big fat hairy bollocks xmas plans

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Today our oven decided now but be a goig time to stop working. Heating element in main oven. the second small oven is not enough to do xmas dinner. I will try to sort a repair asap, tomorrow. I thought it wise to get a plan b in place with pil so dh rang his parents. He asked if we could cook the meal and eat at their house. I have ordered the shopoing and can prep everything here at home, we are veggie so i make the main course (a mushroom wellington) in advance anyway and can literally turn up with the veggies and wellington and put in the oven straight away. I prefer using my own kitchen and the in laws would be coming to us anyway. DH is only child so no others to consider.

We had to do this about 5 or 6 years ago when our oven when kaput just before xmas and though far from ideal I think it went ok. De ja vu though.

Anway mil is being a bit difficult about now, saying she would prefer to do it (the cooking) if it is at her house. I know that may sound like a good plan but mil is recovering from a nasty infection, is prone to stress and has ms so tires easily. Cooking for 7 is a big deal and she is not a cook when we eat with them it is pre prepared m&s food nice but pricey. I am a goodish cook and can cater for larger parties much more comfortably.

I am hoping that i can fix the oven and all will remain as planned, I have cooked every xmas dinner for last 8 years so maybe I should grab a chance to not cook, but honestly i enjoy it even though it is stressy at times.

I will call mil tomorrow when I know whats ocurring with the oven, how should i approach this?

sorry about the dreadful typos typing on a phone and with stubby fingers a hangover

What you're dealing with is 'pride' I expect. Few people want to admit they aren't up to it, whether through illness or lack of skills. How you deal with it is therefore with a HUGE amount of tact, acknowledging that your MIL wants to be fully involved in a meal prepared at her own home and that you would be very much under-chef, even if you end up doing a lot of the work. :)

I'm facing a similar problem myself. Can magic up a Xmas lunch with my eyes closed but, for various practical reasons, will be marooned at my elderly parents' home 200 miles away for the Big Day. DM is an appalling cook and I can't be in the same kitchen as her without a permanent expression on my face. All offers of help get cheerily rejected. Christmas Day you'll find me in another room, teeth gritted, pissed on sherry and studying the Radio Times ...

Good luck!!!!!

My MIL, although lovely would not like anyone preparing food in her house or cooking in her kitchen either (she is a bit OCD-type), so I understand that is a pain, but it is her house so you may need to compromise with her, and let her do some bits of the cooking.
Re; the cooker repair-we have replaced our element ourselves 3 times -its a doddle. We have a built in electric oven, we got another element from a spares company via amazon for approx a tenner, and there are loads of vids on youtube showing you how to do it. Just take a photo of which coloured clips go where before you unplug it. It has only taken us 10 mins and was very easy. Worth a scout round the internet yourself before paying someone to basically unclip and reclip a part. Unscrewing the oven was the most tricky part.

thanks - . Argh tact why can't people just do what I want them to... life is so much easier when they do?

I will look into the self repair thing as fixing the damn cooker is definitely the best option.

Mil has a beaut of a range cooker 8 rings and double oven, but it is in mint condition so she probably doesn't want me getting it all messy. I am a slattern bit untidy so can't really blame her, but in her house I would be on best behaviour! I will be as tactful and cooperative as possible with In laws as the most important thing is getting together for christmas, peacefully.

In my experience, you can't argue with someone who wants to be mistress of her own kitchen, good health or not.

Get yours fixed!

God bless youtube 'how to do it' videos but they didn't provide a solution when my main oven went kaput on Thanksgiving.

5 courses and all the trimmings for a traditional turkey dinner plus vegetarian options for c30 hungry guests were conjured up from my small (10" wide) oven together with 4 burners, griddle, grill, microwave, table top glass halogen number, slow cooker, and a Remoska.

Everythng that should be served piping hot was sent to table steaming.

Necessity is the mother of invention. If you can't repair your main oven before the day, beg borrow or steal whatever is needed to feed --the 5000- 7 a hot meal or, as a mushroom wellington can be served any day, why not dine out?