Ideas for family pre-Christmas meal

I’d give them their presents when you see them. They get plenty of presents on the day and its good to spread them out. Check with parents first .

Oh don’t worry about thunder stealing, it’s Christmas Eve. We’ve always made it a little bit special when children are around. Let them have a small little extra something gift just not the main gift you’ve bought. Could also have crackers and some kind of games just to jazz things up a bit if this is your time with them.

I would go with something that was pre-assembled, like a luxurious cottage pie (you could use sweet and normal potatoes sprinkled with cheese, red wine and herbs in the meat layer). Served with a selection of vegetables along with cauliflower cheese.

Lasagne, with salad and garlic bread (most children love garlic bread)

A charcuterie board to start with.

Please do not worry. Treat this as a Christmas Day. The children will love it! Happy children makes happy adults.

Mary Berry serves a fish pie on Christmas Eve.

I realise you are not talking about Christmas Eve, but still….

Newdawn

We are having six adults, including us, and three year old and six year old granddaughters for part of the saturday before christmas and they will stay over for one night. I want to make it special without stealing the thunder from christmas which this year will be at other grannies. My husband is probably going to make baked Alaska. We feed the children quite often so not sure what special food to make. If it was just adults something like coq a vin might do ( daughter without children recently cooked us beef in red wine)It is too close to Christmas to do a roast dinner. Also not sure what to do with the presents. Giving them on the day might spoil Christmas. Any ideas most gratefully receved.

Pre-Christmas meal?

Next thing you know it'll be a Pre, Pre-Christmas meal......and so on and so forth.

Stamp on this now, or the Family Locusts will scoff you out of house and home.

If you’re going to serve marry me chicken Newdawn you might find me on your doorstep 😂

Don't over think this. You are preparing a meal for your family. By all means give the children what they like and cook an adult meal for the grown ups.
Good luck!

Thanks for the advice gransnetters.

The children like chicken nuggets, pizza and fish fingers. When their mum is here we often have eat your broccoli meltdowns which i hope to avoid on this special occasion. I think i will try marry me chicken, sweetcorn and mash or jacket potatoes. Hopefully nothing to cause a food battle between mum and grandchildren. I think trifle will be a special pudding plus individual gingerbread men. I will ask their mum the best thing to do with presents.

I’d do something like Hungarian Goulash with baked potatoes. The children could skip the goulash if not keen and have baked potatoes with cheese & beans. Or chicken nuggets as a side … 😂

What about fish? A side of salmon, baked or poached with hot or cold veg/salad, whichever the family prefer.

I’d do the coq au vin and start it all off as usual, but before deglazing with brandy and adding the wine, etc just lift the children’s portions out to another dish, adding stock and the vegetables they like and cook separately.

Game is now in season, if the adults might like something more robust, or even lamb shanks.

I agree a ‘casserole’ meal is easier for the cook, especially near to Christmas. Hope it all goes well.

I would be inclined to cook separately for the children leaving you free to cook something special for the adults. I make a one pot chicken casserole for my dgd.

What do your grandchildren like to eat?