Is anyone taking their OS hat off on xmas day?

Gigervamp

I much prefer to cook from scratch as I think it tastes much nicer, so I prepare the veggies and parboil the potatoes on christmas eve. Then cook the turkey in a low oven overnight.

As I don't eat meat, I usually have a nut roast, although last year I made a mushroom and brazil nut wellington which was lovely and the leftovers were sliced up then frozen.
You can buy a packet nut roast mix from Holland & Barratt which you just add water to and it's not bad. After the meal, it's good served cold in slices with cheese and chutney.
For gravy for myself, I cheat and use Bisto vegetable gravy granules as I only need a small amount.

I too don't like anyone else in the kitchen! I have my plan, know what order I'm doing things and don't like getting distracted (the exception being when offered a glass of wine!) so I decline any offers of help. Until of course, after the meal. Then everyone else is encouraged to do the washing up!

Nicoll

If I'm ever a guest for christmas dinner (or similar occaison) I hate helping out in the kitchen with meal preparation.

Before you all think I'm the bone idle guest from hell, just to point out the reason why is the same reason people have said they don't like help. I always end up in the way, don't know where anything is kept, the way I would cook/serve something is invariably different from my host and I end up feeling bad as I haven't done it how they want it. I even find this with close family....Maybe it's just me

On the other hand, I would always offer to bring a pud or something similar with me, as a veggie would always offer to bring something veggie to help save hassle or be quite happy to eat the veggies etc the same as everyone else but without the meat as well. I wouldn't dream of turning up without a bottle of something alcoholic!

AND I always offer to wash up, clear tables etc... as the hostess is normally less stressed if things are put in wrong place by then, or at least too tipsy to care.

As for the original question of using ready prepared food, it's only one blooming day, so I say why not? I wouldn't have thought ready prepared veggies etc would add that much to the budget. Better to be happy

Primrose

Outdoor lass - time to get tough. All those who want to deviate from the standard meal you propose to cook should be delegated to take responsibility for their part of the meal, either by making or bringing a nut roast Different types of gravy for different types of meat? You're making a rod for your own back. Remember what Henry Ford said about cars? You can have any colour as long as it's black !!

We'll be deviating from OS for our puddings. We're often so full up with the main course that often can't face a pudding, so we've bought individual little ones that can just be bunged into the microwave for a couple of minutes for anybody who is still hungry enough to want one.

Hadley

Hi I know what you mean about looking after your Kitchen I'm like that to I take good care of my things because I want them to last.I am also a veggie and I normally have what everyone else is having I just don't have anything meat based.I'm not a big fan of nut roast plus I wouldn't want to put anybody out when they had been kind enough to cook for me and if you are doing mash and roast pots you could still do your roasts in goose fat if thats what you like I'm sure the veggies would be happy just having mashHope you have a great day

Lady_Tara

I would say relax and buy it, which is what I've done, after making from scratch for several years, never getting any help, and not enjoying the day, I have been to M&S and got ready prepared, and my ready stuffed chicken from Aldi!

All is in the freezer until xmas eve, when I will defrost and chuck in the oven xmas day, while I sip my bargain champagne from MrS! Life's too short to feel guilty over trying to make other people happy, is my motto this year!:beer:

Dazi

This year, as last year, we are going down to my parents for xmas.

Last year I decided that we would do an 'early xmas' for my OH family. This consists of his 2 sons plus 1 DGD from his first marriage, and one daughter from his 2nd marriage.

I spent the whole week before prepping after work, on the day I was in the kitchen from 7 in the morning, in and out till we ate. I love cooking for people so was really ok with all this. Got one of those 3 bird roasts from Aldi, did roast potatoes, parsnips, parsnip and carrot mash, pigs in blankets, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, swede, various stuffing balls. I love having a load of stuff, only need a little bit of each but it makes the meal more special, IYKWIM

Sons ate all, said nothing, DSD said was ok, but not as good as her mums would be, fair enough, she would say this, but OH tells me her mums is all frozen or tinned.

For pud I did hm xmas pud or eton mess, both eaten. DSD says not as nice as her mums trifle (aparently a packet one)

Then they all went home.

This year I am doing same 'early xmas' but just buffet style. sausage rolls, cheese twirls, mini quiches etc etc.....will be all HM as thats how I cook, guess its just a way of life for me now....plus have you seen how much they charge for party food?!!!!! But doing it this way I am not spending a whole day in the kitchen, already have some stuff done and frozen, will do the rest over next 2 weeks..

Then after that, the next weekend am looking forward to eating xmas dinner at my parents, my Dad does all the cooking and he is a great believer in Sainsburys/Tescos finest lol

pupsicola

Does the vegetarian eat fish? If not maybe offer a vegetarian tart. They are quick and easy to knock up or can be bought pretty reasonably. If you are catering for a large amount of people they cant expect you to fanny around making loads of different spuds either. Just do lots of different veg. Xmas should be more for you than just cooking.

As for the one that wont eat white meat, jeez how fussy can you be. Again offer fish or veg tart alternative. I have a 4 year old fussy eater and have very little patience for adults who behave the same way.

tessasmum

To address the OP's comment of missing out on the fun, when our children were very small, probably until the youngest was about 7, we had our Christmas meal on Christmas Eve as this meant that we enjoyed our festive meal at supper time on Christmas Eve, then the girls were given their Christmas book for storytime and they went to bed, full and tired, with a new book to look at and read/be read to. Then we would have the rest of the evening to relax before the big day. On Christmas Day, we would go to church, have the presents opened at intervals through the day, and have plenty of time to actually play with the girls and their new things without worrying about the dinner! We snacked at lunchtime and had a proper Christmas Day tea with trifle and cake etc at teatime. It isn't for everyone, and we don't do it anymore now that the girls are older, but it worked wonderfully for us then.

Melonade

I think if you can afford it and it'd make your day easier then just buy in any prepared/frozen stuff you need. Xmas dinner takes so much time and effort (mainly because of the stress of pleasing everyone, for me at least) that unless you enjoy doing it then it's just an extra hassle. I'm at my Nan's this year but will be cooking on boxing day for my MIL. I'm getting frozen roasties, mash, y/puds, and veg. Not sure what meat yet but the OH is talking about the 3 bird roast thingy from Aldi... well see lol.

I don't mind cooking but I hate cooking at xmas... I just wanna sit on my bum and eat chocolate and play on the Wii with my son, watch some rubbish films and not do much at all

Almost forgot the mince pies... I love them and if I could get away with it thats what everyone would eat for their xmas dinner in my house :T

zippychick

Hmmmm am i wearing my OS hat? i never answered if I was doing it myself!

I will not be removing my OS hat (i don't think). i will be trying to make as much as possible from scratch. Theonly thing i may not do is make the gravy. We've always had bisto (eek) and my family don't really like change, so I wouldnt attempt HM gravy and have them possibly not like it. I made it once myself but wasnt sure how it was meant to taste - as Id never had HM gravy? (well, maybe my grans but she passed years ago and I think she added oxo or something? ).

We don't have starters, maybe some nibbly crisps. We will have desert which I will b e making. Normally we have M & S profiteroles but this year Im putting my mark on it. Not sure what to make, Mum suggested victoria sponge, but that's because i think she assumes i can't so much more exciting than that and carrot cake. I might make two deserts. I would like to make sticky toffee pudding but Mum didnt like the idea of dates in a desert :rolleyes:

I am going to make cheese straws and thikn we might go for M and S dips. So the only "cheat" as such will be the dips and the gravy I would make the dips but don't have recipes for ones to be made in advance , and wouldn't want to commit to making it on christmas day. My pain gets quite bad on xmas day as I'm under pressure from all directions, so going to try to be as organised as possible and not have it be the stressful event it usually is. Well, one can hope.:o

Dinner will be - Turkey & ham (which Mum usually cooks and brings cold, so reheat in gravy), Mash potatoes, roasties, gravy , sprouts (bleugh) , mashed carrot and parsnip, and stuffing which Mum makes and brings. I was going to make yorkies - my first attempt was perfect, second disaster - so if I can make them in advance and reheat from frozen, ill see if I can manage that.

I would be happy with ham and roasties in a bowl smothered with gravy! :j

So my OS hat will be on, if not slightly askew