What do you eat on Christmas Eve?

Tradition started off when children were young. I would spend the whole of Christmas Eve preparing so much food for the following day - we would have several visitors. Never actually finished until late into the evening. So, we got into the habit of saving up hubbies Luncheon Vouchers and using the lot to purchase a chinese takeaway for us all. With a large family an not a lot of money, we never eat out as a family and takeways were very rare - so this was a real treat and caused much excitement.
One of my daughters has continued this 'tradition', and I joined in with that takeaway this year.

DH and I, once the children had left home, used to have a nice steak and a bottle of red. Sadly no more.

Last year I was at DD's and can't remember what we had, though it would have been lovely as DD is an excellent cook.

Tonight I have been to DS and family, where we had a traditional Swedish smorgasbord, as DDil is Swedish. Smoked salmon, caviar, Swedish meatballs and sausages, Swedish bread, home-cooked ham, herrings, eggs, new potatoes. Should have been Janssens Temptation, but none of the rest of the family like it, so DDil didn't bother. And plenty of fizz!

Grandson has been eating his head off all day today (all healthy food), which is nice, because he's had a cold and also the noro virus so has been off his food for a good month or so.

After a BIG dinner, I made him a raspberry Eton mess, which was so yummy, I made myself some later. Mmmm.

Pork pie and boiled bacon with brown sauce and toast. Now in New Zealand cannot get it. So back to the drawing board ?

I just graze on all the goodies that are meant for Christmas, really.

Famine before the feast here so DH and I just had a jacket potato with a bit of salad, he had coleslaw on his and I had tuna mayo.
For several years we used to have a pawn curry on Christmas Eve, until the year I dropped the dish and covered the kitchen in curry!

watermeadow your dinner sounds lovely!

annesixty that sounded pretty darned perfect! You and your lovely granddaughter together, great food, posh bubbles. Way to go girls - caring for and looking after each other at Christmas.
❤️

tanith pop these ? in some water this evening to remind yourself virtual friends do care.

EV your meals always sound so tasty. You’ve had more than your fair share (no, not of food!) - of worries these last few weeks. I hope you have a really lovely Christmas.

kitty I love the sound of your sausage, potato and cheesey favourite meal. Sounds simple but yummy. Could you let me know what you put together? Thank you! I can sort my own pyjamas.
?

Our rack of lamb, served pink with tenderstem broccoli and sautéed mushrooms was superb.
We had a bottle of Moët which was gifted to my GD on her21st in November.
We toasted absent friends with special mention of my dear H and more-than a few tears.
I feel at peace now and am in bed.
Looking forward to tomorrow now with few regrets.

I’ve eaten up all the left overs to make room in the fridge for the Christmas food.
So here’s my recipe: Slice up a cold baked potato and 2 cooked sausages.
Heat a little oil in a deep frying pan.
Throw in potato, sausages, small bowl of yesterday’s roast veg with pesto, half a tin baked beans, half a pot of Waitrose cheese sauce.
Fry the lot then grate the old piece of cheese because you’ve got new for Boxing Day.
Eat out of the frying pan. Minimal washing up.

Just eaten a scrumptious jumbalya ( Jamie Oliver recipe)

Fairly simple supper Waitrose Lemon and Cracked Pepper chicken, broccoli, carrots Charlotte potatoes. Plus glass of wine Tomorrow youngest son and girlfriend for Christmas Day turkey, gammon and all the trimmings, also staying Boxing Day, rest of family and gc coming for Boxing Day cold meal.

‘Never a ‘proper’ meal on Christmas Eve. We’ve just had prawns, sausage rolls, mince pies and are now eyeing cake. We did have a fairly healthy lunch though, honestly .

That’s boxing!

Well my DH decided to lose weight so he doesn’t eat every other day! Today is the non eating day.
Lucky eh? I think he may just crack on Bowing day.
So I’m eating lovely toasted gi bread with tomatoes and mayo.
I’ve also had some mixed fruit and nuts and a bowl of raspberry mousse that wouldn’t fit on the trifle!
A? and now I’m ready for the walk to church. Somehow I seem to be in charge of putting the cross and candlesticks out!
How this happened I have no idea but our vicar doesn’t object to atheists ?. I hope I put them in the right place.

Have a lovely Christmas everyone.

When our children were young we always had fish and chips on Christmas Eve after all the prep. for Christmas Day was done. For a good few years now we all go for a lovely Chinese meal

We've never as any particular meal or food on Christmas Eve. Today we've had a Thai prawn stir fry, followed by a piece of cake.
DH is at work for three hours this evening, so my supper will probably be a sandwich of some sort.
Then that will be it until tomorrow's Christmas dinner at the pub.
We have booked a table for 12:30 as we like our main meal at lunch time.

Our favourite easy supper is leek and bacon casserole, a
glass of crisp white wine and contented smiles.
Have a lovely Christmas Eve everyone...

It was always gammon with cauliflower cheese etc or salmon.

However, we've been invited out for dinner on Christmas Eve for a few years now.

We have our favourite supper, on our knees, in our pjs. Our current favourite is sausage, potato and cheese thing.

Paella for us tonight and trifle to finish.
We had cheese and coleslaw sandwiches for lunch, and I am sure there should have been a couple of mince pies, but I can't find them.
I can also hear a sort of crackling sound, coming from somewhere! We can't locate it,
Hope nothing is arcing.

Buffet for later as I've just had a chunk of Gala pie and a fresh beef sandwich, plus a packet of crisps with no salt on.

I used to do a slap-up meal when H was alive and we'd have all the family, it was great, but never mind, I don't scrimp at Christmas as there's always plenty to go at. It's more of a help yourself affair now as I never know who might drop in.

My son (24) is currently in the kitchen making us caramelised onion and goats cheese tarts from scratch. Smell coming from the kitchen is amazing .

We always have a buffet on Christmas Eve - party food type nibbles, cheeses and biscuits, crisps and dips, chocolates that sort of thing. It’s very relaxed and the DCs love it.

Sar53 That made me laugh, our Daughter has just collected her gammon, along with home made pickled onions and chutney.

Our sons will get their food parcel tomorrow

We haven't decided on dinner for tonight yet, but I think it's between rack of lamb or salmon en croutes.