I do like your thermostat gravy boat. Now that would be a treat
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Ultraprocessed foods in boxes with sell by dates weeks ahead. Weird desserts - Do we need, in fact, any of the mad options now available to us on supermarket shelves? Waitrose has spent a lot of money this year on an advert featuring Matthew Macfadyen and comedian Joe Wilkinson, starring a pudding called the No 1 Red Velvet Bauble Dessert, which looks a bit like a Viennetta. At Sainsbury’s, you can buy a “Christmas Carol-Mel and Brownie Cheesecake”, which is apparently a cheesecake with brownie cubes, salted caramel sauce, chocolate mousse and “bronze lustred” chocolate curls. Tesco has a “Showstopper Macaron Tower”.
Probably all a bit yuk?
I’m hoping for a ‘less UPF Christmas’. Food my grandmother would recognise.
What about you?
I do like your thermostat gravy boat. Now that would be a treat
Not a fan of ultra processed party food, particularly at Christmas. M&S food doesn't float my boat at any time of year. Simple ingredients, as fresh as I can get make me feel good. Eating for gut health should be the first aim, to stay well. I dont want to eat junk food or over-indulge, just don't see the point. I'd rather feel good than to follow the masses who choose this food. I've never understood people who say oh go on its Christmas, as if there is no other time to have a treat.
Custard? Custard?? DH would like tha8t but it has to be brandy sauce 😁
You could wash it quickly after the main course, then put the custard in to pour too.
escaped
I've been looking at gravy boats/jugs today that are like a thermos and keep the gravy warm. I thought it would save me jumping up and down to refill the China ones on the table, but they are very steel looking so I didn't buy one.
Just googled and quite like them. My dinner service has a silver rim so it would tone in.
Better than my white one.
This one's rather stylish
I've been looking at gravy boats/jugs today that are like a thermos and keep the gravy warm. I thought it would save me jumping up and down to refill the China ones on the table, but they are very steel looking so I didn't buy one.
Ooh, they’re fancy.
I don’t have one, and couldn’t be bothered to store one all year round just to be used at Christmas.
I don’t need one now though because we usually have Christmas dinner at one of our children’s houses.

I like those.
LadyGaGa I'd love one of the santa sleigh gravy boats.. absolutely brilliant.. don't forget it this year
Being vegan and recently being diagnosed with coeliac disease it doesn’t leave much leeway to what I can eat. I’ll make do with a giant homemade trifle that may or may not last me a few days and gluten free crackers with cheese.
Come along NotSpaghetti! I’m sure you’d fit in just fine 😄
😂😂😂😂😂
Are you hosting again this year?
...if so, please nay i come along?
Every year I tell everyone who’ll listen that I’m going abroad for Christmas- I even believe it myself. One year my DH made me sign a declaration and he put it in his wallet 😂 but of course I never will - it’s the chaos of a blended and frankly pretty weird family. But wouldn’t change a thing! (Well, maybe a few 🤔😂)
Lady GaGa
I love your description of your catering last Christmas. Made me laugh 
Oh dear LadyGaGa and you had prepared so well in advance!
Having 'done' every Christmas since the year after I got married (thanks mum for that one year of respite) my motto has become "let those that can do better do it" along with a fervent prayer that somebody else might! Of course I still get stressed bringing it all together but my lovely family inevitably say it's been "wonderful as usual". Now there's an idea, shall I 'by accident'
mess up one year to hand the baton on............
LadyGaGa
Last year I prepped everything on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning I felt like I was in a channel 5 Christmas movie - cocktail in hand, lipstick on, tinsel in hair, table red, gold and glittery, everything in control. I think the cocktail was a mistake - fast forward to arrival of family. Roast potatoes sliding round the floor, yorkies risen so high they stuck to the top of the oven, darling grandson with ADHD ripped up all the crackers and had a wobbly, caught the cat licking the cranberry sauce on the table, glasses slipping off my red sweaty face, trod on the cats dry food which went all over the floor and shouted at DH for trying to clean it up…… and worst of all I forgot to use my Santa sleigh gravey boat 🫣
😂😂😂😂😂
Are you hosting again this year?
Th best laid plans of mice, men, and scratch cooks... 
Last year I prepped everything on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning I felt like I was in a channel 5 Christmas movie - cocktail in hand, lipstick on, tinsel in hair, table red, gold and glittery, everything in control. I think the cocktail was a mistake - fast forward to arrival of family. Roast potatoes sliding round the floor, yorkies risen so high they stuck to the top of the oven, darling grandson with ADHD ripped up all the crackers and had a wobbly, caught the cat licking the cranberry sauce on the table, glasses slipping off my red sweaty face, trod on the cats dry food which went all over the floor and shouted at DH for trying to clean it up…… and worst of all I forgot to use my Santa sleigh gravey boat 🫣
AJKW
There is a reason why the populous looks so unhealthy.
Make a point of watching the people next time you are out and about amongst the public, they look sick and yet we’ve had a health service free at the point of delivery for almost 80 years.
I enjoy cooking and cook from scratch every day, as a family we’ve never had a takeaway not even fish & chips consequently we are all slim and healthy.
I dislike government interference but the food industry needs regulating.
My family eat what we enjoy whether it’s home cooked from scratch ( I was taught following Larousse Gastronomique) or the occasional ready made. None of us have any have any health issues, take any medication or are overweight.
I do realise we are fortunate.
Cheers!
It sounds perfect. 
And in answer to MissAdventure I like wine, mostly white and a nice gin and tonic, or a good single malt whisky. Not all in the same glass at the same time
Christmas means a good Chablis with the meal, and if I have to help finish the bottle after the meal, well sacrifices have to be made!
Where did you go on dates?
Not out for a drink, or a meal, ever?
AJKW
There is a reason why the populous looks so unhealthy.
Make a point of watching the people next time you are out and about amongst the public, they look sick and yet we’ve had a health service free at the point of delivery for almost 80 years.
I enjoy cooking and cook from scratch every day, as a family we’ve never had a takeaway not even fish & chips consequently we are all slim and healthy.
I dislike government interference but the food industry needs regulating.
Have you never eaten in a restaurant or café, never stayed in a hotel? Each to their own but fish and chips eaten at the seaside is one of lif'e pleasures for me, and no different nutritionally to fish and chips cooked at home.
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