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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

What WON"T you be doing this Christmas?

197 replies

Eleusa · 17/10/2022 16:17

I love Christmas and enjoy spending time planning the decorations, presents, what I'm going to cook etc. But after years of experience there are a few things that I definitely won't be doing-

  • filling my own crackers. Did this one year- it cost an arm and a leg and no one seemed any more pleased with their carefully chosen personal gift than they would have done with the usual dead fish game and mini screwdrivers. Same goes for buying very expensive crackers.
  • doing a stocking for my parents who were staying in the house. Dad came downstairs announcing it was "silly" and nearly dropped the "Santa's not real" bomb to DC on Christmas morning. Thanks, Dad!
  • making some sort of elaborate Scandinavian baked pastries for Christmas breakfast. They were lush but the kids had already eaten a metric fuck-tonne of sugar after opening their stockings so not much got eaten. Elaborate Scandinavian baked pastries another day, however, are a fabulous idea.

What will you not be doing this Christmas? (Just being nosey about what other people do and don't like- definitely not suggesting that people shouldn't do things just because I don't!)

OP posts:
Ohuhu · 19/10/2022 19:57

I'm not buying any new cards or wrap until every scrap of the stuff we have is gone. I'm going to be using up all of the rejected cards and weird looking paper and my nearest and dearest are just going to have to deal with the clip art santas and sprout-related fart jokes.

No Baileys. Last year I unfortunately saw the fat content in hard cold numbers and it really spoiled my drinking experience - I felt like my oesophagus was left lined with double cream. It'll be bucks fizz for me.

I'm not buying a smells-great-in-the-shop, smells-of-nothing-in-your-house christmassy candle. We have essential oils for our burner anyway so can easily whip up some festive blends with pine, tangerine, ginger, cinnamon etc

rainydaysandcake · 19/10/2022 20:44

Nothingbuttheglory · 17/10/2022 17:35

Bit trivial but I won't be buying £4 bags of caramelised nuts, having just discovered how very easy it is to caramelise your own.

Really - would you mind sharing the recipe?
Thanks

Nothingbuttheglory · 19/10/2022 21:11

stripedspatula.com/stovetop-caramelized-pecans/

Just this one. Tbh there are probably many more very easy and nicer versions out there but I was in a hurry and this was quick.

pinkksugarmouse · 19/10/2022 22:00

Not celebrating with my elderly cat Mollie. She passed away peacefully a few months ago aged 20 years and 2 months.

We are currently looking to adopt another cat so we may be enjoying our first Christmas with another furry dictator.

mam0918 · 20/10/2022 09:13

pinkksugarmouse · 19/10/2022 22:00

Not celebrating with my elderly cat Mollie. She passed away peacefully a few months ago aged 20 years and 2 months.

We are currently looking to adopt another cat so we may be enjoying our first Christmas with another furry dictator.

that a good age for an old girl.

My DH starting to worry now ours are 9 and 10, he keeps refering to the as 'geriatric' because he heard once they turn 8 thats the term and ran with it, they do physically look older but I keep saying they could go another 10 years which is litrally their life so far span again.

BiddyPop · 20/10/2022 12:57

Not sleeping in my own bed...(have to go "down home" to visit family, and as we now have a dog, can't rent somewhere either so DMIL's it will be...).

Which probably means no lighting of the Christmas Candle (we always do it in our house, and is something my extended family always does, but ILs dropped it years ago).

And also probably not doing winter PJs for us all or stocking for DD (teen but we still do her stocking in our house, but as younger but "beyond Santa" DCousins live next door to DMIL it would be laughed at). But we were still doing that last year in our house as our own family tradition. Not matching PJs and usually not even festive themed, just nice new PJs that we would all want anyway for winter

Also, will have to miss out on our traditional ham and stilton gratin - which is a dish involving leftover chunks of ham, crumbled stilton, some turkey stock and sliced potatoes that we do once a year in the days after Christmas. But as we won't have the leftovers...(DMIL is not a cheese person really and hates any blue cheese).

What would be nice to not do this year is a massive argument with stroppy teen...

We haven't bought tins of chocs or biscuits in years - we spend the equivalent of 1 tin on 1 large bag of Leonidas Orangettes as much nicer chocolate that we enjoy as a treat. And I make sure to have a few different packs of nice biscuits in the cupboard, and make a few ourselves when we have the oven on for other things anyway, or make a few mince pies, to enjoy.

NotanotherboxofFrogs · 20/10/2022 19:33

@BiddyPop do you have a recipe for that gratin, it sounds fabulous.

jocktamsonsbairn · 20/10/2022 21:07

BiddyPop · 20/10/2022 12:57

Not sleeping in my own bed...(have to go "down home" to visit family, and as we now have a dog, can't rent somewhere either so DMIL's it will be...).

Which probably means no lighting of the Christmas Candle (we always do it in our house, and is something my extended family always does, but ILs dropped it years ago).

And also probably not doing winter PJs for us all or stocking for DD (teen but we still do her stocking in our house, but as younger but "beyond Santa" DCousins live next door to DMIL it would be laughed at). But we were still doing that last year in our house as our own family tradition. Not matching PJs and usually not even festive themed, just nice new PJs that we would all want anyway for winter

Also, will have to miss out on our traditional ham and stilton gratin - which is a dish involving leftover chunks of ham, crumbled stilton, some turkey stock and sliced potatoes that we do once a year in the days after Christmas. But as we won't have the leftovers...(DMIL is not a cheese person really and hates any blue cheese).

What would be nice to not do this year is a massive argument with stroppy teen...

We haven't bought tins of chocs or biscuits in years - we spend the equivalent of 1 tin on 1 large bag of Leonidas Orangettes as much nicer chocolate that we enjoy as a treat. And I make sure to have a few different packs of nice biscuits in the cupboard, and make a few ourselves when we have the oven on for other things anyway, or make a few mince pies, to enjoy.

I would still do her a stocking - it can go
on her bed and mocking cousins need never know!
Same with Christmas Candle, take it with you as a 'gift to the house'!
I would also love your Stilton and ham gratin recipe please!

Mumwithbaggage · 20/10/2022 23:08

mrsbyers I feel your pain. First year without my dad who would have celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary yesterday, But life moves on. We'll celebrate with whichever adult children want to join us. 27 years ago on 23rd November I gave birth to twins knowing one would die. She died 24 hours later of left heart hypoplasty. That first Christmas her surviving twin had the last ICU bed held for her at Great Ormond Street. She nearly died and that was my very worst Christmas ever, Lasting effect on her then just 2yo sis who was at home with my parents while we just hoped our baby wouldn't die. Even the nurse cried with relief on Christmas Day when she came in and all was well. It really was touch and go. That was nearly 27 years ago. Nowadays I just love a family Christmas - I have four very gorgeous kind sweet (adult) children and I am grateful for them every day and especially at Christmas when whatever happens, we have fun and try not to stress.

NameChangeForARaisin · 21/10/2022 08:21

Mulhollandmagoo · 17/10/2022 21:36

Dragging my poor toddler around every single demanding relative! We do it all the time, for every occasion! This year we are going to say our house is open for visitors, keep stocked up on tea, coffee and mince pies and let my little girl spend all of Christmas relaxed in her own home, enjoying her new pressies, and not stuck in very non child friendly houses bored out of her little mind for everyone else's benefit!

Felt really good to get that off my chest 🤣

I can remember feeling the same when mine were little. Good for you MulhollandMagoo, you are doing the right thing!

BiddyPop · 21/10/2022 11:36

Ok, I will start by saying I am sure I still HAVE the old Good Food magazine the recipe came from but it's safely stored "somewhere"...so this is more the method than specific quantities as we tend to just do it by eye now. It was billed as a "use up Christmas leftovers" recipe at the time.

Ingredients:
Blue cheese, crumbled (Recipe says Stilton, we sometimes used Cashel blue or similar)
Leftover ham, shredded
Fresh rosemary, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Potatoes, finely sliced
Turkey stock

In an ovenproof dish that you have buttered well, lay a layer of potatoes to fully cover the bottom. Over the potatoes, sprinkle a handful of shredded ham and a handful of crumbled stilton. Scatter a decent pinch of freshly chopped rosemary and a good grind of pepper over this. Cover with another layer of potatoes.

Continue to layer up potatoes, then ham/cheese/seasonings, then potatoes - until the dish is almost full to the top. But leave a small gap. Top layer is potatoes. (This is the only layer that you want to try and have neat - the rest don't really matter, just try to fill in gaps as you go but not having too thick a layer of potato in any 1 spot).

Pour on enough hot stock to come halfway up the potatoes - it should not be at the top of the dish.

Cook in a hot oven (fan 180 degree C) for about an hour or until potatoes underneath are soft and cooked when tested with a knife and the top is golden and crispy.

Put dish on table and stand back as it is devoured.

Don't use too much rosemary - just a pinch in each layer - as it can make the dish taste "soapy" if there's too much. And there's plenty of salt in the cheese and ham so you don't need any extra, only pepper.

xogossipgirlxo · 21/10/2022 13:31

mam0918 · 20/10/2022 09:13

that a good age for an old girl.

My DH starting to worry now ours are 9 and 10, he keeps refering to the as 'geriatric' because he heard once they turn 8 thats the term and ran with it, they do physically look older but I keep saying they could go another 10 years which is litrally their life so far span again.

9 and 10 is still good age for a cat. My two cats are 8 next year and I dread thinking of them as elderly or senior. They are still kittens in my eyes.

@pinkksugarmouse really sorry for your loss, you are so lucky you had 20 years with Mollie x

jocktamsonsbairn · 21/10/2022 14:45

Thank you @BiddyPop that sounds absolutely delicious!!

80sMum · 21/10/2022 14:52

Decorating the house. This will be the 3rd consecutive Christmas that we won't be bothering with all the paraphernalia of a tree, fairy lights etc.
It's just such a lot of faffing around putting it all up and taking it all down again, I just don't have the energy.

NotanotherboxofFrogs · 22/10/2022 13:04

Thank you for the recipe @BiddyPoplooking forward to making it

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 22/10/2022 17:37

From the first xmas with DD (now 13) we've always refused to go anywhere. Previous years DH always worked and I went to Mums. But he's been savvy at booking xmas day off every year since.

Will not be be buying beige buffet food to excess. I always buy too much. I still dont know if I'm feeding 5 or 14 people so will wait till I know whose coming.

Forcing the kids to watch Elf, they hate it. I'll watch myself on another date, but we may do Muppets xmas Carol instead 😁

This is our last year that I'll be able to shop for a big xmas, next year our bills are looking to increase by over £1k a month courtesy of our mortgage renewal so frankly it'll be a battle just to keep a roof over our heads. Already been preparing the kids that this'll be the last blow out xmas for at least a couple of years. 😥

InvincibleInvisibility · 23/10/2022 01:24

We've just moved to the Caribbean so Christmas will be very different this year.

No winter PJs or onesies (my 8 year old is very disappointed)

No stuffing - can't get it here

No boxes of chocolate- it all just melts here

No online shopping (sob!). Will have to find shops for presents and actually go in them...

It's going to feel very weird. I know everyone says "lucky you, you can go to the beach" etc. But it is really weird not seeing time pass as usual. No autumn trees, no cooling temperatures. Christmas will definitely be odd.

IpsoFactor30 · 23/10/2022 20:23

I’ve been reeling in Christmas year on year. I‘m nearly where I want to be.

I’m telling everyone we are having a very quiet one. If they want to drive over and have Christmas lunch with us, fine, but I’m not doing anything else, and no one is staying. I’m not “hosting”.

I’m using up all the bits and pieces in my card, gift tag, ribbon and wrapping bag. You may get your present wrapped in dino paper, or rainbow style. Sorry!

I’m toning down the amount we spend on extended family. They put little thought into us, so I’m reciprocating this. Consumables, wine and choccies all round.

I’ve got Christmas down to my close immediate family and people I care about, who thought at Christmas means a lot to them, and they deserve to know they’re loved. Outside of this, I’ve cut it down to “a card”.

In contrast, I’m doing loads more baking.

MrsMacnair · 24/10/2022 14:18

We’ve managed to scale Christmas down to quite an extent as it all became too much for me. So we no longer or have managed not to,

visit relatives.
Host for the masses (ie extended family) now average 4-6 Whereas it used to be 12 + adults then kids as well. (With no help towards prep or cost)

Buy any alcohol as I don’t drink and dh only likes a cider now and again. We used to have it on offer for guests but stopped when we realised it was costing us a small fortune as some of his family wouldn’t stop until it was gone! (Didn’t go down too well when they realised it wasn’t on offer any more!)

Buy Christmas pudding or any desert for that matter….never gets eaten.

Cut down on the extra nibbly bits and chocolate as we’d always end up with way too much. A lot not eaten.

Hosting the Boxing Day buffet

Buy new wrapping paper until all the previous stuff is done.
only send a couple of Christmas cards to immediate family (sometimes don’t bother with this)

Cut down present budget massively, ie don’t buy for those we don’t see or keep contact with. (Dh has a huge family) And those we do buy for cut our present budget by at least a half as we were spending a shocking amount on this alone!

Stopped stockings when they’ve reached adult age.

This year I’ll not buy table crackers as I’ve just found a load in the loft leftover from previous years, we never use a box of twelve. None of them match but if we don’t use them they just get this years extras added to them. And everything ends up in the recycling anyway.

MrsMacnair · 24/10/2022 14:40

A580Hojas · 18/10/2022 13:23

Oh please don't be miserable about this. Your daughter is an adult and has her own life now. Don't be a clingy parent who makes their kids feel guilty.

Oh come on now! @Lansonmaid has every right to feel sad she won’t be seeing her dd. There’s nothing in her post to suggest that she is being clingy and making her dd feel guilty.
My ds lives in scotland too and the choice is his entirely, with no guilt imposed whether to come home or not.
It doesn’t mean I won’t feel sad if he can’t come especially with them being so far away and visits are few and far between as it is.

DayOfTheTentacle · 28/10/2022 13:50

I want Christmas day at our house. I'm happy to host, cook, do, whatever works for my DPs (who live two minutes walk away) but my DF is having none of it.

There's been a family rift which I can't see being mended, and I'm not being turfed out because the other injured party had turned up. They will expect DC and DH to stay. I am copping the blame for the rift, but will also be accused of being petty if I don't do as I'm told.

NameChangeForARaisin · 29/10/2022 22:49

InvincibleInvisibility · 23/10/2022 01:24

We've just moved to the Caribbean so Christmas will be very different this year.

No winter PJs or onesies (my 8 year old is very disappointed)

No stuffing - can't get it here

No boxes of chocolate- it all just melts here

No online shopping (sob!). Will have to find shops for presents and actually go in them...

It's going to feel very weird. I know everyone says "lucky you, you can go to the beach" etc. But it is really weird not seeing time pass as usual. No autumn trees, no cooling temperatures. Christmas will definitely be odd.

Invincible, I will post you the stuffing if you like 👍

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