Second Christmas dinner ideas

[InbetweenDreams]

I know lots of people seem to have multiple Christmas dinners over the Christmas period with extended family members etc but I have never actually done this myself.

I want to make a Christmassy type dinner to take to my FIL’s house a few days before Christmas and I’m struggling to decide whether to

a) just have roast potatoes and all the stuff I would usually have with Christmas dinner

b) do something festive but not a ‘proper’ Christmas dinner so I don’t step on the toes of my actual Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.

I don’t think I would be so bothered about having a second one if it came after Christmas Day, but this won’t be a possibility, and I don’t really want to have all of the same stuff 3 days before my actual Christmas dinner. I don’t want to make it less special.

Would it be weird to have mash instead of roast potatoes? Does anyone have a sort of go-to second Christmas dinner they’re happy with? I usually do a sort of Christmassy stew on Christmas Eve with Brussels, chestnuts etc but I don’t think he’d like it, so would preferably do some kind of Sundayish dinner but… I need ideas!

How about roast beef with dauphinoise potatoes and yorkies and then some veg. With a buche de noel for dessert?

Oh my god dauphinois potatoes! What a good idea! That’s the kind of thing I need - something just as special but not the same. I was thinking - I can’t take him mash - can I??? Hahaha!

I always make this pie on Boxing Day, but it's delicious and would feel festive.

www.nigella.com/ask/egg-and-bacon-pie

Slow cooker ham, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and sprouts.
or
big sausages made into pigs in blankets with mash, carrots, sprouts and gravy

Thank you all for your suggestions - I think it was the extras that were stumping me, because I know there’s all different things you can swap in for the main, but roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips are just always on our Christmas menu so I was struggling to see past them. But cauliflower cheese is another great idea. I just wanted something festive enough to feel special for him without it just turning our own Christmas dinner into a repeat.

Christmas burger?
Brioche bun
turkey
cranberry sauce
brie
stuffing
pigs in blankets

I'd make a sausage wreath/pie with Christmas flavours, dauphinoise and red cabbage.

How about toad in the hole using pigs in blankets and stuffing balls instead of sausages

Beef wellington?

Yes! Red cabbage! I love all these ideas! Thank you everyone!

That wreath looks beautiful too