to be mind readers. If you find hosting a bit stressful, keep things simple and don't go overboard and be a martyr. Try to give people time on the day...they will remember the atmosphere and the people far more than the food. Let people help with clearing up etc. Keep communicating about things you need help with and do t expect people to be mind readers or decide they just should 'know'. They often don't and what you want and need might differ to others.

Enjoy.

I always do roast potatoes in olive oil (DS is a veggie) and they’re great. Sunflower also works.

I would think it rude to ask them to bring their own food, however, they’ve been quite rude, expecting you to be able to accommodate, them for a large production meal such as Christmas dinner.

I would buy a ready made roast for them ( vegetarian) from M&S, and some prepared vegetables for them too. And a vegetable gravy.

We struggle with one oven and a four ring hob, I hope you have more at your disposal.

Oh and guests at Christmas.....make sure you step in and do some washing up after the meal. Don't be put off by comments that you don't need to...roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.

And if it's someone you know well, look for other ways to help....make the coffees after lunch, unload the dishwasher etc. Do not sit on your arse all day and let the host spend their whole Christmas slaving.

I'm happy to accomodate MIL as she is coeliac which is a medical condition- plus it's easy to do- because there isn't much gluten in a roast dinner anyway! Vegetarianism is a lifestyle choice.

Oh, okay. I was sympathic to you up to this point. Others have suggested separating the meat bits from the sprouts etc. You could also prepare a loaf the day before and cook it on the day. Roasties are much tastier in meat fat so I'd warn them about that. Not that much of an extra faff, really, if you care about them.

Not that much of an extra faff, really, if you care about them.

Rather odd emotional blackmail given they invited themselves.

If it were me I’d have ordered their Cook vegetarian meal already. Certainly not making more effort than that for self-invites.

It's still November so plenty of time to make a nice veggie dish in advance and pop in the freezer ready for Christmas Day. Am always impressed / aghast by people worrying about a meal in December.

Roasties are much tastier in meat fat

They’re only ‘tastier in meat fat’ if you think they’re tastier in meat fat.

I don’t think they are, and I’m a confirmed meat eater.

Never been so underwhelmed as when I first tried, for example, Nigella’s goose? duck? fat roast potatoes.

I’d point them at the M&S Christmas stuff for veggies/vegans, and suggest that they bring something that’ll be easy to heat up in the microwave. I would add that my own oven and hob will be fully occupied with dinner for the rest of us.,

To the person who said they don't like mushroom risotto, bring your own then!
It is not an after thought. I buy special mushrooms and posh cheese. Sherry is added. My sister is a chef, my late mother trained in Paris. Most of my meat eaters want some! I don't eat pork but if it is served eat I eat the veg and cheese. Just good manners.

Mushroom risotto when you've said nothing, @Beautybunny, and it doesn't really go with roast dinner

Mushroomm risotto can be delicious but it's usually not

Sherry is unlikely to be vegetarian.

We had a year with:
1 x gluten free
1 x vegetarian
1 x elderly pescatarian who just had to have fish, vegetarian wasn't ok
2 x no pork products (which I think are quintessential to Christmas)
1 x MIL who is just fussy but asks you not to make a fuss, while secretly trying to scrape a sauce off or just eat the sprouts etc

Whilst there were lots of comments on what a great spread we had put on, part of me did think "that's because none of you will eat the same thing!"

Not much peace and goodwill in this. If you don’t want them there just say no, if you do it would be nice to make them feel welcome by making your sides veggie - do the veg and Yorkshire’s in oil and leave pancetta out of the sprouts or at least some of the sprouts. Paxo is vegetarian. Get some mushroom pate for a starter and make a veggie gravy ahead to heat up on the day. Half my family is veggie and we always cater for both - not a big deal unless you just don’t want them there. All the supermarkets have things like mushroom Wellington etc this year too.

Putting food on a plate is almost forcing someone to eat it. Manners would be to think before doing it.

@WombatChocolate

Oh and guests at Christmas.....make sure you step in and do some washing up after the meal. Don't be put off by comments that you don't need to...roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.

And if it's someone you know well, look for other ways to help....make the coffees after lunch, unload the dishwasher etc. Do not sit on your arse all day and let the host spend their whole Christmas slaving.

This is my worst nightmare. I don’t want people in my kitchen and in my cupboards.

I want my guests sitting in the living room having a lovely time.

Tbh I don’t want people helping either

Bringing something nice - champers or choc yes but that’s it

It really is the prevalence of mushrooms which puts me off going vegetarian.

The thought of being faced with a relentless parade of mushroom wellington and mushroom risotto makes me lose the will to live.

Mushroom risotto is almost as weird as macaroni cheese or lasagna on a Christmas dinner.

Some people really panic when they have to cook for veggies.

It's still November, you have plenty of time to change your plans and include vegetarian options.