Ideas for family pre-Christmas meal

Re all these suggestions, who doesn’t like ham, jacket potatoes, salads and pickles, chutney etc ?
Very few and children love it.

A salmon?
Whole or a side or two?
Keep the rest simple, baby potatoes, a green vegetable or two and a sauce (M&S do tubs of sauce I think).

The children might want something else, something simple you can also put in the oven although ours have always liked fish.

Surely the children will eat marry me chicken too?

Usedtobeblonde My dgc wouldn’t like any of that, although I’d be very happy to come and share . Like Newdawn’s dgc, mine like plain pizza, chicken nuggets and fish fingers. Not always that! They have zero interest in food - in fact an aversion to trying new foods. They’d have a Christmas tree shaped pizza with absolutely no pressure to eat it, no veg, and cookies for afters. I’d make it easy for yourself and do a special one pot meal for the adults with DH’s lovely dessert and nibbles out for afterwards. Include little table gifts for everyone. Absolutely no pre-Christmas presents for little ones without permission from parents. Have a lovely day.

I would go with the fish or gammon alternatives. Coq au vin is the right balance between every day and special feast but anything with poultry is surely in "competition" with the Christmas turkey.

The children won't appreciate anything special, so they will be happy with fish fingers. Festive food would normally involve wine or something children don t like, anyway. As a pudding, ice cream with some sprinkles and a little umbrella will be special in their eyes.

Sausage with cannellini beans (like a sausage casserole, but a bit posher) we’re having theirs on Boxing Day.
Served with mash, green beans & garlic bread.
Followed by a no bake cheese cake.
Both can be made ahead.
Or
Salad, cold meats, chips etc
I wouldn’t give any gifts.
What about games, that everyone could join in with??

What about jacket potatoes with chilli and/or assortment of other fillings and they can help themselves

Allira

^We usually have a nice big joint of gammon for our pre-Christmas meal, the children love it and we have leftovers to add to the white meat left after Christmas^

We used to do that as well, cc.

However, we're out on Christmas Eve this year.

I'd probably put something in a slow cooker eg boeuf bourguignon or beef in beer, goulash, a luxury cottage pie or lasagne.

Followed by a pavlova or fresh fruit salad.
Not poultry if you're having Turkey on Christmas Day.

Some of the suggestions here sound great and appealing to all.
We're going to our holiday home this year for Christmas and just taking two of our adult children and two grandchildren. It will all be very simple which is hopefully going to be restful.
My daughter goes all-out for Christmas usually, more presents for her children than she really needs to do, but I'm hoping that we can turn it down a notch to avoid having to cart so much about.
I'm having an Ocado delivery there on Christmas Eve so will have to hope that there aren't too many substitutions or our Christmas fare will be very simple indeed!

Is the fish and chip shop open?

Probably not!

We do get invited to DC's now on Christmas Day/Boxing Day which is lovely, but what I miss are leftovers, which is daft, I know. Not having to think too much, just ring the changes with leftover turkey and ham.

I would make a couple of big pies, maybe one chicken and one diced beef, you could make them before hand and freeze them.

Lasagne? Fish pie? Something not roast and not involving poultry.

I'd go for M&S party food. No stress, and you could choose a variety of options.

I'm doing something similar and I'm planning braised brisket, baked potatoes and veg, followed by chocolate fudge pudding and cream.

Lots of great ideas for you. I wouldn’t try to compete with Christmas Day festivities but would do a Christmas buffet or a simple chilli dish. For presents set a very small budget with people having to choose daft or funny gifts. Follow all of this with fun games. There’s all the traditional ones like charades, spin the plate (aka toilet), etc or Twister type games or bounce the ping pong ball into a cup, pass the balloon under / over- lots of ideas on the net too.
We do a pre Xmas get together each year and my eldest child said this was the best ever and it reminded the younger children that Christmas was about being together, not expensive presents.
Enjoy your day.

I make what I call black forest trifle for a slightly different dessert. A chocolate sponge base, soaked in a mixture of warmed black cherry jam, with defrosted frozen cherries and a little alcohol. If you don’t want alcohol, increase the moisture by adding a little apple juice. Leave to absorb the mixture overnight. I top with pink jelly fluff, then whipped cream on top, sprinkled with grated chocolate, or, crushed Cadbury’s flakes.

Newdawn says Christmas is being spent at the other granny’s , so this is Newdawns family meal including the grandkids. I don’t think she has to ‘stamp anything out’.