What’s your Christmas menu

[DuckDuckGoose23]

I love hearing about what everyone else has for Christmas lunch and their family traditions (and possibly stealing some last minute ideas!)

What is everyone having for Christmas lunch/dinner this year?

We’re hosting and have 9 adults and 3 toddlers this year (it’s my first year hosting without having lots of people with different dietary requirements so it’s a pretty traditional and simple menu for us).

Breakfast:
Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels
Pain au chocolat
Fresh fruit
Bucks fizz (clementine juice for me because I’m pregnant and the kids)

Lunch (served at 2pm):
No starters. Just nuts, olives and crisps for people to graze on as they arrive.

• Turkey
• Stuffing https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/mid-atlantic-mushroom-and-chestnut-stuffing
• Pigs in blankets
• Honey and mustard glazed ham (cooked and brought by my brother)
• Bread sauce (brought by my husband’s friend because he’s the only one who likes it)
• Cauliflower cheese
• Roast potatoes
• Roasted root veg with honey, butter and thyme (carrots, beetroot, parsnips, sweet potatoes)
• Sprouts (with pancetta)
• Mashed swede
• Braised red cabbage (I’m trying the Gordon Ramsey recipe this year unless anyone has any better recommendations, I’m yet to find a recipe I love)
• Gravy
• Cranberry sauce
• Wholegrain honey mustard

Pudding:

• Mixed berry pavlova
• Christmas pudding
• Yule log
• Custard/Ice-cream/clotted cream

Evening food:

• Cheeseboard with figs, grapes and chutneys
• Charcuterie board
• Baked Camembert
• Crackers and bread
• Olives, cornichons, piccalily, nuts, crisps, pickled onions.
• Mince pies, Christmas cake, leftover Yule log
• Tin of quality streets

Drinks will probably just be sparking apple juice or wine/Prosecco (my husband will probably make old fashioneds in the evening once all the kids are asleep).

It sounds like a lot but most of our guests will eat a fair amount and I have plans for left overs so there is no food waste:

• leftover ham goes home with my brother and SIL
• Turkey, preserved lemon and green olive tagine (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6555-chicken-tagine-with-olives-and-preserved-lemons).
• Turkey, leek and mushroom risotto
• Roasted veg soup (this can be frozen) or a roasted veg and cheese pie.
• ‘Pigs in blankets’ bangers and mash with red cabbage and peas.
• Bubble and squeak (with eggs and bacon/ham).
• I’ll freeze any leftover cauliflower cheese for my son to have as a quick dinner after nursery.

We’ll share out any leftover cakes, biscuits etc with our guests for them to take home.

My toddlers both love cheese, cold roast potatoes and olives so they’ll happily eat them for snacks.

I’m very excited!

Lunch at mine is served when it is ready. This is a variable time depending on when I got out of bed, when I started cooking, what I wanted to watch on TV and many other variables.

There is Quality Street for anyone peckish.

Christmas Eve:
Roast rib of beef (good and pink) with the fillet in, the only time in the year we can afford good beef
Roast potatoes
Roast parsnips
Yorkshire’s
Fine green beans
Carrots
Gravy
Horseradish

Veg alternative: mushroom and chestnut in red wine pie

A lovely burgundy.

Trifle

Xmas Day:
Panetonne
Croissants
Clemantines

Smoked salmon
Hot roast salmon
salad
brown bread
Chablis or Pouilly Fuisse

Mince pies/ Xmas cake

Champagne / cocktails

Turkey
Stuffing (two sorts: nut / apricot and sausage meat)
Chipolatas
bacon rolls
mash
red cabbage
Sprouts
peas
carrots
cranberry
bread sauce
gravy

Christmas pudding with brandy sauce / cream

A pudding wine, probably Beaumes de Venise.

Chocs (Lindor / Bittermints are people’s favourites)

Maybe cheese and port. But that may be saved for Boxing Day after ‘bubble and squeak leftovers’

Boxing Day

Game Pie / pork pie/ leftover cold meats / pickles

Christmas tree meringue with raspberries

Later: leftover bubble and squeak, cheese.

All for 11 people.

Breakfast - croissants or bacon sandwiches, fruit juice/tea

Lunch (2.30pm ish)

Main course- Turkey and all the trimmings, roast potatoes, carrots, sprouts, swede, roast honey parsnips and Yorkshire puddings.

Dessert - Black Forest trifle (Jamie Oliver recipe)
Cookies and cream cheese cake (for Dd1)

Evening meal (if still hungry) - Cheese board and biscuits, home made chutney and mince pies.

Theres only 4 of us for Christmas so I’m not bothering with starters.

@AnnaMagnani I love the idea of dinner just being ready when it’s ready (and it coming together around whatever else I happen to fancy doing). One day when it’s just me and my husband I will do this! Quality Streets are also by far the best tin of Christmas chocolates (Roses are massively let down by the fact the strawberry creams are in milk chocolate when dark chocolate is vastly superior!)

@BrimfulOfMash I think that might be my dream Christmas menu (I’ve even taken a screenshot for next year to remind myself that I want roast salmon at some point over the Christmas period 😂)

@Wazzzzzuuuuuuup timings are always difficult (I totally understand the ‘I need to fit 3 meals in because I don’t want to miss the opportunity to eat something delicious’ dilemma). Luckily for us we have a 20 month old son who wakes everyone up at 7am on the dot by standing on his bed and shouting his breakfast order ‘toast, cheese, eggs, berries, yog-yog, Cheeeeeese’ so we eat early in our house (he might have inherited my love of food 😂). I’m pretty jealous of your lie-in though. I’m also now very peckish for a sausage sandwich….

@RepetitiveMotion that Bircher muesli sounds lovely and very festive (I might be tempted to break up some dark chocolate into mine- it is Christmas after all 😂)
Smoked salmon blinis are so good, I’m beginning to wonder if any of my helpful relatives might like to prepare some for me to snack on whilst I cook!

@MikeRafone that all sounds great. Do you have a recipe for the savoury biscotti, I’d like to try them out.

@Lovemusic82 ooooo Black Forest trifle, that’s going in my Christmas notebook for next year (I know I could make it for pudding any time but it feels like a Christmas dessert!)

Right chocolate chestnut refrigerator cake is done - I made it with half the quantity but double the rum

Can highly recommend as it was dead easy even with making your own chestnut puree.

Now on to start marrons glace.

'@Lottapianospigs in blankets and cocktails sound a great combination. What cocktails are you having (I’m pregnant and not drinking this year so I’m keen to live vicariously through other people!)'

I think probably a Cosmopolitan for me. DP may well go for a Negroni. I'm having Cremant with my roast, DP will probably have red wine

Breakfast: none.
Lunch: 3 bird roast and all the trimmings. Xmas pud.
Supper: leftovers and some nibbles, nothing fancy. Traditionally in my DD's dad's family there's cold roast potatoes and pickles.
Until I fall asleep: chocolate, mostly. And two Rennies.

We have a small Christmas , just me, DH, DS, and my mum so we don't go mad.
Breakfast champagne and bacon/sausage rolls
Starter mussels in white wine and crusty bread
Main turkey, ham, cavello nero cauli cheese, honey roasted carrots and parsnips, red cabbage, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and bread sauce
Pud (bought) profiteroles or black forest trifle (made)
All the cheese for later
Copious amounts of chocs, wine, and liqueurs as required

Forgot the Pigs! I'd be divorced if there were no Pigs in Blankets

Breakfast - selection of mini danish pastries (Tesco frozen ones baked in the morning)

Midday grazing - smoked salmon blinis, sausages rolls, crisps, dips and olives

Dinner (4pm-ish) - roast chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, roast carrots and parsnips, sprouts, peas, pigs in blankets, gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce

Dessert - chocolate cake, mandarin cheesecake, posh Yule log, cream

Evening grazing - cheeseboard with grapes, chutneys and crackers, mince pies, chocolates, biscuits

I can do the veg and meat without too much stress and my MIL is taking point on the potatoes so it was being able to "cheat" and get the shop to do the yorkies and the puds along with opting out of a starter that really took the pressure off. I guess it's about balancing the bits of the meal that stress you out (for me the yorkies as I've never been able to make good ones, and although I love to cook, I don't do baking so puds are always a headache) and the bits you can do without blinking (roasting a beef joint or steaming some veg is not a bother). Shop bought puds are definitely the tech!! 😀

Right Day 1 is done.

Salmon was lovely but with Delia, you are absolutely expecting that.

Nigella's chocolate chestnut refrigerator cake is amazing, a little goes a long way, and would be ideal for dinner parties.

Brioche dough is in the fridge but I feel v doubtful about it. I am suspicious it will be subbed with sliced white on the day. Unlike the partmade marrons glace which turn out to be easy.

Breakfast
Fresh home made cinnamon roles, pancakes and ice cream

Starter
Garlic bread for some
Prawns for some

Main
Turkey
Ham
Beef
Stuffing
Pigs in blankets
Roasties
Mash
Mustard and honey carrots and parsnips
Brussell sprouts and bacon
Cauliflower cheese
Yorkshire puddings
Apple sauce and cranberry sauce

Potato salad and coleslaw available for either course.

Evening
Picking at leftover meat, crackers, cheese, sweets.

Can't wait!

Oh I forgot desserts. Choice of Christmas cake, pavlova, ferro rocher cheese cake or chocolate brownie, ice cream or vienette.

My menu for 8 adults and 2 children.

Breakfast (2 adults 2 kids only)
croissant or maybe crumpets

Lunch (served between 1-1:30pm) - everything is gluten free
Turkeys crown with gf stuffing
Bird in a bird in a bird
Roast potatoes
Seasoned parsnips
cauliflower cheese
carrots
brocoli
sprouts with lardons and chestnuts
pigs in blankets
stuffings balls

lots of stuff to graze on, crisps, chocs, etc

5pm ish
Christmas Cake - No one likes fruit cake so I’ve got an iced chocolate sponge cake. Also Gf Christmas cup cakes.
Macarons (gf)
Any nice desserts I see in M&S tomorrow when picking up the meat.
Cheese, pate and biscuits.

I do a buffet as I am vegetarian and my kids are fussy tbh

Gammon joint with gravy
Pigs in blankets
Sticky kebabs
Mozzarella sticks
Vegetarian quiche
Cheese bites
Mini sausage rolls

Sherry Triffle
Toffee Cheesecake
Profiteroles
Mince pies with Cointreau Fresh cream

Christmas cake with coffee.

Breakfast...
lots of strong fresh coffee as usual.

Lunch...
Goose.
Chips or mashed potato, depending on which we fancy.
Pigs in blankets ( which usually end up in the dog )
Whatever veg is in the freezer,
Gravy.
We don't have a starter.

Evening...
Usually a sandwich if feeling hungry.

Breakfast (before ds goes to work)

• Sausages, Tattie scones, Bacon, Rolls

Late Dinner (once ds gets home, probably around 8pm)

• sirloin roast
• Sides

Desserts

• various

Cooked breakfast we have every weekend 1/2 fat sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash brown, baked beans/plum tomatoes and a slice of toast and butter with fresh orange juice. We have breakfast at 8.30am Xmas morning.

Glasses of wine start from about 10am.

Xmas Lunch my youngest DS is cooking. Starter is pate on thin crispy toast in Xmas tree shapes or melon balls. Main is turkey crown, cranberry jelly, roast beef joint, stuffing and sausage meat balls, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, petit pois, sprouts, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, roast onion, parsnips in honey glaze and wine gravy. Dessert chocolate gateau or lemon cheesecake with vanilla ice-cream.
We'll eat lunch about 1pm. Champagne to drink with lunch.

Wine/Prosecco ongoing through afternoon. Walk dogs.

Afternoon tea about 5pm will include a cheese board with crackers, turkey or beef sandwich/roll with cranberry jelly, mince pies/scone and cream, tubs of Treeslet's, Twiglets, mini Cheddars will be opened, pringles, satsumas, leftover melon balls, any left over desserts.

Wine flows through evening.

8.30pm fruit, nuts.

Coffee with Amaretto/Bailey's.

Chocolates in between times.

That's a lot more than we're doing. I'm in the US but we are English. There was to be us five adults, my kids (18 & 20) and young teen (who is disabled and does not eat Christmas meal). One sibling now has covid so our guest unlikely you come.
Breakfast will be whatever - maybe waffles or French toast with bacon.
No lunch as we eat Christmas dinner about 4.30.
No starter
Turkey (one person doesn't like turkey so will have steak)
Pigs in blankets
Roasties
Sweet potatoes
Parsnips
Carrots
Sprouts
Green beans
Stuffing
Bread sauce
Cranberry sauce
Gravy

Christmas cake
Apple crumble with custard or ice cream or cream

Later on pickings from leftovers.

Same people plus another guest for Boxing Day dinner:
Honey of a ham
Colcannon
carrots
Beans
Sprouts if any left
Mustard

Christmas cake
Apple crumble with custard/ice cream/cream

2 adults and a toddler. Breakfast probably bacon sandwiches. Lunch around 2/3pm will be turkey with roast potatoes, cabbage, carrots and parsnips, pigs and blankets and stuffing followed by Christmas pudding. We like our quiet Christmas and not to make a massive job out of it.

Breakfast :
Fresh fruit platter
Croissants
Sausages, eggs,bacon,hash browns,white pudding,beans
Juice

Dinner:
Turkey
Ham
Mash potatoes
Roast potatoes
Buttered carrots
Honey and mustard parsnips
Pigs in blankets
Sprouts with pancetta
Buttered cabbage
Croquettes
Turkey gravy

Dessert:
Trifle
Chocolate Yule log
Banoffi

Snacks:
Turkey and ham sandwiches at about 9pm
Pringles
Nuts
Chocolates

Drinks:
Beer
Soft drinks

It's me, DH and three teens in our home. DH always cooks the Christmas Dinner.

We're not cooking Christmas Dinner this year - going to my parents.

Breakfast
Various pastries
Guacamole on toast

Christmas Dinner (if I know my parents)
Turkey
Beef
Roast potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Carrots
Sprouts
Stuffing
Yorkshire puddings
Pigs in blankets
Gravy

No clue what they've got for dessert though!

Then in the evening we'll have cheese and crackers at home. The kids might have some toast/sandwiches or something snacky.

I'm vegetarian so my lunch will be minus the meat and plus a million roast potatoes.