I really don't want to cook a turkey!

Every year, DH says something along the lines of "I don't want turkey. It's not special enough!" And every year I tell him that as he doesn't do any of the cooking himself, he'd better be prepared to eat whatever the person doing the cooking serves

He's lucky - it's probably been at least twenty years since we had turkey for Christmas dinner, as none of us are particularly fond of it, so it's nearly always pork, beef or gammon.

His complaint is now changing: "Can't we have something different on Christmas day? We can have a roast any day of the year!"

Hmm! I'm not sure what he expects to eat that we can't or don't eat at other times, and I'm beginning to suspect that maybe I've been feeding him too well so he's started to take good food for granted

Keep seeing this title- and I'm afraid (sorry for that) but it always makes the think - then don't! Don't want to cook a turkey- cook something else you want to cook- easy peasy.

Leg of lamb for me- 2 if for a larger group.

I'm sorry, Bijou, my question must have sounded rather rude!

I was surprised at the idea of someone having had GC in the sixties, but of course lots of people have done so. (Not many on here though! )

in reply to Ana. I am in my 93rd year.

GrandmaH - you can look at Waitrose on line. Mind you, I did that recently when buying stuff for a baby shower (be quiet at the back, no criticisms on this thread). Everything I wanted was there on the Asda site, off I went to our local mega big Asda store, absolutely nothing there - it could only be bought on line. Did it say that on the website, did it flip.

I'm still pondering but my latest thought is to go Greek and make a lamb casserole with lemon potatoes
. Mouth watering.

As long as you don't let anybody see the frozen roasties emerging from the oven (they cook on a baking sheet rather than in a deeper pan) I reckon you could get away with it

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I love the idea of a 3 or 5 Bird Roast. We have no Aldi/Lidl near here but I went into Sainburys this morning & they do one. I'd need 3 of them but still about the price of a large turkey. I'm going to Waitrose tomorrow to check them out too.
Delia's Panetone Pudding with hot rum sauce & White Chocolate Cheesecake & a good cheese board to follow- I've given up on a starter on Christmas Day since little ones arrived- it is too long for them to sit especially in a high chair. Looking forward to it now.

Gransnet saves the day again!

Try doing a turkey crown (or two for more people). They take far less time to cook (one and a half to two hours only) and you don't have to wrestle with bones and oddly shaped turkey pieces and there is no greasy carcass to dispose of. You have a breast to carve across the grain to produce perfect easy slices and that cuts down the dishing out time too. Pigs in blankets and stuffing can be cooked in another baking tray.

Tesco does a very good frozen turkey crown for a reasonable price. Mine's in my freezer now. I never worry about the Christmas cooking now that I have learned this trick. No more putting the oven on at eight in the morning for the five hour marathon.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Goodness, how old are you, Bijou?

Agree with Ansixty. Rich boeuf bourginon or a Mediterranian casserole. Followed with crepes suzettes or profiteroles. can all be cooked in advance and frozen. Used to do these in the 1960s when my grand children were small.

Iam64 - that sound wonderful and I admire your commitment and energy. I'm hosting a similar gathering on Boxing Day with a plethora of fussy eaters, and I'm getting crosser by the minute. I think I'm going with pizza, salads, cheese and biscuits, mince pies, cake, cup cakes, chocolate fingers. I told a friend this yesterday and she asked me if I was MAKING the pizza. She must be joking, they will be made by Mr Morrison. Incidentally, someone above mentioned frozen roasted potatoes. This sounds like a brilliant idea. Would my foody brother-in-law notice on Christmas Day, do you think? Please say no.

If the family have been 'forced' to eat veggie for so long surely one turkey would not be such a hardship, after all it is only once a year,

Well apart from the coronation chicken the rest would have been in the freezer , apart from salad of course. I had a buffet from Sainsburys for GD's christening which we had here, and it was fine as was the one from M&S we had at our Golden Wedding lunch.

Ok folks, you're thoughts are in line with my own. I suspect it'll be old standbys of lots of cold stuff with some jackets and either a pie or a casserole.
Jing, I hadn't considered sending out for pizza but ordering a buffet from Sainsbury's has been on the list of possibilities and hasn't yet been crossed off. You're so right about wanting to minimise the amount of cooking

If you serve casseroles or stews these can be cooked months in advance and frozen, if necessary. Cook the casseroles now, prepare the vegetables the day before

Ah, just read that the 14 will be wandering in and out to eat at different times, in which case, unless you have a hostess heated trolley. It should be cold meat, pies and salmon and lots of salads, bread and cheese.

Sound good idea to me

Jings

" Beef burgundy, chicken paprika and perhaps coronation chicken and poached salmon (cold) with jacket potatoes" !!!

How much cooking do you want to do three days before Christmas?!

Send out for some pizzas.

Thanks an sixty , I should have added my alternative would be a meat and a chicken casserole. Jacket spuds are a good idea. Good ? It also doesn't feel as heavy as only offering pies. I think I was overly influenced by the four huge young men who will be coming and had images of Dan dare and cow pie

Sorry didn't add the roasties will go beautifully with the casseroles and lot of veg.

It would have to be hot casserole type meals for me as I can't eat pastry. I would do Beef burgundy, chicken paprika and perhaps coronation chicken and poached salmon (cold) with jacket potatoes and salad.It can all be prepared before hand and will feed a multitude. I know because I have done it.

Can I join in GrandmaH, or do I have to start my own thread?
If I can join in - I'm hosting 14 (all family of various ages but no children, only grown ups) 3 days before Christmas day. I've ruled out a sit down meal and don't want to do a roast given the roasts we'll all be eating over Christmas.
It's informal, people won't necessarily arrive/leave at the same time and includes older teens. I've been wondering about laying out some interesting salads, dips, crisps/bread sticks, crudités followed by a a few pies. Currently, my thoughts are potato, onion and corned beef with a home made short pastry crust, cheese, onion and potato with a home made short pastry crust. I'd also make (delia's) red cabbage and other pie type accompaniments.
I've already made a couple of fruit cakes, bought a tin of fancy biscuits and will get cheese n biscuits and make a fruit salad to to with some fancy ice cream.
Does this sound ok to folks. I have my tin hat on and am open too suggestions. My aim is to do as much prep as possible long before people begin to arrive, so all I have to do is pop said pies in the oven as people have a drink and a catch up with each other.

We're having a five bird roast a la Aldi's sometime over Christmas (still hoping for long walk and beach picnic Christmas Day), they are utterly delicious , no waste either (and very reasonable price!)

With hedgehogs? Do they have special pyjama finding abilities?

We usually have a goose for Christmas, and a 3 or 5 bird roast for new year. The 5 bird roast we had last year from Aldi was delicious, and I would readily have another.