How to host random relatives dropping by

[MovingAround90]

Not for the full shebang meal on Christmas Day (which I like to have earlier at lunchtime anyway) but later on maybe around 4-6pm?

Nibbles, snacky bits?

My DM and DGM don't want to drive in the dark so that will have to be accounted for (taxis?) and my sister and her family are possibly stopping by.

What should I lay on/prepare?

Will they want feeding, won’t everyone still be stuffed from lunch?
No one will want much, cheese & crackers & bit of Christmas cake maybe?
Taxi’s (if you can get one) will need to be booked in advance and are often £££ x the normal fare.

DM will probably not eat unless someone else cooks, but noone is up to hosting a big Christmas meal this year.

Taxis on Xmas day are going to be a bit of a bugger and more expensive but possible if you have no alternative.

I'd say that there will be buffet food out at 5pm for anyone who wants to eat (bearing in mind your 4-6pm estimate) otherwise there will be mince pies and drinks available.

For food, leftovers from Xmas lunch, some deli meats, fresh bread (the part baked baguettes that just need warming through are good), pickles, ready prepped salad leaves, that kind of thing. And just let people pick at what they want. I love a good leftover sandwich on Xmas day evening.

Will you be expected to pick up and drop off dm and dgm?
I'd offer a Snowball or Baileys and mince pies. Perhaps open a box of nice chocolates.
I'd not want to feel the host had gone to any trouble and feel obliged to eat if a meal was not planned at their home and I'd already eaten or was going to eat later that evening.

I'd make it clear what you are providing- snacks, nibbles etc and not a sit down meal- just so everyone is clear! I'd do something that could be prepped a day beforehand or just put together on the day:

• Nuts, crisps, dips, rum balls, mince pies
• Cold meat charcuterie board with pickled onions, cornichons, chutney
• Cheese board, crackers, chutney, grapes- or a combo of cheese and meats
• Quiche slices if something a bit more substantial if needed
• Prue Leith's Mini Yorkshire Puddings - The Great British Bake Off | The Great British Bake Off In addition to the beef/horseradish they are lovely with brie and cranberry or turkey cranberry and could use leftovers from lunch

Why don't you host on Christmas Eve like they do in Europe and have a fancy buffet? I'd do a seafood buffet with light cheesecakes and fresh fruit salad for dessert. Then Christmas day can be left for each branch of the family to celebrate separately.

Personally I hate people dropping in. If they are definitely coming then I’ll make them welcome and stuff them with food.

I grew up in Australia and we did the lunch with the relatives, then the afternoon/evening with the best friend's family. She hosted it that way specifically because everyone had already done Christmas lunch elsewhere with their families. At her place it was cold meats, salads, rolls, crisps, cakes, sausage rolls, crackers/cheese/dips. Pretty much whatever you would lay on for a (not-Christmas) party or a barbecue without the actual barbecue. There would often be 30 of us there and it was fantastic. Like others said, nobody wants a plated meal after surviving a heaped pile of everything once already.

Ask your cook to make
Some Charcuterie boards, veggie boards and cheeseboards and keep them on a counter under glass cloches from dinner time onwards. You can also prepare cakes in advance and let people serve a slice. No big deal

Can't you invite your mum and grandma for dinner? Then just put a cheeseboard and trifle and mince pies out later on when your sister drops in