"Easy" Christmas day food ideas?!

[HettyMeg]

Looking for "easy" Christmas day options for food. I will be 8 months' pregnant and we have just moved into a house with an ancient, tiny oven and tiny fridge in our 1980s kitchen (which will be replaced next year). Between moving and being pregnant I want to stay at home. We usually go out for Christmas lunch but our usual place has gone downhill and we fancy a more laid-back day. Parents are all 2-3 hours drive away and sometimes come to us but we are going to see them before/between Christmas Day.
So it will just be me, DH and DD(age 4).

It doesn't seem worth it trying to cook a turkey in our tiny oven for 2 adults and a pre schooler and I'm not sure the fridge could cope with everything. I also get in a flap making a pasta bake in that kitchen. Trying now to decide whether we do a roast chicken instead or avoid the roast route altogether. So: what easier routes have people taken on Christmas Day? Keen to hear all perspectives!

Thanks

We got an Indian takeaway, a more expensive one than we would normally get. It was delicious and the only effort involved was picking it up. We still had picky bits on xmas eve and Boxing Day. Would def do it again.

Marks and spencer is your friend for this!

M&S, Ocado, Waitrose, Cook meals. You could do a posh buffet style.
As PP has said takeaway might be good. You could buy on Christmas Eve and reheat ( not the rice)

Our previous NDN used to have a BBQ on Christmas Day as they’d lived all over the world.

And with DD 4 you could make a gingerbread house from a kit or decorate festive biscuits.

Just do an Aussie Christmas.

Fire up the bbq, sausages, steak, potato salad, coleslaw, buns, pavlova and fruit mince pies to finish.

As it’s a bbq, your husband just has to take over and do it all.

When covid meant that it was just me, DH and our two kids for Christmas, we decided that as the kids didn't actually like a roast we would do a meal we all liked instead and we had M&S Chinese food which was great.

So the answer is: do whatever you like. It doesn't have to be a traditional Christmas dinner to be a nice Christmas meal.

It sounds to me that this should be your Christmas as delivered by M and S via Ocado year!

I don't think that you have to have any kind of poultry at all.

Perhaps choose things which just slide into the oven on a baking tray.

www.ocado.com/categories/christmas/m-s-christmas/cb0e4c88-a91d-440b-a369-70a7c38356de

I am keen to do this one year but my daughter wouldn't like it unfortunately.

As a child, one of my friend's families used to do pizzas and chips on Christmas Day, as that was what they liked doing. I would be keen for an alternative meal but think husband would still want something hearty like a pie

This sounds brilliant but unfortunately Ocado don't deliver to my area. But M&S in principle yes, we should look at.

You’re going to see your parents around Christmas? Lovely, see if they can put on a traditional Christmas roast. Then on Christmas Day, have takeaways or fancy ready meals.

Why don’t you buy freshly cooked sliced turkey from the meat counter. It will take up hardly any room at all in your fridge, then your cooker will be free for the vegetables. ( If you have any freezer space you could buy frozen veg)

@HettyMeg

Is M and S Click and Collect available, OP?

This needs to be a Christmas when you can have a bit of a break from the kitchen.

christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/

Turkey crown rather than a whole Turkey. If you can afford it, Cook usually do xmas dinner in a box where you just throw everything in the oven.

Alternatively: just havw a grazing day, with tons of small bits from the fridge/oven etc- perfect for late pregnancy!

i agree M&S. You can get a small turkey crown that you just bung in the oven, premade mash and pre prepared veg for the microwave, even premade gravy in a pouch to heat. It’s no work at all. Even prepared roasties.

deserts pre made

thats how a do Christmas dinner every year! The order is already in

If you fancy a roast i'd get a pre-stuffed breast (turkey or chicken), mini sausages, pre-prepped veg and premade gravy (or use a gravy pot/cube - shocking but im happy enough with them). Roasties, mini joint & sausages all go in oven together. One pan for veg, one for gravy. Job done. Doesnt have to be a stress.
If you dont fancy the traditional roast - the world is your oyster. Big lasagna made beforehand? All you have to do is pop it oven on day. I like a roast - but go for what makes you happy. There is no need if it isnt a favourite.

& if you have a generous budget 'cook' do fancy frozen stuff that is high quality but can just go in the oven. Pies, lasagnas etc. It is £££££s though.

@HettyMeg

My friends who have Air Fryers swear by them, OP.

I wonder whether an Air Fryer would be a handy purchase for you pre-Christmas. John Lewis have some at good prices.

Am suggesting it on the assumption that some of the M and S things can be cooked using one.

Thanks, I like their meals. Will look into this as an option

Yes we have one, it's a life saver but didn't think of it for Christmas day!
But most oven things can be done in it.

Then maybe it is your DH’s problem to solve?

My perfect non-traditional Christmas Fayre that didn’t include turkey would be a full English breakfast; Christmas pudding instead of lunch; cheese & biscuits and other grazing foods later in the day. And lots of chocolate and Christmas cake!

I’d ditch the idea of a roast and do picky bits - cold meats, seafood, dips, post crisps, expensive canapés, bought puddings etc. Including some things that your 4yo loves

You won't regret it. We did it one year when we had just moved house and had all our parents and my brother staying. We'd been planning took cook but jusr getting the house ready was enough, so I went with mum and MIL on Christmas Eve, we loaded up the trolley and had the most chilled out Christmas day. We even had time for a lovely walk with the dogs on Christmas morning as had no meal prep to do.

This could be an option, thanks

Did you just buy everything pre-prepared?