We have four adult friends arriving after lunchtime on Wednesday for three nights. We’re all the same age, early 60s, good friends from our 30s onwards - we’ve also stayed at each other’s homes over Christmas, it’s our turn this year. I love hosting. DH is very proactive and we work alongside each other very well with food prep etc (in fact he does more clearing up than I do). Our early 20s DD is not at home for Christmas, based overseas currently.
Wed - all travelling by car. Due to arrive after lunch. We’re going to a candlelit Carol service at 4pm, I’m going to offer hot drinks, mince pies, warmed sausage rolls and Yule log on arrival.
We’ll get home about 5.30pm. More hot drinks if required although I expect we’ll open some wine/beers etc. I have nuts/crisps/cheese straws and those kind of things to go with the drinks.
I’m looking to serve dinner about 7.30pm - all are meat eaters - I’m serving steaks, garlic buttered mushrooms, green salads, roasted tomatoes and homemade potato wedges/chunky chips. There will be a cheeseboard and/or gingerbread ice-cream for afters.
Christmas Day - egg and bacon rolls but there is also Greek yoghurt/fruit and the usual toast and cereals for those who just want that.
We're all going to Church at 11am. (We met through the same Church 30 plus years ago in case anyone is wondering 😊). We tend to pop to the pub after church for an hour.
I have already prepped and frozen the following for Christmas lunch, parsnips, carrots, roast potatoes, red cabbage and two different stuffings - one is an American Thanksgiving recipe one made with sourdough bread and chestnuts. We’re aiming to sit down for Turkey and all the trimmings at around 4pm. After church/pub people can have whatever they want to drink and there are shop bought canapés.
We tend to sit around the table chatting (and drinking) for several hours, we don’t have pudding until later (around 7-8pm) and I have a homemade Christmas pudding with custard/cream. More cheese/crackers if wanted.
Boxing Day - breakfast for those up early is help yourself and then DH does his Boxing Day bubble with poached eggs (and toast) late morning.
We always go out for a long walk on Boxing Day (ending up in a pub).
Boxing Day evening is Games night with a buffet of cold gammon, cold turkey, winter slaw, crusty bread, cheeses, salad and pickles. Trifle for pudding.
28th - they’re leaving late morning so I’ll do a cooked breakfast that morning for those that want it but I have lots of fruit/berries and yoghurt available.
Does it all sound a bit too heavy and rich?