Christmas lunch with no oven...

[penguinwithasuitcase]

DP and I live separately, and while last year we had Christmas at my house, this year he's said he and DSS would like to do it at their flat.

(it's smaller and not as comfortable as my place, but they're perfectly entitled to a Christmas at theirs so I'm keeping my trap shut )

Only thing that's niggling me is that they don't have an oven, so I'm trying to plan ahead and think about what we can do for Christmas lunch that requires only a stovetop....?

Any ideas?

Also OP, we barbecued steak for Christmas dinner last year and it was amazing. Would have been a challenge if it had rained but we lucked out!

@penguinwithasuitcase I'm looking forward to your new tv programme, How I Cooked My Turkey With My Vagina 🤣.

Mumsnet is a funny place, people don't read and end up reading so much rubbish into people's posts

Please update with what you decide!!

@NightmareSlashDelightful

But that's the point, we really dont. We are brought up to feel like we do, but we dont.

(dh suggestions - some I will ignore he was TRYING to be funny!)
he is Pakistani so obviously chicken pilau with my late mil button gobi (dry sprout curry!) lots of my il's who live in the west do turkey tandoori or for you tikka (you cut chicken up marinate in spices & fry) with yogurt & chickpea curry
Actaully a decent large fry pan (with lid preferably or use a dinner plate as lid) fry chicken quarters with parsnips et al put lid on & slow cook & using another fry pan do pots
or go Australian he does chicken bbq & you have loads of salads & sides or hot veg (spicy red cabbage with apple) etc

Oh buy or make mince pies (if available) or make pies with apple & mixed dried fruit & spices with custard or cream
or something chocolate (dc would probably prefer this to be honest)

all the males in our family cook aka dh ds dsil & dd2 boyfriend

Wow @penguinwithasuitcase I actually was responding to another poster fwiw so not sure what I said to deserve that diatribe.

I'm still mystified as to why you didn't post all the pertinent information in the first place. That said, I hope you have a good Xmas and a better year next year.

I love that people on this thread who got the wrong end of the stick are hanging around blaming the OP for not providing info that is irrelevant. It's her thread, so now you know what she's asking either help out or move on!

If you all want to do a traditional Turkey dinner you could get a boneless breast, slice and pan fry . You can also pan fry parsnips and potato slices instead of roasting .

@Clymene

Wow *@penguinwithasuitcase* I actually was responding to another poster fwiw so not sure what I said to deserve that diatribe.

I'm still mystified as to why you didn't post all the pertinent information in the first place. That said, I hope you have a good Xmas and a better year next year.

Like: ‘The only thing that is niggling’ the OP is ‘that they don’t have an oven’ and she’s ‘trying to plan ahead’?

From the OP:
Only thing that's niggling me is that they don't have an oven, so I'm trying to plan ahead and think about what we can do for Christmas lunch that requires only a stovetop....?

@DirtyDancing

Cook and take it over. We did it for years with my elderly Grandparents. Cover in foil, and lots of tea towels and towels. It's a slog and you have to dish up as soon as you get there but as I say we did it for years. Plates quick 5 min blast in the microwave

It's one thing with elderly grandparents with limited mobility/needing to be at theirs for a specific reason, it's quite another to do all the work AND have to cart it over because a grown ass man wants Christmas at his (not as nice/comfortable/well equipped) flat!

@penguinwithasuitcase

His invitation, his problem! How much did he think/worry/plan for last year at yours??

If it was my flat, (I'd prefer to come to yours!!) I'd do a cold buffet.

Posted after I read dirty dancing's post!

I do wish there was a better way of noting a post to come back to after reading the rest of the thread!

But most of my post, except about last year, stands

I don’t know anyone without an oven!
Anyway, I’m presuming that you’re not going for the full Turkey dinner with all the trimmings?
I’d either like a steak and proper chips and onion rings or something less ‘formal’ like lobster rolls.
Hope it all works out. He must have some idea of a special meal to cook as he hasn’t had an oven for a while and yet has managed to cook for him and his ds, I reckon they’ll have a nice time cooking together.
Have a lovely Christmas!

@TheChosenTwo

I don’t know anyone without an oven! Anyway, I’m presuming that you’re not going for the full Turkey dinner with all the trimmings? I’d either like a steak and proper chips and onion rings or something less ‘formal’ like lobster rolls. Hope it all works out. He must have some idea of a special meal to cook as he hasn’t had an oven for a while and yet has managed to cook for him and his ds, I reckon they’ll have a nice time cooking together. Have a lovely Christmas!

We're open to all kinds of suggestions @TheChosenTwo - turkey dinner or otherwise

Some great ideas already on this thread but OMG lobster rolls would blow DSS's mind!

One Christmas day my mum was getting stuff out of the boot, and hit her head on top of the inside of the boot and cut it open. It was bleeding and she sat dazed in my living room, slightly concussed.

It was snowing, and my oven broke. I remember walking up and down my street (Christmas apron and all) knocking on doors asking if anyone would cook my roasties 😂. You can't have Christmas Dinner without roast potatoes.

Someone did (someone I know) and I still hear silly jokes about it years later.

I need to read the thread but my suggestions would be to borrow/bring an air fryer or halogen oven for your roasties.

Good luck 🎅

Haha @penguinwithasuitcase lobster rolls are a firm favourite here! Sadly (well, not for me personally!) dh does all the cooking so I have no idea how much oven use is involved, dd makes the rolls but they can be bought, he makes the mayo, and the chips can be done in a fryer or a pan with oil on the hob, I genuinely have no idea how he prepared the lobster, I have a feeling it’s fried.
Anyway, they’re bloody delicious! And special enough to have on Christmas Day for sure.

@myshitisreal your story reminds me of a tale from my dad's childhood. One Christmas the oven broke and my grandpa drove round Aberdeen until he found a hotel that agreed to swap their raw turkey for a cooked turkey and Christmas was saved!

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but Lakeland have a "Remoshka" device (?sp?) that enables a variety of food to be cooked (including roast chicken) without an oven, and it seems to be £40 off in their Black Friday sale still.

I haven't used it myself, but I saw it this morning, and thought of you.

Myself, I had years as a student & junior doctor, so very peripatetic and tending to improvise with the cooking. I had a sandwich toaster with a tray in which you could cook food, I did pigeon stew for a dinner party one time. Happy days!

Some people are proper twats aren’t they?

OP, would love to hear your menu thoughts after these suggestions - it sounds really inventive and fun!!

I do have an oven, but hate using it for various reasons so always looking for good meals that don’t need it! (Airfryer also on my christmas list!!)