Help! Calling all you clever MNers. I need help planning Christmas.

[fanjolina]

Was planning to have a quiet family Christmas with me, DH and DCs (3 DCs - ages from 4 to 7 months).

But as of today I now have to cook for 16!

DH's family and mine are both descending. I am working til lunchtime on Christmas Eve and don't even have time to think about what to prepare. Help!!

Additional guests range from my parents (easy

• just feed and ply with some booze) to his parents and aged aunt (very traditional, want all the sauces, accompaniments, don't drink and like lots of games/entertainment put on), to very 'trendy' SILs & partners who will want posh nosh and good wine.

All I have in so far is a frozen 3-in-1 bird from Aldi that won't feed all of us and Aldi are not getting anymore in.

So I need ideas for:

• easy starter (was thinking soup, as can make this weekend and freeze)

• what else to do for main course. Beef? What sauces etc do I need? I have never even eaten bread sauce, let alone made it

• impressive dessert. Wills buy Christmas pudding for traditionalist, but my parents won't eat it. Thinking of making a passionfruit cheesecake and a pavlova - can I make them in advance?

• how to make the table look impressive, especially as I need to overcome how crap the jumbled seating and begged/borrowed/stolen plates and glasses to cover all 16 are going to look

• any games, fun things, little touches to make the day more special?

Aarrghh!! There is too much to do. I am panicking.

And none of them can help. They are all travelling far to get here. Yes, it is an imposition but it is because of various family disasters this week that they all need to come here.

OK... Firstly, I wouldn't bother making the soup - just buy posh boxed ones and hide the boxes. You can buy bread sauce mix I think (it's disgusting anyway). If you get beef I think you can do a sort of redcurrent sauce with it. The veg for turkey will go with beef too.

Make a trifle for pudding (not cool etc but traditionalists will be ok with it). Buy some other desserts.

Don't flog yourself too much - it's only one day.

am not sure if you'll be in time to doa Waitrose or M&S order, but IMO this is the best bet for the beef

borrow glasses from Waitrose

packet bread sauce is fine, you may also want mustard with the beef

never mind mismatched plates etc but get some shiny crackers - they instantly party up a table. Get ones with charades or trivia questions in for the game-loving PILS.

As they are all coming at relatively short notice divide up the courses etc and ask everyone to pitch in with something they are good at or particularly enjoy?
IE posh SIL - canapes and wine
MIL - bread sauce
Only fair if you are hosting everybody. Also ask them to bring along boardgames or ideas.
In my family we take turns hosting but the cooking/prep is divided up and we all do a little bit. We are going to my MIL this year and I am doing cheese course (easy. Yippee!) but also table decor - my MIL seems to think I am good at this but am just a really good idea poacher! Going to do lots of candles - all different heights, colours and containers as she will have same problem with jumbled seating and silverware so thought we would use it as a theme and go all out. Plain tablecloth/napkins and lots of holly draped round everything - looks lovely on my table so hoping will work on hers.
Most importantly - relaxand remember if its your turn this year then surely you can wrangle out of it for the next few years x

Trifle is fab! But don't do what I did and make it all entirely from scratch (homemade custard and jelly) - it took hours and decent bought ingredients work just as well. Buy a pavlova, or else just make the simplest you can - bought meringue base, fresh raspberries and whipped cream on top.

I'd go for a big rack of beef rather than turkey, it'll be a change and I think people eat less because it's richer.

Have you got a large white bedsheet that doesn't look too like a bedsheet, IYSWIM? Could buy a pack of Dylon machine-dye in a rich, deep colour like dark red, deep purple, etc, and throw over the mismatched tables etc to unify the setting. Maybe make a feature out of the mismatched crockery by using multicoloured table decorations too? Like vivid multicoloured crackers? (Am grasping at straws, and actually, I don't think you need to worry about the table setting looking jumbled - the food's good and it's being cooked by you at short notice, and nobody is going to mind.)

With those sorts of numbers, you could have a go at something very traditional, like charades, but I can't help you there, cos I have absolutely no experience of that outside of anachronistic novels!

A game that our family has enjoyed is rummikub - I think it's basically gin rummy with plastic bits instead of cards, but is quite addictive and generally doesn't take too long.

Thank you SleighBelle

Bought soup is a good plan. Are they expensive? (Money is a bit tight, but I think my mum will offer something towards food, so that is OK).

Good to know that there are bread sauce mixes.

Trifle a good idea but DH hates it. So he will veto. Not sure I will get away with bought deserts as harder to fob off on my own. And aged aunt-in-law will have me in tears over producing bought food I am sure - it is the perfect excuse for her to bring up her usual rant about how awful a mother/wife I am for going out to work and that I don't look after her beloved nephew (DH) enough. Oh god, pressure rising at the thought of her already!

OMG - how on earth has that happended!

Firstly, delegate. They may not be able to help but they can buy things and bring them with them, PILs bring some crackers, SILs to bring a couple of bottles of nice wine each, your parents to bring some spirits and mixers or bubbly of some sort?

For the table, have a look on Amazon. Search under 'Christmas table accessories' and they have got various decorations - stars etc to scatter around. There are also some boxes of table trivia on there for only £3.00 per box which is quite a bargin. If you order now it will all arrive Tuesday.

I would also ask SILs to bring any board games or whatever they might have.

On the day itself, again delegate. Be firm on your timings and get one person to be in charge of organising everyone's drinks.

Good luck!

Ooh, lots more replies - thank you.

MrsBadger - can't afford an M&S or Waitrose affair, unfortunately. Would love to! And there I was being all smug about getting my £9.99 bird from Aldi in advance, which I was just going to serve with frozen veg and mash and look what I need to do now! Shiny crackers are a good ploy. Have put them on shopping list.

Mum2all - they can't really bring food, as they are traveling so far (between 3-4 hours each to get here). They will be arriving just in time to eat - I am hoping that is not a selfish ploy to get out of doing anything! But I will get them to supply the booze. Only fair since I won't get a chance to drink it!! Will ask them to bring boardgames too - good plan.

Mamagoblin - inspired idea about the bedsheet. I have a deep red double flat sheet somewhere which would work.

Beef is on offer a tesco if that helps? It's half price for a huge joint. Rather you than me. Really, good luck

oh and make sure you have a dvd in for the dcs

you may have planned a child-centered family Christmas but cooking for 16 you are going to need some quality time with the gin in the kitchen and 30min of Peppa Pig or something will give you room to breathe...

AliBell. I don't know how it happened! In fact I am waiting to awake form this nightmare.

Went to work this morning, all was good. Lovely, and cheap family Christmas planned for the 5 of us. All under control.

Mum phoned at lunchtime. They had been planning to go to my brothers. But his wife's dad had heart attack last night. In hospital in France (she is French), so they are driving over this weekend to see him and will now stay there for Christmas. Mum asks if they (and my other bro and sis) can come to ours. I say yes.

Get home to tell DH, when he announces that he had a phone call from his parents. His side of family were all due to go to one of trendy SILs for Christmas in new posh flat she was buying. She was meant to be moving in next week, but it has all fallen through. So they asked if they can all come here, as they all want to see DC3 who both SILs and aged aunt haven't seen yet.

I will take on board your advice and try to delegate when they are here...

...but I have something to confess - I turn in to a bit of a wibbering wreck around his family. As they are very FULL ON and LOUD and OVERBEARING. And it won't be helped that they won't really get on with my family over Christmas. In that mine just want to get pissed have fun. And DH's side just want to celebrate the religious aspect.

Thankyou mmmmchocolate. Will send DH there tomorrow. Oh, so much to buy!!

yes Mrsbadger - entertainment for the children needs to be planned too. Had overlooked that aspect. baby will be fine as all the aunts, grandparents etc will be focussed on her. Especialy now as I am not being 'selfish' and exclusively breastfeeding her. Oh god, I can just see it, they are going to feed her chocolate to 'fatten her up, poor baby, starved for 6 months by mean mummy breastfeeding you'. I think I might have to overlook that one just for sanity's sake.....

It is the elder two who risk being overlooked and ignored. Which is a shame as they are really starting to 'get' Christmas and are so excited. Maybe I can escape to the park with them after lunch and leave everyone to do the tidying and washing up

I would have told them all to F* off but seeing as you haven't.

I'd go with a carrot and coriander soup to start. Saute some finely chopped onions in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, chop the carrots and add. Add stock and chopped corriander (keep some back to garnish). Bring to boil, simmer, blend, taste, reseason, freeze.

I'd also go with the beef for the additional meat. Or how about a nice big gammon (for the traditionalists). Bread sauce - muck - buy a packet.

Like the table ideas, how about getting some nice cheap tree decorations in whatever ever colour you are going with, perhaps, dark green or gold to set off your red sheet and piling in a nice couple of bowls along the middle of the table. They should be going nice and cheap by now.

Delegate the drinks, the clearing up etc and be firm.

A great game is what we call the bowl game. Get a big bowl. Give everyone 5 pieces of paper and get them to write famous people on each, mix in the bowl. Split into teams. Each team gets a minute to pull out scrunched up paper and describe the person. Team with most at end wins. Round two, all papers back in bowl, this time teams can us one word to describe person. Same timings, same outcome. Round 3, teams have to mime person, same timings, same outcome. Great game, will pass hours.

Not really a desert fan, I'd just give 'em Christmas pudding and if they dont like it, tough.

I hope you get good presents!!!

Definately escape with the children after lunch and tinkle merrily that you want to see the place spick and span on your return.

LOL at AlmondFinger - I would love to tell one side of the family to F* off......

Carrot & coriander soup is liked by everyone, isn't it? Will make that if I don't splash out and buy.

Bowls in the middle of the table with tree decorations would look lovely - great idea. have half a box of baubles left from when I ran out of energy to decorate the tree properly!

I think I have played your bowl game many years ago at a drunken party. Will def try to corral the troops into playing that one.

Oh, I think I will definitely escape. Just a shame I can't take them to the pub and will have to run around outside in the cold with them instead!!

Most sauces that come in jars (cranberry, red currant etc) don't need to be refridgerated so can be brought by relatives.

Also get them to bring biscuits for cheese, xmas pudding and xmas cakes as none of those need chilling.

If you need any extra chairs get the guests to bring them, or see if any of your neighbours are going away for xmas and you can borrow theirs.

Get some playing cards in.

Pad and paper can be used to play lots of parlour type games.

Make sure everyone brings waterproof and sensible shoes to get them out of the way on a long walk.

Zone your house into areas - if you have a TV and DVD player in kid's bedroom or yours that becomes the "cinema" (get pop corn and dvds to hand)

Make sure you have some magazines and papers to hand so people can browse and pass the time (get 3 weekend papers and keep the supplements for the same price as one magazine)

Dressing up box for the kids and get them to put on a show for everyone (Cinderella or another pantomine so you as the audience can join in) and get them to rope in some willing adults to help.

Disposable roasting dishes for the spuds and meat so less washing up - just throw in the bin!

Paper napkins and paper cloth - again less clearing up.

Good luck!

would get guests to bring a bottle of alcohol and a soft drink. Also get guests to bring pud, cheese and crackers.

I would cook and slice the joint/s of meat and maybe a small cheap turky christmas eve.
also on christmas eve you can cook sprouts and roast potatoes an mash and swede/carrot mash.. so that on the day they just need a blast in the hot oven or in microwave.

that should leave you with little actual time in kitchen.
sauces from jars.. and put out bowls of cream on table for guests to help themselves when pud is served.

pack of card and newspapers are a great idea.

throw away roasting trays.

do you have any garden chairs.. or do the neighbours?

don't worry about posh nosh and ponce and good luck.

If your worried about crockery.. asda basic range have plaing white dinner plates, side plates and bowls for £4 for a a set of 4 each.. so that would be £16 of matching crockery for all! the dinner plates are a little smaller than normal, but not much.

go for paper table cloths, cheap white one.. that after dinner you can put out crayons and the dc's can draw all over them.. or you could play a version of pictionary at the table.

would suggest a quiet ish area for when it all gets too much for the dc's.

You can get disposable roasting trays?!!! I never knew that! Will definitely add that to my list.

Thank you ManicMummy and PlumPud for your ideas. Will get MIL to bring the sauces in jars, as it is her and aged aunt that insist on them. Might also ask her to bring the napkins (and take them home to wash them!) as she will not tolerate paper ones. (I was called common when I used them once!).

Great idea re the weekend papers and magazines. Will stock up on those this weekend.

And Plumpud, I never thought about doing all that cooking the night before. Good plan.

Am starting to feel a bit more relaxed about this now - thank you everyone!

For dessert just buy some ready made meringue nests, add a blob of cream and some berries. (We have crunched up malteasers on them as well).

Can you make a mulled wine type thing, and a punch for the DC to help themselves to. Use a big plastic bowl and a soup ladle with disposable cups for the DCs. (Kept mine busy at a party once).

If you don't want to slice the meat the night before - allocate the job to someone - men like to look all traditional with a big knife and it frees you up.

Remember most people would not have 16 matching sets of cutlery or delph, I certainly don't.

Good luck

I cook regularly for large numbers; soup is a good idea - do different breads and offer croutons and some sour cream and chives in bowls to make festive.

Do lots of veg with main course - more roast potatoes and yorks than you think you will need - at least 2 each and then one each again for seconds (!), peel and cook veg on side and if you can get hold of pumpkin or spaghetti squash, put that in to roast (drizzle olive oil and chuck herbs on and serve with fresh rosemary) alongside beef - would do something like courgettes (no need to peel and can chop and roast alongside pumpkin but for less time - put some cherry toms in as well and a head of garlic and hey, presto, loads of veg).

Pudding - hot (CP) cold, (fruit salad always goes down well after rich meal even if boring!) and a chocolate choice (buy or make - can give you v easy hot and cold recipes if you like, but would buy. If you buy something choc that needs reheating, put ssquares of dark choc on top or slotted into pudding before you heat;

Fizzy water - get someone to bring, ditto wines, ditto a bottle of champagne to serve with posh nuts to break ice initally - get someone to bring this.

Orange juice and teddy bear crisps for kids and large gin in kitchen for you.....

Get them to bring chutney and mince pies and cheese and chocs etc etc

Oh, poor you.

Could you make a huuuuuge apple crumble this weekend - cheap, very easy and you can freeze it. Serve with custard or ice cream.

I would make cream of veg soup. Leeks, carrots, potatoes, pumpkin. Bung in big pot today and let cook as long as possible, put a bit of stock in there too. (Ham stock tastes good). Put in freezer until Xmas Eve. On Christmas day liquidise and add cream and some curry powder. Tastes great.

i did lunch for 14 one year, two of whom dh forgot to tell me were invited until shops had closed on xmas eve. i feel your pain.
do a cold starter if you can, one less thing to have on stove - will budget stretch to smoked salmon? dont need much as people eat sooo much on xmas day anyway
or smoked salmon pate (whizz up roughly half and half quantities cream cheese and cheapo smoked salmon trimmings in food processor, with sprinkling of nutmeg or chopped fresh dill in)with nice bread
jointwise: what about ham joint? traditionally boxing day fare but if they are not with you for boxing day (you said not staying over?) you can make virtue of doing all on same day. cheaper than a beef joint and christmassy. either do nigella's ham in coca cola or just with brown sugar and honey glaze, studded with cloves.
loads of potatoes and veg will help meal stretch further if worried about not having enough meat, do parsnips and three veg or whatever. red cabbage is christmassy and can be made and frozen in advance, quick microwave on the day.
pudding - nigel slater's lemon icecream tart is gorgeous, easy, christmassy (very boozy) and can be made and frozen in advance. feeds about 12, all you have to do on day is take it out of freezer 20 mins before pudding (so as mains are served). xmas pud for traditionalists
making sauces etc - distribute as jobs to inlaws if they like it, MIL will inevitably have favourite recipe they want to show off and can do on xmas eve/xmas morning. bread sauce is eeeeasy (delia online has recipe) and can be made and frozen in advance.delia also has good timetable for when to put everything in oven.
keep everyone out of bloody kitchen while you are actually doing lunch: guests can and shd help with prep beforehand (peeling spuds, veg etc) and lay table but shd then sod off and leave you to weep, swear and drop things on the floor in private.
table: agree stick a sheet over it, lots of candles and dim lights! crackers, fill glasses with party poppers. cheap quick centrepiece is big candle in bowl surrounded by spare xmas baubles nicked off tree, with perhaps added sprigs of holly.
if needing extra plates/cutlery, raid charity shops - i got loads of plain white plates for about a quid.
check your oven space. 16 is a lot of people, means biiig roasting trays etc: sounds obvious but check in advance there's room for everything, esp if doing two joints. can you fit that in oven plus spuds, sausages, stuffing, maybe parsnips (omit if no oven space?)if not can neighbours help?
entertainment - dc provide lots: agree with whoever said get them to put on a show if old enough, if dh's family are religious great - they can go to church in the morning, giving you time with your family then.
charades, pictionary are better with large numbers than small. make everyone go for long walk if you live anywhere remotely rural. spin out presentopening for as long as pposs (maybe some before lunch some after if dc can stand it?) have picking food around - nuts, sweets, satsumas etc.
and remember: you are doing them a FAVOUR by having them round at short notice, they will be (or should be) weepingly grateful and as such should overlook any or all shortcomings. good luck!

fanjolina
you want cods dfrozen chocolate mousse slice

you an do it today and its Lush (arf)