Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Original poster

Is Christmas Dinner really THAT important to you?

106 replies

Hulababy · 19/12/2005 21:22

Just curious, and following on from other threads.

You see, it isn't for me. We always have something nice. DH and DD are having fillet steak. I am having a fish in creamy sauce off pastry parcel thing (will prep day before). Serving it with lots of roasted veggies, and some prouts

But I don't spend ages over it, and it is a really small part of our day.

Maybe it is because it is just the three of us on the day.

We have chocolate for breakfast, chocolate for pudding and chocolate for tea . Well, maybe some soup and fresh bread for supper. And a decent, but easily prepared meal in the middle of the day.

i really do treat it as the one day where I am not prepared to spend half the day int he kitchen. I want to be inthe living room, drinking champagne with DH, watching DD open and play with her presents all morning instead.

Is anyone else in the lazy camp too?

OP posts:
CravenNameSwapper · 21/12/2005 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

NomDePlumPudding · 21/12/2005 11:06

It is in our house, we generally take our time eating it too, I would say that we're sat around the table for about 2 hours. Off to my BIL2's house this year for lunch, so in all likelihood we'll spend even longer around the table as they have a huge sociable kitchen with a table for 12 !

Tinker · 21/12/2005 11:07

Yep, I lurve it (having never done it!) This year it's roast duck and agree, would far rather be cooking than playing with toys.

NomDePlumPudding · 21/12/2005 11:11

But it's DH that cooks it in our house as he is FANTASTIC in the kitchen, his roasts are sublime. If I were the one in the kitchen, I prob wouldn't place so much importance on it (mainly because it would be pants). DH loves cooking, I suppose it's his hobby, so spending a few hours in the kitchen on Christmas Day is a pleasure for him.

colditz · 21/12/2005 11:12

good grief no. Nobody in my house cares about the food, there is just me, dp and ds, and I am having roast lamb, roast potatoes and parsnips, carrots on cabbage, with redcurrant jelly and yorkshire puddings.

we are having a bought christmas pud with ice cream.

but I am only going this far because I like that food. This is my idea of my favorite meal, and I am prepared to cook it. No way would I be arsing around with a turkey on Christmas day, I hate turkey! It's my least favourite meat. if dp wants turkey, he knows how to cook and he is welcome to.

Blandmum · 21/12/2005 11:15

I think that it also depends on how many of your family are there to enjoy it. I love christmas, but is is always a little quiet, as it is only dh , me and the kids.

My df is dead, mum is in a psychogeriatric hospital and has no idea who anyone is, and cannot realy speak any more. My bro lives 100 miles away so we don't see him on the day. Most of dhs fa,ily are abroad for xmas. We get together with firnds in the afternoon, but the dinner itself isn't so vey different to sunday dinner most weeks!

If I was cooking for 12 I'd enjoy it more, I think!

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:15

so whats wrong with that colditz? you are making your fave meal at Christmas - doesnt that put you up there with all us domestic goddesses?

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:16

make it different martianbishop! do a goose or something. perfect for the four of you. or a duck - sooooooooo easy.

Blandmum · 21/12/2005 11:22

I quite like Turkey, if I'm being honest! I do enjoy the meal.....we all do. We also have a rather scrummy smoaked salmon starter and I have lots of lovely fizz.

It isn't the food that makes it lack sparkle, just the lack of company I suppse. Now that all sounds rather sad, it isn't. Dh is my very best mate, but I love the chatter of a busy table, and with the 4 of us, you tend not to get that. I love to cook and we ofetn have people round for supper....and I love the cahtter and enjoyment of feeding other people. And while a duck would be nice, it isn't going to get the folks back.

hay ho.....never mind, I'm in a super mood since dhs test results were all great! So now I can hoover with energy and happiness!

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:22

oh good so glad to hear about your dh's tests! Who cares what you have for xmas dinner

Bozza · 21/12/2005 11:22

Oh Enid this really is your passionate subject isn't it? Just had a e-mail from my SIL about starters saying she has bought some soup but what about the children? (1 4yo and 2 1yos). I replied to just give them the bread or the soup as well if they want it. Couldn't imagine why she thought soup wasn't suitable for the chldren.

TurkeyGang · 21/12/2005 11:22

It is important to me, but I'm very happy to keep it in perspective and take short cuts.

It's a roast dinner after all and shouldn't be too hard to do. We have one most Sundays anyway without too much bother.

We have a turkey crown at Christmas which is enough and also because I don't like bits of old turkey carcass hanging around for days. I cook a ham which is scrummy. Veg is easy to prepare - any other fiddly bits - little sausages, sauces etc I buy.

There are some yummy extras to buy these days - I don't understand all the angst about making your own puddings, mince pies and cranberry sauce etc. Fine if you want to and have time but I don't.

It does get pretty stressful if you're cooking for 15 I guess, but I wouldn't volunteer for that!

Agree with the earlier post about all the leftover cold meats and chutneys and salads - yummy...that's the best bit!

IOTAnnenbaum · 21/12/2005 11:23

my lovely dh will be cooking a 14lb turkey with all the trimmings. Originally planned for just the 4 of us, but have now have 4 last minute guests to feed.

Tinker · 21/12/2005 11:23

Duck with Morello cherry sauce - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm and easy peasy.

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:24

lol about the soup bozza

people make me laugh

IOTAnnenbaum · 21/12/2005 11:27

agree with turkeygang re cutting corners -- I would never make my own pudding - -we don't like it enough to spend the time on it

and none of us like christmas cake so we don't even buy one or acccept my mum's home-made

colditz · 21/12/2005 11:28

Ah but enid, It is only my favorite meal. To the extended family I have announced "We are having lamb. Are you coming for dinner?"

and they have all said they would rather have a traditional turkey elsewhere. Fine, that's their choice, but I am not eating something I don't like in a place I don't want to be, for the sake of the family. Ds is stuck with lamb, dp is stuck with lamb, if they don't like it, tough!

I suspect ds will be delighted with redcurrant jelly anyway.

I'm not a DG because the veg are prechopped and the gravy and jelly is bought, as is the pudding.

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:29

veg, gravy and jelly and pudding bought

Blandmum · 21/12/2005 11:31

I could never be arsed to make a pudding either, as I don't like it that much. I'd rather save any space for cheese. I've stopped baking cakes too, since dh has had to avoid alcohol. What is the point of working an the thing if you can't 'feed' it with all the brandy for weeks!

But I will happily work on the gravey and saucesm cos I like them

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:32

mmmmmmmmmm cheese

NomDePlumPudding · 21/12/2005 11:34

Bought my cheeses this morning.

Blandmum · 21/12/2005 11:35

The start of the 'formal' run up to xmas is when we find the local cheesmaker in the xmas market and buy three rounds of his xmas specials. One with cranberries, one with ginger and one with garlic!!!!!! They are just sooooooooo good. All unpasturised!! Then so good blue cheeses, rather fond of Blu D'auverne, a chevre (which only I eat!). I adore cheese. Like doesn't touch it! Love to holiday in France and go up to the stalls and ask, what is good today and watch them carve up some stinky delight!

Bozza · 21/12/2005 11:36

Mmm well I now have to decide what to make for pudding on Boxing Day. I am making some rip off of Jamie Oliver's chocolate tart but in individual pots with biscuit base that soupie posted on her ages ago. So now need another - something fruity probably since that is chocolate. Any ideas?

Bozza · 21/12/2005 11:36

Mmm well I now have to decide what to make for pudding on Boxing Day. I am making some rip off of Jamie Oliver's chocolate tart but in individual pots with biscuit base that soupie posted on her ages ago. So now need another - something fruity probably since that is chocolate. Any ideas?

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 11:51

i have godminster cheddar (can't tell you how divine) and dorset blue vinny in lieu of stilton. also local goats cheese. yum.