What’s your fave Xmas eve dinner?

[Mamabear0202]

Usually go here there and everywhere on Christmas Day so don’t actually do much cooking.

I would like to do something special / a bit different for our Xmas eve dinner, any ideas? What do you usually have?

I could do a take away but would rather cook something nice / get nice food in.

Whatever the nearest takeaway sells!

I’ve never had a nice Christmas Eve, food or otherwise.
Im usually wrapping still, stressed and grumpy because we never have a nice restful Christmas by ourselves.

Im astonished every year by these threads.
I never have nice foods, a film, or matching PJ’s. Just hassle .

Steak pie, mash, greens. All except the greens are made in advance so only require heating. It’s a simple option that pleases everyone. I confess that I do buy a vegetable curry pie for the vegetarian (Christmas Eve only) but the sides are the same.

Oh I completely get this — it always feels like a mad rush right up to the last minute. I only recently started lowering expectations a bit and planning one small “nice” thing for myself on Christmas Eve, even if it’s just a warm drink and ten quiet minutes before bed. It’s made a small difference. How do you usually spend the evening once everything’s finally wrapped?

Fondue in pyjamas 🫕 We had cheese when the dc were smaller, but now they are all teens and tweens we have meat.

Lots of dips and salads, very cosy and fun!

It is!

Our Christmases are chaotic, noisy and never peaceful but theyre perfect!

Eating out! That’s our tradition

pulled pork slow cooked with homemade coleslaw. Feels nicely informal

We normally watch a Christmas film and eat when the kids are in bed. We do crusty bread, smoked salmon, cheeses and cold cut meats, crudités, hummus and 🍾

we occasionally swap this for a Chinese depending on how busy we are during the day.

Why @RustedOver?

Can you plan ahead to reduce stress? I wrap a few weeks beforehand and spread it out so I can enjoy it watching Christmas tv and with a coffee in hand.

can you make a change this year and try to have a stress free Christmas?

Rustedover, like Wethers, wrapping ahead really helps. This year we are planning to wrap and tag as we shop - so there isn't a last minute Christmas Eve wrapping session as it is a lot more time-consuming than you plan for. I hope you get a couple of hours to de-stress this Christmas Eve.

Most of my Christmas gifts are done by Christmas Eve and I wrap as I go. Prep all the veg for the next day in the morning. We don’t do turkey and we don’t host so it’s just us.

Christmas Eve evening it’s matching PJs, Muppets Christmas Carol, and fish and chips for tea - though I do like the idea of salmon! And having not had a drink for many a year, this year I’m going to treat myself to a very crisp white wine for when the family are in bed.

Ham in cherry coke. Easy and delicious.

Either the gammon, or a fish pie.

For the past 6 years we’ve gone to the local Indian restaurant in the village.
I wonder if we live in the same village. We pile in straight from the '9 lessons and carols' service- it is becoming so popular we have already had to book the table.
When the DC were tiny it was the Jamie Oliver Fish Pie as a kitchen supper, but as soon as the youngest got to 4 they appreciated a curry as much as the rest of us.

@RustedOver the only really stressful Xmas I had was when we were trying to be kind to in-laws and do stuff with them.
It was just miserable all the time I wasted and DH wasted but it was worse for me because at least.he was used to sitting in silence etc.