Hits and Misses. Christmas 2021.

[gerardsbutler]

I’d not order prawn cocktail from Marks and Spencer again. Didn’t like the sauce at all. Loved their shin of beef though. Wish I’d made my own roast potatoes.

Thank you to the poster weeks ago who suggested crackle wick candles from home bargains. I bought a Christmas one for £7 and it’s been brilliant. Delighted after my huge disappointment spending about £100 on white company candles last year that smelt of nothing.

I’ve bought too much chocolate 😂

Thank you everyone who has posted on the Christmas boards. They’ve kept me going though a rubbish few months. I’ve really enjoyed reading about the bargains to be had, your planning and all about food. See you next year.

Hits (I live next to a little M&S food hall)
M&S fillet of beef (and letting DH cook it whilst I sat with my feet up after doing literally all the prep and shopping , felt decadent!) plus their cremant for £12, tastes like champagne and keeps selling out!
Jolly hog bacon and pigs in blankets, such nice flavour and not too salty

Misses - none other than I burnt my brownies as our oven thermostat broke. Rather find out on 23rd dec than on the big day!

We loved the Aldi Vegan No-Turkey Joint - best veggie one we've had and it was a gamble. Enjoyed the Aldi snack things I picked up too - antipasti platter, dips etc.

No real misses, but accidentally bought a huge box of alcoholic Guinness for teetotal DH because it had two alcohol free ones included - Sainsbury's had shelved them with all the Alcohol Free drinks with the blue alcohol free end poking out.

Agree with the fillet of beef. Not had any real misses but I also have way too much chocolate.

Hits: M&S leg of lamb and their baked Camembert in pastry. Husband is still talking about both

Hits
M&S sausage rolls / mini pork pies
M&S pigs in blankets/ stuffing balls
Waitrose own Champagne
M&S classic mince pies

No misses really.

Hits:
M&S plant kitchen stuffing & pigs in blankets
Sainsburys halloumi skewers

Misses:
M&S plant kitchen no-turkey roll thingy.

Waitrose didn't deliver any prepared veg which doesn't bother me too much but it's a good thing we didn't have any other adults eating with us. We got some honey roast parsnips from Morrisons instead and they were horrible.

The Heston chocolate crackle bite things from Waitrose were amazing as always.

Hit - Sainsbury's Porchetta. Definitely will have this again.

Miss - dog wouldn't eat the special festive food we got her.

Big hit - Laithwaites wine advent calendar. Bought for me as my Christmas present from DH. It came as a rather nice looking house with 187ml bottle behind each wine- all different and good quality.
If I was being restrained I could save them up in the week and then wouldn’t have to buy a bottle for at the weekend.
Oxfam wrapping paper. Beautiful Kraft paper designs.

Misses - bought too many small gifts as we didn’t see so many people due to Covid,

Too much chocolate.
Too much wine.
Not enough variety in savoury foods.
Hits were Aldi mince pies.

Hits:
M&S Yule log
M&S duck croquettes
M&S mini beef wellingtons

Misses:
M&S light up Christmas candle, smelt of nothing
M&S light up diffuser - not worth £25!

I promise I did shop in places other than M&S

Hits: tesco heritage turkey from food to order was great.
Misses: each time I updated the order after 26th December more items were removed without me noticing! So there were no starters, or carrots. Dh had to go to morrisons. The salmon mousse he got in there was lovely though so I'd go there next year.
Bought too much buffet food for 4 on Christmas eve.

Hits

Lidl mini mince pies
The £5 Greggs gift card Santa put in my 6 year olds stocking, he’s talked of little else!

Misses

Too much wine on Christmas Day and not enough sprouts!

I've just held a little buffet party for 9 as we couldn't see my family over Christmas.

I bought a bacon wrapped Turkey breast joint for 3.50 from Iceland and it was bloody gorgeous!! So moist and tasty.

I would definitely recommend if you are wanting a small Christmas dinner.

Must add that I didn't just serve the Turkey lol!!! Lots of other things too 😂

@TorySteller

Hits: M&S Yule log M&S duck croquettes M&S mini beef wellingtons

Misses:
M&S light up Christmas candle, smelt of nothing
M&S light up diffuser - not worth £25!

I promise I did shop in places other than M&S

I thought the same about the light up candle. It is very pretty when lit but smelt of nothing.

Well the verdict is in on my Christmas cake. I usually make the Delia recipe but this year tried the Good Housekeeping Port and Orange recipe. Made a two tier cake with one of each type and the GH one was the winner with all si I will make that one in future

Miss: the M&S sticky toffee Christmas pudding. Too spicy, I’m told

Would've been 100% better without Covid , I couldn't taste my dinner
But :

Hits:
Sainsbury Vegan Nut Roast was nce , didn't use the sauce as it was too sweet
Richmond Meat Free Sausage and Meat Free Bacon- I made up some vegetarian Pigs as a side dish
I made the mose epic roast potatoes , peeled , cut small-ish (DS likes them small) steamed then ruffled up and left to go cold before roasting . Delicious
I made a batch of Yorkshire Puddings for DS ( and I had Aunt Bessie as back up but they raised perfectly )
I decided to buy some Christmas cake slices as only I eat it , got some Sainsbury ones ( I think 5 slices) they were nice
Milk frother for hot chocolate

Misses :
Sainsbury Taste The Difference Mince Pies , they didn't have the Shortcrust Bakery ones (23rd Dec) . The boxed ones weren't as nice.

I made an effort not to over buy . We didn't make half of the dessers I had planned . I think we are ice cream sundaes after one meal but Ive had too many Christmases where desserts went uneaten.

Waaaay too much chocolate. Bought a smaller turkey, we had enough and some leftover for sandwiches on Boxing day. I was a bit disappointed afterwards but that disappointed didn't last long.

Less tat but still too much.

Pork bellies still.in freezer!

Hit - Co-op Bourbon and orange mince pies

Miss - lidl frozen red cabbage (tasteless and watery)

Hits: ince pies, hot chocolate, roast potatoes, the fillet of beef was amazing!

Misses: shouldn't have played my smartshow 3d New year slideshow during the dinner as no one paid attention [grin[.

Hit: M & S stuffed turkey crown - delicious!
M & S chocolate elf Colin caterpillar
We liked the M & S sticky toffee crown pudding 😊