Christmas Dinner

DD2 is hosting Christmas this year so I will help but not be 'in charge'.

I only remember one Christmas where I wanted to throw in the tea towel and run away. FIL was a diabetic so food had to be accurately timed to take his insulin injection into account. We had a power cut and the turkey was at least an hour away from being cooked!! DH hacked it into joints so that if and when the power returned we'd be able to hurry things along a bit.

MIL got panicky and made FIL a doorstep sandwich so we were back to square one and I hadn't a clue when he'd be allowed to eat again. He also took great delight in descending into one of his 'moods'

Our electricity finally came on and just as I was throwing everything on the table (by this time FIL was threatening a hypo) the door bell rang and two starving friends (their leccy was still off) fell into the kitchen licking their lips. Thank goodness we always cater for the masses as Christmas!!

Does anyone remember that show about a family when the DD wanted to do the Christmas lunch and first course was a 'cup of soup'. They tried to thaw out the turkey with a hair drier. I DO remember the show but for the life of me my marbles have completly gone and I can't remember the name of it or the actors or any other details. HELP !!!

I shall try another and see if it improves memory.

It was the Royal Family.....that was a brilliant episode! It was Cup of Soup with a twist....the twist being it was served in a bowl!

Could it have been The Royle Family tiggy? And don't worry, your marbles are probably having a high old time with mine, I'm hoping they'll all see sense and come back soon.

I don't get in too much of a tizz about cooking the Yuletide meal. My family are stuck in their ways fairly traditional in their requirements for that day so I could probably do it in my sleep.

Of course every single year there is something left in the oven/on the hob only to be discovered as we are clearing up.

X post Notso

The Christmas Dinner I'll never forget was in the early 70's in Milton Keynes and I was cooking for about 12. Just as everyone was coming to the table, a Pyrex dish of cooked carrots on a hot hob exploded into glass chunks right next to a roasting pan of gravy. I binned the carrots and strained the gravy through a muslin nappy...it was fine

I've got a turkey crown in the freezer that has been there a year now - would you eat it??

Oh I forgot about that baubles! There is ALWAYS something you forget to dish up!

Couple of years to go yet Mishap

www.bhg.com/advice/food/how-to-cook-a-turkey/time-limit-on-frozen-turkey/

Gracesmum Get DD3 to do the quail, SiL the sophisticated starter, other SiL the veggies, including something novel and delicious with the sprouts and a vast tray of roast potatoes (he can peel them too)

You concentrate on making an alcoholic trifle to have all ready at the back of the fridge, and buy individual Christmas puddings to heat up in the microwave and serve with a tub of brandy butter. A cheese board takes no effort and gives a good impression to the foodies.

Have some pizzas and ice cream in reserve for the 2DGSS.

As soon as the meal is over, SIT DOWN and let the rest of them clear up.

My family know when Christmas Dinner is on the go:

1 - I usually end up in tears (goodness knows why)

2 - There is enough bread sauce to feed the 5,000

3 -- My DD1 comes round for her pot of bread sauce

4 - My DD1 leaves without it

5 - My DDH jumps in car and chases her down the road with bread sauce in
lap.

6 - We always 'lose' a chair or two

Probably do some sort of pasta dish. Cannelloni or ravioli. Vegetarian of course

That's if they come here?

I like your take on delegating Elegran - have you got jobs for DD 2 +BF , 2x Sis-in law and a 24 year old nephew? I notice you have left DH out - obviously you know him well. I see DD1 is also excused as mummy to the 2 DGSs does that let her off? Oh and there is Basil the grand-dog? (Grace has to go to kennels because 1) she is a liability if there is food within reach and for a greyhound that means anything under a 6 ft shelf and 2) she is nervous of small children so the 2 little boys could freak her out - and vice versa - and it is even crueller to shut her away from everything for the 2 days they are here)

Now - could I get away with bought quiche? No? Thought not.

They wouldn't get any choice here - life's too short to make your own quiche at Christmas!

Ana

But instead of turkey Ana........................?

Why not? M&S do some good ones - and actually, we like Tesco's Finest...

Nowt wrong with hot pork pie, baked beans and chips wi brown sauce says I.

What do you do with two pints of bread sauce left lonely in the microwave?

I don't like to brag, but WTH: it's a long time since I had to cook Christmas dinner. At one time, I had elderly aunt and uncle to stay, but after she had a stroke it was not advisable for them to travel, so I went to them and my uncle was a superb cook. Then when he died, I started to go to my sons, alternating between the two. Both are good cooks. All I have to do is to share in the preparation of the veggie dish with DS2 then sit back with DiLs and enjoy the hospitality. It's a hard life...

For years I've done the whole thing with all the trimmings as most of us have on here. But this year for various reasons there will only be two of us. So Turkey is out.
I'd like to do something really nice but it must be easy, so we can both just relax. Any ideas? Just don't want the Xmas pud mince pies sprouts stuff again. Been there, done that. Alternative Christmas dinner, anyone?

Having cooked Christmas lunch for varying numbers of people for many years, I am glad to say that I shan't be doing any cooking on Christmas Day – but I shall make some stuff in advance, such as quiches, chicken satay and some salads. We shall have cold turkey and ham for lunch and a barbecue in the evening. The latter is the preserve of my son-in-law but the chicken satay is my contribution. No one wants Christmas pud – although I do make a fabulous one even if I say so myself – when the temperature in the high twenties. [smug emoticon]

It's not my nemesis. I just refuse to be bullied by it. I provide a nice meal. No rules except that it is good food well cooked. I can't even remember what we had last year except that it wasn't turkey, which isn't very traditional anyway when you look at really old traditions.