Easy Christmas evening alternative to cheese board

[OMGitsnotgood]

We have Christmas Dinner about 3pm with the pudding about 5, so we don’t need a full on meal/buffet in the evening. We always have a cheeseboard with various trimmings as it’s easy and everyone can eat as much or as little as they like. Anyone who wants one can make a turkey sandwich. Crisps, fruit, cake, chocolate openly available. This works well and I’m sure if I suggested a change there would be uproar. However I would like to consider alternative ideas that are simple, light, little prep, help yourself type things? Adult guests only.

Get some of those mini cereal multipacks. Love some Coco Pops for supper!

Last year I made a grazing platter with salami, cheese, celery, breadsticks, hummus etc… that went down really well and everyone enjoyed it.

Why change it if it’s not broken??? You could just get a load of tapas type bits from M+S if you must, but they’re generally overpriced and underwhelming. There’s nothing finer than a decent cheeseboard, good crackers and a slab of Christmas cake whilst playing charades with grandparents!

Oh I agree @Soontobe60, which is why we’ve had a cheeseboard for decades, and I’ve a feeling it will continue. Just pondering alternatives.

I'd do some small, canape sized things. Most can be part, if not all prepped beforehand:

-I've made these with pecans or walnuts. I even used membrillo (quince paste) one year because I'd made a glut of it. Use the cheap brie because the expensive stuff melts out! You can prep them ahead and then just shove in the oven before serving https://www.wellplated.com/brie-bites/
-Sausage rolls
-I prefer curried eggs and replace the mustard with curry powder, but there is also devilled eggs with https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/devilled_eggs_96275
-Stuffed dates https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/stuffed-dates/
-This recipe is so versatile you can add virtually anything- semi dried or fresh tomatoes, ham/bacon or even salami, tuna/sweetcorn, any cheese or herbs you like https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/
-Mackerel dip with veg/crackers https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/smoked-mackerel-dip
-www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-liver-parfait

Cocktail sausages
Goujons
Roast ham
Salads

Homemade sausage rolls to accompany the cheeseboard.

How about some fishy alternatives: smoked salmon, smoked mackerel pate, marinated anchovies etc?

Smoked salmon rolls.

Leftovers. I have a fairly small appetite but my husband is all about big portions so invariably i don't finish my Christmas lunch so have the rest for dinner.

I’m all for making change and mixing things up.

However with your timings 3pm dinner and 5pm dessert I’d stick with the cheeseboard as it’s naturally the next course and timing wise it falls as a course rather than a separate meal.

I thought everyone just had dinner round 2! Turkey, leftover roasties, gravy, some hot bread rolls. It's arguably more enjoyable than the first round for me haha.

Selection box chocolate and baileys
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@OMGitsnotgood

I do 3 types of home made sausage rolls. Sausage and stuffing, cranberry and an apricot and almond. They get inhaled every single time and they go very very well with a cheese board.

We have Christmas lunch at our usual lunchtime of about 1pm. Then in the evening we have what we consider to be the best part, cold cuts, with what is known as Christmas coleslaw!

Thank you for all the suggestions. I’ve a feeling the cheeseboard will stay with a couple of additions from your suggestions. Thanks again

ikea Swedish meatballs in the crockpot some leftover mash potatoes, lingonberry jam on the side with gravy. We’ve just picked some up today for the freezer for the very same reason. I won’t be cooking a big faffing Christmas dinner this year.

Im hungry now lol...

We eat late(ish) too. I don't even do a cheeseboard. Everyone's full. Chocolates, nuts and more wine fills any void.

What is Christmas coleslaw? Sounds interesting!

We do a cheese board with homemade sausage rolls (pork and black pudding / pork and cranberry) plus fruit, Christmas cake, mince pies and there is always chocolate open.
I prep them late on the 23rd and store in the fridge on parchment paper ready to bake.

As a kid we always used to have home made sausage rolls, but then pigs in blankets were always rationed at lunch. These days it'd be too much!

I like warm part bake baguettes, brie and pate, perhaps a pork pie or baked camenbert followed by Christmas cake.

Honestly, some olives and pate and grapes to add to the cheese and crackers has to be enough, surely? You don’t want things you have to keep an eye on in terms of being too long out of the fridge

I made my first ham hock terrine this week, as practice before Christmas. It came out really well, and there'll definitely be one on our Christmas buffet table. I always make a chicken liver paté too. Also gougeres made with Gruyere. Easy and very moreish :)

I would appreciate some fresh vegetables like salad. I'm on a restricted diet and whilst I'm not being strict Christmas day I'm not going to overload my system. For me some fish like salmon or prawns . Can't overdo the protein and I suspect I might have had my years supply of bacon(one rasher!) on Christmas eve. Remember if having relatives you don't see very often to check if they have any dietary requirements.