Mother in law's xmas dinner! Am I overreacting?!

[pommie7]

Bit of a random one but we're going to the Mother-in-law's for Christmas dinner this year. My husband has told she is going to cook the meat the day before and leave it on the side? Am I wrong to think cooked meat should be cooled then put in the fridge or there's a risk of bacteria growing on it? I wouldn't normally be that fussed but the fact of being pregnant makes me worry about this! To be fair she does have a cold kitchen but still? What are your thoughts?!

While we're on the subject of Christmas, what's everyone drinking this year? I've got a bottle of Schloer to try, I normally love a Bailey's at Xmas, anyone found a non-alcoholic alternative?

I would have thought if nothing else, that cooking it the day before and leaving it out on the side all day and night would just make it even more dry - yuck!
There probably is also the risk of bacteria, plus it'll be harder to know when it's re-heated all through properly. Is there a reason she won't just cook it on the day it's being eaten?
And I'm with you on the Baileys - I will really miss it this year! I'm also on the lookout for some nice non-alcoholic fizz!!

Just how cold is her kitchen? Cooked turkey should be stored at 4 degrees C - you're not even meant to leave it out all day as a buffet.

I wouldn't eat the meat, my DH by accident forgot to put something in the fridge and left it out overnight and I didn't eat it because the general consensus when I asked people was to not eat it.

Also agree with PP who said it would be dry.... yuck!

If you don't want to hurt her feelings I suggest you suddenly have an aversion to meat that comes along so quickly on Xmas eve you get over on boxing day.

Oh, drinks wise? I'm so past the point of caring I can't drink anymore that I'll just stick to my usual lemonade and hot chocolate. There won't be anything to make up for the lack of booze so I won't bother trying to find anything special.

I definitely wouldn't eat the meat either.

I'm just going to be drinking J20, decaff coke and hot chocolate.

The thought of fizz (even non alcoholic) makes me want to gag!!

I have never had Schloer, but my brother loves it!! Might give it a try myself as well if I get bored of the other soft drinks.

That is how mil does her Turkey. She is a lovely woman but no - its not nice

@PJsAndProsecco M&S do non alcoholic prosecco that tastes alright :)

@ClaireBear What is decaff coke?? I am 26w along and still having a sip or two of normal coke with dinner.. would like to try the decaff version though.

As far as OP is concerned, that's my MIL right there and no I wouldn't eat it either.
Agree with a PP about it being dry

Oooh thanks @Bluebirdsky I'll have a look in there!

Sorry @Shehz21, it's actually decaff diet coke (not full fat coke.)
(I haven't actually seen a caffeine free full fat version.)

I was craving diet coke but feeling guilty about the caffeine, so now I buy cans of this and just have half a can a day to satisfy my cravings.

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/266799522?sc_cmp=ppcGHS+-+Grocery+-+NewPX+%7C+Shopping+GSC+%7C+Top+OffersPRODUCT+GROUP266799522&gclid=Cj0KCQiA38jRBRCQARIsACEqIetzcexBCIWObNzvDT1v9sMFgM0bL8_d8azAU-vipP-_thWwyomn1QEaAiEvEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

@ClaireBear ohh these ones!
Do they taste almost as good as the full fat version? Crazy coke lover here

Can you say that pregnancy has caused a sudden meat aversion and take yourself some sort of veggie alternative? Then just have the potatoes and veg etc. That way you'll know you're ok. I wouldn't risk turkey left out all night I don't think.

I'd be really wary of any cooked meat left out overnight, cold kitchen or not. Is she planning on re-heating it or serving it cold? Any reason why it can't be refrigerated?

Perhaps you could ask for a portion to be cut off and refrigerated especially for you - be honest and say you're pregnant and being uber-careful about food.

I wouldn't eat it OP. If you think she would be responsive to a request to change her methods for a year then ask. If not taking the veggie alternative is good plan.

It is recommended to stay under 200 mg of caffeine a day, diet coke has 42 mg per can and classic coke 32 mg per can. I have been having one can of diet coke a day as caffeine fix, planning to wean off it but I figured 42 mg should be safe. Please tell me if I am wrong and I will have to be firmer with myself!

I never gave up my coke! I'm a 4/5 can a day when pregnant (3 kids), and it's fine. I don't drink tea or coffee though so no other sources of caffeine. It's fine.

Wouldnt be too happy over the turkey though.

It will be fine!

I'm with other mummies I wouldn't risk the meat, if she insists on leaving out be it for limited space or such could you not ask her just to put your portion in a zip lock lock in the fridge overnight? I don't know the reason she's not putting it in the fridge but if it's simply for storage space then surely she can squeeze a few slices in somewhere.

Claire bear is diet coke safe now? I was told to drink full fat not diet because of the sweeteners can do something to babies spinal development. Don't quote me on that though, it was like 6 years ago. I'd kill for a diet coke right now. I hate full fat xx

You need to address this. If you pretend that pregnancy has put you off the meat, what will you do in a year or two with a baby/toddler if your MIL tries to feed them a roast "left on the side"?!

Hygiene reasons I personally would eat, if its covered properly they'd be little risk of it affecting you or the baby.
But for taste reasons...urgh. Itll be dry and tough as old boots the next day.

And im going to allow myself a glass of Bucks fizz with my dinner, other than it will be lemonade and lime cordial for me

I suppose people used to leave cooked meat in a pantry, before fridges.

Bloody horrible Christmas dinner, reheated meat, though. School dinners.

Though I know that is a bit snobby.

I grew up on the days when people didn't have fridges and stored meat in a pantry. The bloody turkey lasted for days and no one got food poisoning. However, the pantry was even colder than than the no-central-heating house, ice on the inside of the windows type of cold.
I wouldn't be offering anyone, especially a pregnant woman, meat left unchilled overnight, and presumably all next morning also.

Turkey is dry enough at the best of times without pre cooking it.

My dad cooks lamb at Christmas and always slow cooks the day before the just leaves it wrapped up (not refrigerated). It always tastes amazing on the day and after 30+ years no one has ever been ill from it. Not sure if the same applies for turkey though?

My mother does this with Lamb quite often. Never gotten ill from eating it. If it smells bad, it's bad. People are too precious about food these days, the amount of perfectly edible food that is that is thrown out is disgusting