Christmas Meals

[wishfulthinking25]

Can you talk me through your Christmas meals, I’m hosting 24-31st and I need some inspo!

So far I have

24th - takeaway
25th turkey gammon all the trimmings, sandwiches and cheese board for the evening
26th - leftovers, pickles, chutneys, dips, pittas etc
27th - beef & guiness stew (special request by my dad!)
28th- no idea
29th - no idea
30th- no idea
31st - lamb shoulder, mash, veg

Oh.
I came to say beef bourguignon with dauphinoise potatoes (both can be made in advance) but I guess too similar to your Dad's choice!

Fish pie one day to counteract all the rich food?

Boxed cheesey pasta 🤣🤣🤣. I always need this to cure my hangover on boxing day with crappy films and then a wee baileys and some chocolate later on.

Fish pie
turkey ham pie made with left overs
veg curry

Chicken pie.

Cook do a great one , really recommend. They currently have 15% off too .
(The round one, serves 6, not the smaller oblong ones as they're not as impressive)

Turkey and ham pie with any remaining veg/cranberry sauce you need to use up
Spaghetti and meatballs, green salad, garlic bread
Curry, rice, kachumber salad, parathas (available in freezer section at the supermarket, you cook them for a couple of minutes in a hot pan, they are so good)

Hosting how many?

24th - Christmas ham/ gammon - either with crusty bread, cheese, pickles etc or might do mash, peas and parsley sauce as this is what DC more likely to eat
Christmas cake - this is when we cut the one I make (have already made)
25th - traditional turkey roast, Brie and cranberry filo parcels for the veggies.
26th - Don’t know, leftovers probably
27th - Hosting big family group for a more informal get together, will probably do a huge slow cooked beef type dish, roasted red pepper and tomato soup, nigellas cranberry and soy glazed chippolatas, couple of salads and some general party food
28th - another get together with other side of family, hosted by them but everyone takes a dish/ contribution, ours will probably be a curry of some kind
29th - don’t know, I’ll need a break by then so something easy and fairly light.
30th - Don’t know but usually at some point I make a huge pasta bake with all leftover cheeses so maybe that?
31st - take away!

If you have turkey/ ham etc left then a pie is a good idea. My sister makes the ‘Huntington fidget’ pie (have I got that right?) it’s always delicious.

I also think something fresh and a bit zingy is nice in amongst all the rich stuff, so something like a Thai inspired noodle dish/ soup with coconut and lime would be nice, with chicken/ prawns or go for a veggie version.

Baked potatoes with various toppings and tasty salad(s).

I know it's not fancy, but quite often people want something simple after lots of rich food.

Do you know anywhere you can get a really good, big pork pie? If you still have any gammon left that would also go with. Serve with piccalilli, pickled onions, chutney, a cheese board, nice bread.

Food of the gods!

After all the rich Christmas food, one thing I enjoy is sausage and mash.

The recipe I give out on Mumsnet is

Parboil chunks of pumpkin. When it’s cooled a bit, slice.
Make or buy your favourite Italian tomato sauce.
Layer the pumpkin with the sauce like lasagne. Scatter or crumble bacon bits, chorizo/salami or Greek feta as you go for a bit of a salt hit.
Make tomato your last layer. Top with cheese and breadcrumbs. Into the oven until golden and bubbling.
Make ahead, keeps well, reheats easily, filling, tasty etc etc.
In a clear Pyrex dish, it’s wonderfully colourful.

Cheese board and buffet bits on Christmas Eve, and then a macaroni cheese a couple of days after Christmas with all the leftover cheeses!

Curry made with your left over meat .

If your family like it, I'd definitely go veggie for a couple of days to counteract all that meat. Maybe roast veg with couscous or tabbouleh; stir fry with noodles or rice. Anyone who wants meat can have left over turkey with it.

A classic around New Year is kedgeree - smoked haddock and egg with curried rice, peas, spring onions.

Maybe a puff pastry pie, flan or tarte tatin. I often do Jamie Oliver's one-pan spanakopita around Christmas - fresh spinach and feta with red onions, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts

Poached salmon with new potatoes and steamed purple sprouting broccoli or romanesco with a fresh dill greek yoghurt and lemon zest sauce is a lovely healthy dinner after all the rich food.

Some simple pasta dishes, like all'arrabiata or puttanesca or with smoked salmon, herby cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, fresh dill or parsley.

What about lasagne garlic bread and salad. Curry, pie, loaded jackets, spag Bol, casserole

Anything in a slow cooker... Bolognese, chicken casserole, chilli, etc. also salmon en croute from freezer section at Aldi and tuna pasta but only the recipe from Marcella Hazan

Our butchers sells them near Christmas in different sizes - they are called Stand Pies

You need a nice light salad type meal, the rest as lovely as it sounds is very heavy/sickly a nice simple meal will perk everyone up.

I'm taking the easy/lazy route this year.
Christmas Eve: Chinese takeaway
Chrismas Day: Full Christmas roast
26: Boxing day buffet
27, 28, 29, 30: Hello Fresh/Gusto so I don't have to think about what to buy/make
31: Indian takeaway
New Years Day: Either ham&turkey pie with mash and veg or lasagne with salad and garlic bread.
2 Jan: Either pizzas or burgers

I also intend to get a HF/Gusto box for 3 Jan-8 Jan, then pick up my normal meal planning from 9 Jan onwards

Last year we ordered one from a local farm shop. It was huge! We were cutting in to it for three days.

A huge Macaroni cheese with pigs in blankets poked in the top.

Christmas Eve - Out for early dinner
Christmas Day - Full works
Boxing Day - Leftover sourdough toasties and soup
27th - Turkey ramen bowls
28th - Out - lunch and drinks with friends
29th - Creamy ham tagliatelle
30th - Indian takeaway at ours with friends
31st - Charcuterie board, bread, prawns, scallops and other nibbles
1st - Homemade steak pie for 18 🫣
2nd - no idea

24th - takeaway
25th Christmas dinner
26th - Ploughman's type picky spread
27th - prawn cocktail salad with fresh baked bread
28th- chilli con carne, with rice & tortilla chips
29th - chicken curry, rice, chips & naan
30th- Ham egg & chips
31st lasagna, some nice garlic breads, and a fresh salad, pavlova & profiteroles

Leftover turkey and ham pie (filling is saute onions, garlic, turkey, ham, dried sage, fresh tarragon and a pot of creme fraiche plus a pack of shop puff pastry. Serve either with leftover veg made into bubble and squeak or for ease buy frozen roast potatoes, peas, then maybe mashed swede.