How many have you done?

This will be the 44th Christmas dinner I've cooked. I've missed two. One was in the 1980's, when Dh was working away and I took the three children, inc a 6mth old baby, to London to stay with friends.

The two older children and I caught stomach bugs and our friends had a massive falling out and didn't speak to each other for days. I swore I'd never go away at Xmas again.

However, we spent Xmas at my son's about three years ago and that was much better.

50

45 minus the one where we went out for a disastrous Christmas Day lunch at a local hotel 40 years ago. I don't seem to be getting time off for good behaviour.

Only about 40 out of 49. Not this year, one of the family is cooking .

I've cooked every christmas dinner that I've eaten since the age of 16 except one and I'm now 64 so over 45. Spent the one I didn't cook in the Bahamas had a fab time but Christmas carols around the pool ain't for me, I'd rather stay home.

I could have written that myself. After 45+ Christmas dinners, with elderly parents in the past and children and their short term and long term partners, I decided I wouldn't be doing Christmas this year. The reason we have decided to go away is because we would still have people visiting needed refreshment if we were at home and I just don't want the stress of Christmas food shopping.

www.amazon.co.uk/Suma-Prepacks-Suet-Vegetarian-250g/dp/B01EI24I5S/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?keywords=gluten+free+suet&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1544367798&sr=8-2

I use this suet.

I think I've done about 40 Christmases. DD2 does every other year now.

I think 38, first year married I did the parents then in-laws thing and after that a couple times at my parents as they had lots of room (publicans). Other than that I have had the task of catering. I used to enjoy it, but it gets more of a chore each year now. Only three of us so more hassle than it's worth really.

40! Apart from one where we went to a restuarant.Our son has invited us this year for the first time, so looking forward to it.Everybody will be at our house boxing day, but I'm doing a simple buffet, so no slaving away for me this year. Great

Have a laid back low key day Ann. Perhaps make it different by cooking salmon or an alternative. I guess you will go and visit your DH too. You can think how well you have survived a very difficult year and come out the other end. Enjoy some girly films and relax.x

Well this year is probably at least 50, after 60 years of marriage there have been very few when I haven't done the cooking.
However this will be the oddest ever. Just under 3 weeks ago my H went into a care home, my D is coming to stay as her C are spending Christmas with their father 3000 miles away.
Just the 2 of us, we are not looking forward to it at all.

46!! But we are running away this year!

I've just made some mince pies with genius puff pastry, jalima - they look ok but rolling out the pastry was difficult!!

I'd like a recipe please too. I went on a course once and the pastry was ok but you had to buy their special flour mix at £9 A pack plus postage!!

Let me know if you find a good gluten-free pastry recipe please pen50.
I have made it myself (like concrete) and bought it ready-made (even worse).

Cakes, puddings, stuffings etc made with gf flour and gf breadcrumbs seem fine, it's just pastry.

I reckon I've done 40. Nearly everything made myself except Christmas pudding.