Christmas tea - not sandwiches

[Leafpicker2000]

Hi
Not sure whether to post this here or in Christmas.

Need some ideas please for Christmas tea.

Have always done turkey rolls/salad/sausage rolls like my mum always did but really don't want to be bothered this year.

Looking for ideas for things that are easy but also filling (a couple of people only come in the evening).

Thought about a baked Camembert or big cheese board.

Any ideas please?

Cheese and crackers was going to be my suggestion, so a cheese board is a good idea.

We usually have Christmas cake at tea time too.

We always have a cheese board, crackers (a "posh" mixed box rather than the usual cream. crackers so it feels a bit more special!) , breadsticks, dip, tortilla chips.
Chuck in a few cucumber sticks, cArrot sticks and cherry tomatoes to make it a bit healthier 😆

We usually have smoked salmon on blinis and cheese and crackers and crisps

I always do a buffet, cold meat from the dinner, coleslaw, salad, prawns and a pork pie

Quiche served hot or cold is a favourite here.

How about a cheese & meat(salami,parma ham etc) graze board. You can add grapes, celery, breadsticks?

Christmas tea (if we can manage it!) is leftover meat, pickles and pate and cheese. Maybe some fancy bread too. Usually though it's too much as we're still stuffed from lunch!

A nice crisp salad always tastes good after all of the rich food.

Can I clarify when this meal is you are catering for and how many? Do you mean Christmas Day evening, after you've had the main lunch meal? (Apologies, I'm not British).

If you mean a snacky meal for those that are still hungry on Christmas Day evening, then cheese, crackers, charcuterie board, baguette, pate or left overs.

Cheese and charcuterie board. Easy, crowd-pleasing and excellent for leftovers.

We have a cheese board, pate, crusty bread, salads and little picky bits and bobs like mini scotch eggs etc laid out as a buffet with no obligation to eat if too stuffed from lunch. Obviously Christmas cake, pudding, yule log & mince pies also available

We're always so stuffed after Christmas dinner that all we can manage to eat after it, ie between the dinner & bedtime is the Christmas pudding, mince pies or Christmas cake. Cheese would go really nicely with any or all of those though.

I think you were spot on with the cheese board. Add grapes, walnuts etc. Maybe some pate also, served separately id you have any vegetarian guests. With crackers and some bread - part baked baguettes are good here so you can make them fresh a couple at a time.

I'd also do an easy dessert board with eg Christmas cake, mince pies, stollen bites and a bowl of satsumas, and some bowls of chocolates. Keep it simple so you can enjoy it too x

Cheese board here

Thanks for the ideas.

My main motivation is to avoid buttering rolls etc and washing salad.

We eat lunch about 2pm and people do start getting peckish in the evening.

I think the charcuterie/cheese board is the way to go.

If people want buttered bread they can do it themselves! I usually leave out the butter, "fat" as my grandmother called spread and a couple of knives.

On Christmas Day, 'not being hungry' isn't a thing. It's imperative to fill yourself with as much as you physically can.

Instead of salad you could do a vase of celery (like my Nan used to) and people can have it with their cheese or pate and crackers. Needs a bit of washing but not as time consuming. Go 70s style!

All our visitors leave by about 4pm and I’m quite happy with Ferraro Rocher and white wine. DH probably has a piece of pork pie.

Trifle.

Turkey rolls/salad/sausage rolls are very filling in comparison to a cracker.
I’d get a bag /tray of pre washed salad. Heat some frozen sausage rolls, with Camembert and bread to dip. Or let them butter their own bread.

If you look at the Aldi magazine they had a charcuterie that was in shape of a Xmas tree. I thought how nice it looked. On Boxing day for tea time I generally make a cream tea with scones, clotted cream and jam, mini chocolate eclairs, little sandwiches with crust cut off, and Xmas decorated cup cakes.

Thanks for the further suggestions.

Cheeseboard, crackers, nice loaf of bread put out with bread knife so people can cut and butter their own, pate and smoked salmon pate, grapes and celery sticks.

@caringcarer
I haven't got the Aldi catalogue yet but on boxing day I am definitely having the leftovers sandwich from the M and S catalogue 😋