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Christmas

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

Original poster

Christmas Eve Dinner

111 replies

ChristmasCrumpet · 18/09/2023 18:05

Just looking for some ideas really.

We don't want to to the "Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve" thing, which does sound lovely, but we'll have the whole family here Christmas Day, and they'll want a Christmas Dinner, and so will the kids.

Christmas Day evening, we put out a late buffet for the adults when the DC have gone to bed, charcuterie, cheeseboard, canapes etc...so don't want that Christmas Eve either.

We don't really want a heavy meal like a Chinese or Indian takeaway either.

I know this is a lot of "don'ts"...

What we do want, is something special, just the two of us, as DC will have a pizza, yet as low maintenance as possible, as we'll be doing the last minute house prep/wrapping and would like to not be faffing with fancy cooking.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/09/2023 19:48

Lunch vegetable grills / vegan fish bites
Fish fingers for DS
Triple cooked chips
Dips

Used to do a late night buffet , but it's whittled down to fresh soup (soup maker) bread (breadmaker) done toasted /toasted cheese /as it is .

AndThenTheWolvesCame · 19/09/2023 20:10

We always do seafood on Christmas Eve. Usually lobster or dressed crab.
Fish for thought are excellent and you can choose how much or little of the prep they do for you.

Cote at home do a seafood delivery option with lobster Thermidor, crab, scallops and prawns with a bread stick and dessert. All prepped just needs cooking/grilling.

M&S do a seafood platter in their food to order usually too if you want something a bit more convenient to pick up.

Costco do a large punnet of jumbo shell on prawns which would be great in a pasta/salad for around £13.

Waitrose often do fresh seafood.We’ve had oysters from there that I baked which were beautiful.

Littlegoth · 20/09/2023 08:04

Cornishprancer · 19/09/2023 12:46

God this thread has made me hungry

Me too.

My most visited threads right now:

  1. ALL the Christmas food.
  2. Lose 2 stone by Christmas

😂

Broodywuz · 20/09/2023 08:54

Littlegoth · 20/09/2023 08:04

Me too.

My most visited threads right now:

  1. ALL the Christmas food.
  2. Lose 2 stone by Christmas

😂

Show quote history

😂this is me too

CornishGem1975 · 20/09/2023 09:09

Very useful tips @AndThenTheWolvesCame Thanks for sharing!

GrinAndVomit · 20/09/2023 14:06

Book your favourite restaurant 😊

QueeniePlumtree · 20/09/2023 22:15

ChristmasCrumpet · 18/09/2023 21:02

This does actually sound delicious, and is a forerunner.

I go all out at Christmas, not present wise, but I'm really big into traditional things, and they lack the convenience of a more modern Christmas. I love it, but it's time consuming. Everything is wrapped and done well in advance. Wreaths made. Carol concerts done. Lights all around. As much prep as physically possible is done as early as possible.

So, Christmas Eve is special for DH and I. It marks the end of all the work I've put in, we put a film on for the DC who have pizza and popcorn, we do our Christmas Eve traditions and then off to bed they go....and it's just us, starting our Christmas.

I always forget something, and it's never as relaxed as I plan, but we try our best to get all the presents downstairs, stockings filled and set up, and the little DC large/main presents ready and set up for instant play in the morning. I set the table for breakfast, and if all has gone well, this is done by about 7.30pm, and we have a nice romantic evening to ourselves. Fire on, candles on, the quiet calm before the hullabaloo of next morning.

Seafood does sound the way. I do like the idea above, and it lends itself to munching it in front of the fire with a glass of wine.

I also wondered about sushi... although I don't know if I want cold food on a late December evening.

Show quote history

We are very similar in a lot of what you've said.

It's just great for that glass of vino in front of the fire as you mentioned.

Whatever you decide enjoy!! 💖

QueeniePlumtree · 20/09/2023 22:17

CornishGem1975 · 19/09/2023 09:14

This sounds immense. Might put this on the menu this year.

Show quote history

Do it! It's fabulous!! My now 14 and 19 yr olds love it!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 21/09/2023 09:59

Here it’s either some of the big piece of gammon I always cook on Christmas Eve, or a ‘special’ fish pie with prawns and lots of mash with cheese on top.

aspiremynuskit · 21/09/2023 10:00

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Ginny26 · 21/09/2023 18:43

We always have party food (nicer than the normal ones we make) pate, cheeseboard etc... I'll be pregnant this year so that's making me sad... I'll definitely make up for it next christmas! I absolutely love blue cheese and pate (and wine/prosecco/baileys 😂) and we put the presents under the tree/build toys etc with a christmas film on while nibbling. I love it so much, my husband had never had a cheese board until he met me so it's one of our favourite things to do together. We do the same on boxing day with a new board game ❤️

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