OMG... Christmas - and I'm on the hook!

Curv

After many Christmases of being cooked for, it's finally rolled around to being MY turn to host. I'm really keen to do it as impressively as possible, but it needs to be as Old Style as it can be, too.

The reason I want it to be impressive is the guest list, namely:

• my DH - a wonderful man who deserves a wonderful family Christmas
• my kids - aged 14, almost 3 and almost 2 - enough said - they deserve the best.
• my MIL - a wonderful and formidable woman who can cook like an angel - I lover her to bits and she deserves a fabulous Christmas too.
• my SIL - 'choosy' about what she eats to the point of frustration for anyone cooking for her, yet somehow sweet... you could fill a library of books with what she won't eat.
• my BIL - will eat what's put in front of him. I'm very keen to please him so I don't feel I'm letting my DH down
• SIL/BIL's kids - two very sweet girls aged 6 & 3. Sweet but picky like - just their Mum.

Can you please point me in the direction of any planners or recipes or give me your tips or ANYTHING that will help me make this Christmas lunch and tea meals to remember - for all the right reasons :xmassmile

TIA

Curv

Nelski

Hi Curv - can i be your thread buddy :rotfl: Im in the same boat cooking for the family for the first time in 10 years:o I never normally think about christmas until the week before but like you I guess I should have some semblance of a plan. Knowing the girls on here there will be loads of ideas:D

Curv

Nelski wrote: »

Hi Curv - can i be your thread buddy :rotfl: Im in the same boat cooking for the family for the first time in 10 years:o I never normally think about christmas until the week before but like you I guess I should have some semblance of a plan. Knowing the girls on here there will be loads of ideas:D

Sure thing - buddy! I'm hoping for lots of ideas... I've read Delia's Christmas and feel quite inspired, but Delia has nothing on the OS ladies

Nelski

yeah i love a bit of Delia too may have a go at a cake first I think - I know my ma used to make hers about now so that could be a first step I guess:D

Is it just Christmas dinner you are doing or are you on the hook for christmas eve/boxing day too? I will have overnight guests (my folks) so I guess Boxing Day is mine too:eek:

Scared now:rotfl:

joanie

Have a look at the organizedchristmas web site - you'll get good ideas about planning and recipes there.
other than that try the library for recipe books with celebration meal ideas... I would then suggest that each week you practice one item...

e.g. my mum does lovely sprouts with bacon - simply par boil sprouts / drain and dry and then add to a pan of diced bacon pieces and fry gently for 10 mins or so ... you could easily practice this as soon as they appear in the shops so that you can do them easily by christmas.... same with other veggies i.e. carrots in orange sauce or roast parsnips....
once you've got the hang of it you won't worry so much about the big day and will know about the timings you will need etc.

Failing that ... if you have the money to spare .... by some of the ready prepared and "special" veggies from a main supermarket and hide the boxes (lol)

good luck
jo

Pink.

Hi Nelski and Curv,

These threads might be useful:

Christmas Dinner

What goes down well for dessert after Christmas dinner?

Christmas Dinner

Ideas for Christmas Dinner

Need help with my veg for Christmas dinner

help novice cook doing Christmas dinner for 10

Cooking first ever Christmas dinner! Starter ideas please...

This site saved Christmas dinner last year when I did beef, can you help with Turkey?

Christmas Dinner for 17 HELP!

Pink

Horace

Serve whatever you want for the rest of the family and just give your SIL some overboiled sprouts:rotfl:

I must admit that I am not much good at Christmas - I can do decorations but not much else (I am so bad that one year I had beans on toast for dinner:eek: ).

Curv

I forgot to add that I'll also need entertainment ideas so that people aren't just sitting around vegging, waiting for meals to happen... I know.. I don't ask for much, do I?

lauren_1

We are doing the same (ok we are taking over my mums house, as its bigger, got a double oven and seems more festive than my house) Could be the fact that we only have 1 downstairs room vs her 5 but hey, it has a fireplace, can fit in a tree wthout it looking stupid and squashed in and we all have somewhere to hide for a post dinner snooze.

We plan on doing a proper old style dinner with a Goose or Pheasant, MH pud with lashings of brandy and sixpences, not sure on how well the game freeze but if its possible we are going to buy one in late october rather than in the xmas rush.

moanymoany

Curv wrote: »

I forgot to add that I'll also need entertainment ideas so that people aren't just sitting around vegging, waiting for meals to happen... I know.. I don't ask for much, do I?

Look curv - there's a limit you know.....! :rolleyes:

What about a 1000 piece jig saw - you can get a good selection at any charity shop. I defy anyone not to look for that last piece...

For the children colouring books and crayons, their own jigsaw, good old annuals - comics - all can come from charity shops.

http://www.partygamecentral.com/christmas/christmaspartygames.htm

don't say I never do anything for you!!!!!!!!!!!11

Curv

moanymoany wrote: »

Look curv - there's a limit you know.....! :rolleyes:

What about a 1000 piece jig saw - you can get a good selection at any charity shop. I defy anyone not to look for that last piece...

For the children colouring books and crayons, their own jigsaw, good old annuals - comics - all can come from charity shops.

http://www.partygamecentral.com/christmas/christmaspartygames.htm

don't say I never do anything for you!!!!!!!!!!!11

*mwah* :xmassign: