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Original poster

Taking Xmas dinner to relative’s house. How can I manage this?

69 replies

Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:17

I feel awful about this, but relative’s house is not very clean and her oven doesn’t work properly. For this reason, I am looking at cooking Xmas dinner at home and taking it there. It’s a 15 min drive but we are due to go over in the morning and eating around 3pm.

How can this work? Any ideas? Is anyone else doing this?

Thanks.

OP posts:
Thatswhatmamasaid · 21/12/2021 08:24

Could the relative come to yours instead?

FluffyCushion123 · 21/12/2021 08:25

Put the cooked food in a cold roasting dish covered in foil. Slice any meat beforehand. Warm it through when you get there. I’d only agree to that if you can arrive closer to lunch and warm things through quickly rather than having to worry about refrigeration of cooked food. Do most of the the food as a one test roast and cook simple veg on the hob once there.

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:26

@Thatswhatmamasaid Unfortunately not. I wish she would, but she suffers from anxiety and doesn’t go to other people’s houses.

OP posts:
CeibaTree · 21/12/2021 08:26

Is there a reason you can’t pick up the relative and bring them to your house?

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:27

I am thinking of taking my own microwave 😂.

OP posts:
FluffyCushion123 · 21/12/2021 08:27

*one tray roast ( not test)

IE all roasted veggies heated together

LawnFever · 21/12/2021 08:28

How many people is it for? Does she have a microwave or could you take one with you?

LawnFever · 21/12/2021 08:29

@Jacaranda75

I am thinking of taking my own microwave 😂.
lol missed this before I posted, I honestly think this could work!
SmileyClare · 21/12/2021 08:29

All you can do is prep it and cook it there?

Could you buy her a new oven? Other family chip in? I bought a second hand one recently for £40 from a shop that sells reconditioned electrical goods and I'm really happy with it.

FluffyCushion123 · 21/12/2021 08:29

If it’s that close and you’re intent on doing this, I’d go and do a little pre Christmas clean of the kitchen. Make out like it’s a tradition you’d do in your own home.

toomuchlaundry · 21/12/2021 08:30

Take microwave, and change time you visit/eat earlier

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:37

I have bought ready made food from M&S. I guess I could pre-cook it at home and heat it up there. I don’t use a microwave very much so not sure of the timings.

I will also have to take crockery, cutlery and glasses. Whilst trying not to offend her 😬.

OP posts:
Hydrate · 21/12/2021 08:39

I bought an electric roaster, (was cheap, the other mil did the same) to cook, transport and keep the turkey hot, we also are only a few minutes away from where dinner was being hosted. I had bought some foil containers and had stuffing and the veggies that were cooked with the meat. It was still hot and we didn't need to all cook different things in a little space.

Bring anything that you can just plug in that can keep it hot without using their oven will help. I put it in laundry baskets in car.

Yesthatscorrect · 21/12/2021 08:41

Aldi have hostess warmer things in if that would help. Not sure on the price.

Yesthatscorrect · 21/12/2021 08:42

Also we take our halogen oven on holiday with us and they're only about 20 quid to buy. Heat stuff up dead fast.

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:42

@Hydrate what is an electric roaster please?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 21/12/2021 08:46

I would go for a while in the morning taking the crockery etc and then come home to cook the dinner and take it hot in dishes which can be just put on the table. You can cook the turkey the day before and heat it through in gravy (if everyone likes gravy)

Sleepyquest · 21/12/2021 08:47

If her house is that filthy, I'd be inclined to say you come to ours or we don't see you. Sorry to be cruel but she doesn't clean and she has anxiety about leaving her dirty house. I couldn't be doing with it and you must be a very patient lady.

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 08:59

@Sleepyquest she does clean. We just have different standards. I am probably too far in the other direction. It’s a difficult one. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 21/12/2021 09:04

So is your definition of not very clean down to your very high standards, and actually her house, crockery etc are not that bad, and most people would be able to cope with that level of cleanliness for one day?

Original poster
Jacaranda75 · 21/12/2021 09:05

@toomuchlaundry no not really. I could give some examples but I feel really bad about it.

OP posts:
CharityDingle · 21/12/2021 09:11

Go nearer to 3 p.m and yes, bring your own microwave.

NoSquirrels · 21/12/2021 09:12

What’s the relative’s solution? If they know you’re supposed to cook a full dinner at theirs but the oven doesn’t work?

HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule · 21/12/2021 09:13

I think it might be best to adjust the timings. Go over there closer to the time you’re going to eat, or bring the time you eat forward. It’d work best to bring the food over ready to eat and have it straightaway. If you have a cool box it’ll keep everything warm if you stack it in there.

bellsbuss · 21/12/2021 09:20

I couldn't eat in an unclean house, relative would have to come to me as I wouldn't be cooking in their house.