What to cook on Xmas day with young kids and guests

[heedlesschicken]

What do you make for Christmas lunch and also for general meals/options across the festive period if you also have small kids and host?

we have never hosted before but will do this year. We are only having two extra family members staying from 24-26th so I’m not catering for the masses but we have three young DC and I’m worried about missing all the magic because I’m so busy preparing food and meals all the time. DH does all the cleaning up but I am resident cook. Guests are quite elderly and would expect a traditional Christmas dinner so something like pizzas or curry not really an option. I’m a bit overwhelmed thinking about what to buy and make as well as needing to have a clean house to host as well as all the usual Christmas admin/gift buying etc. Ideas please!

Just make a normal sunday roast, you don't have to have turkey, we don't actually have turkey as we don't really like it, I love lamb and as it's so ££ these days it's a nice xmas treat. Surely your kids eat roast dinner, I have the world's most fussy children but even they will eat a roast. Buy a ready made dessert add ice cream or whatever to accompany. Get snacks and picky oven bits for evening. It really doesn't need to be an epic 3 day prep affair to have a nice traditional meal xmas day, there really isn't any point in going to so much extra effort when you only have 2 people coming. Just keep it simple.

You cook a delia smith Christmas dinner for 17 people while also looking after 3 young kids?! I take my hat off to you!

Ok, so now its veggie and gluten free! Scrap my earlier meat/fish based suggestions and desserts with wheat 😬
I'm not veggie or coeliacs so I'm sure others will have better suggestions, but some ideas:

https://www.recipetineats.com/flourless-orange-cake/ This is nice served with a rich, chocolate sauce
https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/hazelnut-meringue-cake/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/vegetarian_nut_roast_pie_62864

We get a turkey breast joint from M&S, along with most of the trimmings that can just be chucked in the oven. I cook the turkey as soon as we’re up so it’s done and resting.
DH makes Yorkshire puddings from scratch and I do the roasties in the air fryer so they don’t take long at all, everything else is bought prepped.

we don’t have a starter as the main event is enough, along with pudding for those who want it - usually trifle or profiteroles. Again, they’re bought in and no cooking required

We prepare as much as possible in advance - red cabbage, gravy, par boiled potatoes, stuffing balls, pigs in blankets are all in the freezer weeks earlier. Carrots, parsnips, brussels prepped and sit in a pot of water in the evening on Christmas Eve.

We don’t eat too early on Christmas Day, maybe around 4pm, so no-one is tied up in the kitchen all morning.

We have a timeline that we stick to - normally involves the turkey coming out an hour before we eat and then potatoes and sides are all done. Carrots, red cabbage and sprouts on the hob, gravy in the microwave, everything else in the oven. Turkey gets carved. It’s a bit of a mad hour in the kitchen, but that’s where grandparents can help out with young children or pop a Christmas movie on.

Dessert - we normally have a bit of a selection of sweet treats - mince pies, home made festive flavoured rocky road (made in advance), Christmas cake and some cheese, crackers. Or, we buy a dessert from M&S.

But honestly, prep as much as you can in advance and write up a timeline. Have your serving dishes all ready. Set the table earlier in the day. Set timers for things going in and out of the oven. I do also have a hot plate that I can stick things on to keep warm if something isn’t quite ready.

Could you suggest a pub lunch for Christmas Eve? Not too early. Then just have a few snacks (some pizza for the kids)? Alternatively do a big pot (or two) of something for a substantial lunch at home that you can cook in advance, something that will fill people up, then you only need some nibbles in the evening.

To be fair only ever had 2 kids. But I focused on dinner (having done prep before) as opposed to on kids. They always enjoyed lunch…. Still do!

How old are the kids? Can your husband mind them when you cook?

Toddler, 5yo and 7yo so yes he could mind them but I don’t want to miss out on all the Christmas fun being stuck in the kitchen!

Prep in advance, keep it simple when it comes to sides and don’t be afraid to cheat

Ever since the Christmas that I missed out on playing with my young kids and their presents, we’ve had our Christmas dinner on Xmas Eve at 5ish. It’s normal teatime for kids that age, you can pop a film on for them for the hour or two before tea time when it all gets a bit busy in the kitchen. We go out in the morning, come back and start dinner prep early afternoon. I wouldn’t bother with a sit down starter (never worked with kids ime), but adults can have nibbles/canapes, then just do a normal roast but with extra trimmings (if you want). Make sure you do plenty for leftovers… Gluten free Xmas puds are just as good as regular (I’m going to make our GF one soon) and just reheat in the microwave and heat up custard.
And then the very best bit is that, on Christmas day, as well as getting to play with your kids, you get to eat ‘Boxing Day food’ which is the best bit of Christmas lunch anyway!!! Maybe stock up on extra bits that you can chuck in the oven, plenty of bread, cheese etc and then you can graze all day!
I will never go back to cooking Christmas lunch on Christmas Day. I really can’t recommend it enough!!

Xmas day:

Ultimately, it’s a roast. It’s not that deep. Get your husband to prep the veg the night before so it’s all ready to go.

For the vegetarians, I’d do a nut roast (this could be made a day or two in advance and kept in the fridge). I make a really good one, I can give you my recipe if you like. The meat eaters can have it as stuffing.

Then a chicken for everyone else. Or duck, if you think people will eat it. If you get the breasts they are super easy! And fast!

You could do some pigs in blankets to chuck in at the same time as the carrots if you wanted. The key is don’t introduce too many elements so your timings are fairly simple.

For pudding, get ice cream for your kids and a ready made trifle or tart for everyone else (if you’re skint this is what I’d spend money on).

Christmas Eve lunch: do a gammon. You can get them really cheap and make a glaze yourself. A couple of winter salads with it, plus some ready made bits.

Christmas Eve dinner: picky tea, cheeseboard.

Xmas eve
Vegetarian tagine with cous cous and a GF alternative. Pomegranate seeds make it look festive and you could easily make the tagine a month before and freeze

Cheese and crackers for supper

Xmas day
It's only a roast for 4 with 3 kids who'll probably be more interested in toys. I wouldn't overthink it. Prep what you can ahead. A GF veggie Xmas pudding (bought) and a kid friendly pud. I wouldn't bother with a sit down starter just nibbles beforehand

This sounds lovey but my kids would not eat a tagine unfortunately and then I just have to make two meals again. However I do like the idea of a one pot meal perhaps a chilli or lasagne but again then I have to make two versions, one meat/gluten free and one veggie. I guess this is my issue, if I do one meal to cater to everyone it has to be vegetarian, gluten free and kid friendly which leaves me with very little! Maybe buffet is easier. Definitely cheeseboard in the evening and maybe pizza for the kids.

On the day I will do a roast of some sort and not go too mad on the sides although elderly rellies are all “oh it’s not Christmas without bread sauce!” “Cranberry sauce is a classic!” Etc so all those bits will be coming from a jar or packet. Stuff like gravy is a PITA as it has to be both GF and veggie.

still not sure what time to serve lunch, my toddler will probably need to nap at some point. Maybe when he wakes up around 2pm. This means I’ll have to feed the kids twice in the morning as they will be up at the arse crack of dawn so will likely have breakfast, a chocolate coin course, and then elevenses.

the kids will also want supper but adults will probably be fine with cheese board round two!

I guess what I’m really taking away from this is that feeding my kids multiple times a day is relentless in the school holidays and turns out one of the best bits about Christmas is normally just having someone else think about food for a few days (in previous years we have normally gone to stay with family)!

What is wrong with Turkey? Kids usually like it, just not the sprouts.

Don’t overthink it, and keep it simple. A Christmas dinner is just a Sunday dinner with notions. You don’t need to do elaborate sides, or 4 different kinds of potatoes. What would you like to eat on Christmas Day? Just take it from there. Buy a prepared nut roast or pie for the vegetarians, and profiteroles and a Christmas pudding for desert, or even just some fruit and ice-cream. If you are concerned it won’t be up to their standards just warn them in advance that you’re keeping it simple but tasty and it might be slightly more relaxed, but if there’s something they absolutely must have then to tell you in advance or bring it with them.

https://food-to-order.sainsburys.co.uk/product/8204751/chistmas-dinner-box

Gluten free https://artisanbutchers.co.uk/products/gluten-free-christmas-basics-box

Always get a COOK fish pie for Christmas Eve. Sainsbury’s sort out the Christmas dinner just need to add veg & gravy.

gone are the days when I would get up at 4 to put a monstrous turkey in the oven which was expected when my mother was alive

Tbh I would just buy the veggie/gf gravy. Take as many short cuts as you can. Air fryer is handy - roasties can be done in there, or pigs in blankets. Can keep stuff warm too.

You said you have some room in the freezer, I think you should use it.
I despise not enjoying the Xmas day if I am in the kitchen cooking meanwhile everyone else have fun, so I prepare almost all meals for the week in advance. Ideas:

Curry night, meat and veggie version and is gluten free easy. Fully cook and freeze. For the kids prepare in the freezer some plain meat to just be grilled. Served with rice and veggie stick. They can get a bowl with the sauce to dip.

Italian night, cold cuts, cheeses, olives and pickles, bread and gf bread (get the ones that need part baking) kids get pizza, adults veggie lasagna, all from the freezer.

Breakfasts, toasts, cereal, in Xmas day, bake at home pastries, will the kids eat pancakes? The freeze incredibly well and just serve them with nutella and spray cream 😋

Xmas dinner, if they eat roast is great, add a bought veggie main. Yorkshire puddings, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cabbage, pigs in blankets, stuffing, gravy all freeze great. Just have to cook the meat/veggie main. Get a pouch of veggie gravy, cranberry jar, bread sauce.
Kids get ice cream for pudding and adults mince pies, Xmas pudding.
Highly doubt anyone would want dinner after getting into the selection boxes.

Also make the cooking a family affair. Don't wait for them to offer, but allocate tasks to everyone. Kids can set the table!

We always host, and I do all the cooking - it’s actually easier in lots of ways to be at home when the children are small. I do the same every year pretty much, a roast ham joint with vegetables and dauphinoise potatoes n Christmas Eve, and then a roast turkey with all the trimmings on Christmas Day. After that we all scavenge for left overs for a day or two and I just cook fresh bread as needed. For pudding on Christmas Day I do a Christmas pudding with clotted cream and brandy butter but I also do a chocolate Yule log as my husband and one of the children aren’t huge fans of Christmas pud.

The main thing with Christmas lunch is just not to stress - we do simple canapés like fancy crackers with cream cheese and smoked salmon or caviar instead of a starter, and then the rest is just a big roast really. Crack open the champagne, and dot in and out of the kitchen watching the kids open presents while cooking. I never have a set time we eat either - I aim for 2pm but if it’s 2:30pm no-one minds.

absolutely don’t do this - how miserable.

Christmas Eve you can keep simple

• a shepherd’s pie made in advance. No one wants lots on Xmas eve

Christmas Day - the key is to prep in advance

• smoke salmon and cream cheese bagels for breakfast
• veg par boiled either on Christmas Eve or the week before and then frozen. Can be taken out freezer day before and roasted.
• pigs in blankets in the air fryer
• turkey cooked the day before, carved up and portioned out into Xmas day, freezer and Boxing Day sandwiches. You can heat the sliced up meat gently in gravy on Xmas day. I have done this several times and it works very well.
• Desserts can be made on the 23rd. Something like a crumble is easy but a crowd pleaser. Or you can make a cheesecake or a tiramisu if you just want to take it out the fridge and be done with it
• in the evening you can have turkey sandwiches, cheese and chutneys

Boxing Day:

• gammon in the slow cooker, serve with leftover turkey, cheese, pate etc.

Another vote for Cook. I did it for last Christmas and felt terrible I was 'cheating'. It all came out very good and was so easy that when my child needed me I could just say to whoever was free 'pigs in blankets go in, in 5 mins) and they could easily help. I was impressed with how nice everything was. Pre-baby I always made everything from scratch but I'm really glad I did it that way. Not the cheapest but I actually don't think overall it cost much more than usual, and probs less overall than M&S etc. Portions were good and you can pre-order and deliver. Xmas dinner was sorted in November! God send!