What's a traditional Xmas eve dinner?

[Samr85]

I know it's early but I want to be ready n plan ahead.

My family have invited themselves to spend Xmas eve with my partner and 2 children. I don't see them often so was thinking of cooking something traditional but simple. We are all going to other family Xmas day for Turkey so want to avoid that!

I will be cooking for 5 adults n 2 children. Something tasty but simple?! Any ideas? If I prepare now I can do a couple of trial runs lol. X

Whole salmon with billed potatoes and light green veg

Nigellas cola ham, or Delia's black syrup one. Salad, bread, pickles, potatoes and Cumberland sauce.

If someone posted that they were organising their child's party for 6 weeks time no one would start screaming abuse that they were doing it too early, would they?

Why shouldn't people plan for Christmas if and when they can? I only have two free weekends in which to shop and organize two weeks of family and friends. For some people they have one salary packet left and need to budget plan.

It's the biggest holiday of the year to me, with the most meaning. Not everyone sits in a misery cave, mumbling.

They can plan. In the right topic.

Oh dear Lord P, the next few weeks are going to be quite stressful for you if you're going to get annoyed with seasonal threads sullying the cooking board. You might be better off ignoring all those that have 'Christmas' in the title.

Good advice, but technically it was "Xmas", Shatner.

Do you have a pointy Sheriffs Badge for the Topic Police, Lord?

Xmas is too much like text speak for me to countenance. It's fine for other people, but not for me.

LordP - she's asking for recipes and food advice, this is the food/recipe topic, seems like the right section to me. (Private vs state schools is a political issue, however if someone was asking for recommendations for private schools in a specific part of the country vs the local state schools, I wouldn't think they were wrong to put it in the education or local topics rather than the political one)

Anyway OP, we have sausage and mash. If you are cooking for a large number, I'd be tempted to do a buffet (with game pie and lots of pickles). Far easier.

I like the idea of something casual like a hearty soup followed by pulled pork sandwiches or roasted ham sandwiches - with tasty bread rather than pappy crap - although you may like pappy crap in which case as you were!

Oh lord p it's going to be a long six weeks for you!

Can I add my vote for ham? Our family tradition is ham sandwiches with a glass or two of bubbly then mince pies and has been for yonks. Maybe it's a good year to start a tradition for your family?

Now is also a good time to make mincemeat for pies - Delia has a particularly fine recipe, takes 20 minutes to prep, nicer than any shop bought.

I usually do a ham (because I like having the cold ham alongside the turkey leftovers on Boxing Day). I do it in the slow cooker and just have baked potatoes and a simple vegetable like green beans to go with...

We always have venison casserole.

We always have Chinese, sometimes at the all you can eat buffet place and sometimes a takeaway.

We have a ham. Buffet party food - think Icelands finest . Salads, cheese, crackers, kiddies party food. Nice breads.
Heaving table - not much effort.
Christmas Eve Tea to us is when family or friends just pop in.

Junk food. Since we have loads of cooking and naice meals planned, and usually it's late after wrapping the presents.

When I was a child my mum used to do a whole salmon. We would often have family over and I suppose it was an easy way to feed everyone.

I tend to do a chicken pie or a casserole that I can leave unattended whilst we are at the Christingle service at church and just heat and serve when we get back. Although last year we went to my grandmas. Can't remember what we had though.

Party food, nice bread, maybe baked Camembert, with mince pies afterwards. To be eaten in the living room while watching a film. Bliss.

Oh and lots of booze, obviously.

And definitely no wrapping afterwards. Oh no, I will definitely have done it all by then.

I don't think there are any specific traditions for what to have.

We always have something fairly light because of the meat and saturated fat fest to come the following day.

Fish usually, like fish or prawn curry, or even some kind of posh salad or cold dish. Nothing too involved. Ice cream for pudding, or Yule log if we are feeling decadent.

Thank you for all your great ideas. Sorry if I've upset anyone.
I only met my dad n his wife 2 years ago and this will be the 1st Xmas eve spent together since I was a baby so want it to be special.
Thank you again. X

I do Roast Poussin with morrocan cous cous v easy and no normal roast veg so we don't get sick of them

Am I the only lazy one who just chucks a couple of pizzas in the oven?

We have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve because my granny was Danish and we are continuing on her tradition.

One thing you might like to consider is the traditional Danish Christmas pudding: a sort of sweet risotto made with pudding rice and then with chopped almonds (and one whole almond) and whipped cream folded through it. Whoever gets the whole almond gets the almond prize.

I think it's supposed to be done boxing day, but I do the Christmas ham on Christmas Eve, with salad and chips, as over Christmas so much veg and roast means chips don't get a fair shoe in

Before DC I would do venison on celeriac mash with red wine or port sauce, it was much anticipated, but too much work (ann expense) to do with four of us.

We have family over for bucketloads of mulled wine, and do a snacky buffet, think this year I will cook a ham and have with cheeses, bread etc, may also dig the fondue set out too. Need to line our stomachs well for the traditional last minute drunken wrapping circa midnight.

I like the idea of a cooked ham now.