Christmas Day Menu

[FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee]

I usually go to my mum's for the day, where we have prawn cocktail/Turkey/pudding but I want to make the day my own, not recreate hers.

So, what's your menu on Christmas Day? I'm looking for inspiration (especially starters).

Thank you.

A light starter. Garlic mushrooms or melon and ham

Turkey dinner

Xmas pud

We eat our big roast Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve with extended family. It's something we started doing quite a few years ago because we were sick of missing kids opening presents and spending hours in the kitchen on Christmas Day. We have turkey (only because 1 family member insists on it) and another meat, usually beef, with all the trimmings followed by trifle and a chocolate dessert. No starter.

On Christmas Day I bake fresh cinnamon rolls (prepped the night before so just take out of fridge and ready to cook) for breakfast. Then we eat leftovers, cheese & crackers and chocolate through the day, no cooking and minimal prep required. We just chill, open presents, watch TV, play games, etc and nobody is stuck in the kitchen.

We then do a family meal with my parents to use up any remaining leftovers as a pie or something on Boxing Day. Usually with salad to balance out all the Christmas chocs we've consumed 😂

I love reading others menus and traditions. Our day has evolved as everyone’s got older. It’s always been food focused with multiple courses spread over the day and lots of planned leftovers. A mix of homemade, readymade and all having a jolly time prepping together the day before there’s not as much time spent in the kitchen on the day.

Breakfast is a picnic round the tree whilst opening stockings early morning.
2nd breakfast is tea and biscuits mid morning as guests start to arrive.

Late morning it’s hot pre-starter morsels with bowls of nibbles for anyone peckish. 1-2 hours before mains cold starter-canapés either served as a mini trio at table or on sharing platters in the lounge. Traditional turkey and all that goes with is ready when it’s ready around 3.15 or as late as 4.30. Intermission for a hour or two with citrus sorbet available for those that want whilst we play table games and take shifts clearing up. For dessert a choice of puddings, homemade Christmas, microwaved sponge and a jelly if it comes out of the mould with assorted sauces/ creams. I copied from a thread on here last year and included a pandoro which added a very easy elegant option I’d always thought was lacking. Then a bit later cups of tea and petit fours for those still lingering at the table.

There’s more… cheeseboard is produced later in the evening for anyone that wants and we cut the Christmas cake. Even later in the evening the chocolate mint selection with liqueurs/coffee for anyone with an inch of room.

To finish us off nightcaps or warm milk and a chocolate from the big box.

@Crunchiethatfridayfeeling Kind of hard to tell you without giving you the recipes for everything and knowing how many the dishes serve that you're making. I cook massive trays (I have two ovens) as I feed 8 on the day plus 2 kids and want leftovers. Most stuff takes an hour, which is ideal for the turkey to rest and about the same time as the roast potatoes take. Turkey is very forgiving though so if things take longer it doesn't matter if it's resting for longer. I think PP has referenced a YouTube person who does similar to me so might be worth looking up!