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Christmas

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

Original poster

No Xmas Dinner

35 replies

SausageDogNamedBrenda · 04/12/2022 19:48

I'm seriously considering not doing a roast Xmas day, is this awful?
There will be 7 adults. This year I had to have a new oven and the capacity is alot smaller than my old one. My kitchen isn't huge and it's so stressful getting it all cooked and staying hot.
But, what can we have? A buffet? We normally have a buffet in the evening?
Are Chinese takeaways open?🤣
Any ideas please?

OP posts:
CelieandNettie · 04/12/2022 19:53

We have had a curry delivered every year for the past 6 years on Christmas Day ! We have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve

emmathedilemma · 04/12/2022 19:55

A ham in the slow cooker?
something in one big pot such as chilli or curry
some takeaways open but you usually need to pre-book and order in advance

ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 04/12/2022 19:57

We are thinking of a ham, can be served with a variety of salads.

carefulcalculator · 04/12/2022 19:59

We never have a roast, we used to do pot roast or cold meat buffet, now we do vegetarian food. You can do anything you like! We had a nice curry one year, in a restaurant.

33goingon64 · 04/12/2022 20:01

Venison stew, steak, a lovely pie you can prep the filling for in advance and freeze?

gamerchick · 04/12/2022 20:02

We get curries the night before. They're always better the day after anyway. No cooking Christmas day

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2022 20:07

Of course it's not awful. Presumably not all the 7 adults live in your house, so if anyone thinks it's unacceptable, then they can always host or bring part of the meal cooked. Or you can simplify down to what can be cooked in the oven at the same time.

You could pre cook the meat then reheat in gravy on the day. You could get ready made stuffing, roast potatoes and cauliflower cheese from M&S and just put it all in the oven to reheat. Then just do some carrots and sprouts on the hob. Manageable in any oven/kitchen.

Simple starter like prawn cocktail and ready made desserts, then cheese, cold meats, crackers etc later.

SingingSands · 04/12/2022 20:10

My brother and his girlfriend had a feast delivered from their local Chinese last Christmas! I can't say I wasn't jealous. It looked fab!

Original poster
SausageDogNamedBrenda · 04/12/2022 21:04

Are takeaways really open? Oh my......
It's me, husband, grown children and partner(s) and my mum. She may be horrified not to have a roast but would never complan bless her

OP posts:
bananaboats · 04/12/2022 22:41

I've never cooked a roast! We've had Chinese and Indian but also steaks, salmon, nice stuffed chicken dish. Basically whatever we fancy!

Gronkle · 04/12/2022 23:42

It's a big Jewish thing in the states, to have Chinese on Christmas Day. I think it's a fab idea.

catsonahottinroof · 04/12/2022 23:54

Do it if you can and everyone knows what to expect! Check the takeaways opening times, though, it might depend if you live in a big city. I'm going to check mine as feel inspired (doubt they will in small town England).

Allsnotwell · 04/12/2022 23:57

Cook the turkey and let it rest for half an hour - whilst you do vegetables.

You don’t need a big over - even a breast in a tray can feed 7:8 people and much cheaper than a whole turkey.

JohnsShirt · 04/12/2022 23:59

Takeaways are open here in a small Scottish town.
You generally need to order in advance though but it's great, we had Chinese a couple of times.

howmanybicycles · 05/12/2022 00:08

I hate buffets. Cold quiche, uninspiring salad, cold pasta and rice. I'd rather have a plate of toast tbh. Might be worth speaking to guests? I'd rather an indian takeaway than a buffet. Perhaps they would too?

ivykaty44 · 05/12/2022 00:08

I want to do beef cheek in the slow cooker in red wine, it takes 12 hours on low, then serve with mash potatoes and green vegetables. Taste divine & so easy to cook. Mash made up day before. Gravy out if the red wine and vegetables that the cheeks have cooked in.

airwrapped · 05/12/2022 00:36

ivykaty44 · 05/12/2022 00:08

I want to do beef cheek in the slow cooker in red wine, it takes 12 hours on low, then serve with mash potatoes and green vegetables. Taste divine & so easy to cook. Mash made up day before. Gravy out if the red wine and vegetables that the cheeks have cooked in.

This sounds lovely!!!

DrMarciaFieldstone · 05/12/2022 01:45

Yanbu, it’s basically just a roast dinner but takes hours and that’s your day gone.

Order a takeaway!!

Fleur405 · 05/12/2022 01:53

If I went to someone’s house for Christmas Day and they ordered Chinese takeaway I’d be frigging delighted!

sashh · 05/12/2022 02:48

SausageDogNamedBrenda · 04/12/2022 21:04

Are takeaways really open? Oh my......
It's me, husband, grown children and partner(s) and my mum. She may be horrified not to have a roast but would never complan bless her

Yes, Depending where you are.

I once asked a kebab shop person if they were going to open. The answer I got was, "You know that guy Scrooge? My boss is the Muslim equivalent of him".

There will be parts of cities where everything is open.

If you do fancy a roast the Iceland joints are actually quite nice and very easy.

My local carvery have a take away service available Xmas day.

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 05:59

howmanybicycles · 05/12/2022 00:08

I hate buffets. Cold quiche, uninspiring salad, cold pasta and rice. I'd rather have a plate of toast tbh. Might be worth speaking to guests? I'd rather an indian takeaway than a buffet. Perhaps they would too?

You are making/going to the wrong type of buffets! This sounds nothing like the buffets I'm used to.

girlmom21 · 05/12/2022 06:09

Our local Indian are open on Christmas Day for eating in. They're offering both 3/4 course Indian meals and 3/4 Christmas dinners. You could do that - best of both worlds. Your mom still gets a traditional roast and everyone else can choose.

sashh · 05/12/2022 06:16

carefulcalculator · 05/12/2022 05:59

You are making/going to the wrong type of buffets! This sounds nothing like the buffets I'm used to.

Show quote history

I thought that, I always have some hot food at a buffet, often something like a chili or a stew in the slow cooker and some potatoes and other veg kept warm on a table top heater.

Itsbeenashortyear · 05/12/2022 06:19

We are going out for lunch this year. But the place we are going are doing takeaways, If you prebook.

Queenie24 · 05/12/2022 07:41

We are planning on making pizzas this year, I’ve told my sister as it’s her family coming so their choice.