Christmas!!!

Benergy

Get the family to all bring round either a pudding or desert so you can focus on the main course - this is the bit of the meal that they will remember so don skimp on the frills, but your cash should go a lot further if it isnt being leached by expensive (and hardly ever eaten) puddings!

Rachel021967

I would ask the family to help out by bringing either a starter or desert, or bottle of wine, crackers, centre piece, great grandmas silver, table and chairs etc. Collectively pool all your talents and resources and the meal will be memorable and justly proud.

nublue

Hi all,

Thanks for your ideas they are really helpful!

Loved the story about charging the full board what a cheek, lol!!! Hope he gave you five star food!

I like the idea of putting £5-10 away a week - that will soon mount up won't it?

I agree about making it nice - when it has been just the three of us on xmas day, I have just made a nice chicken roast but had all of the trimmings (pigs in b's, sausagemeat stuffing etc). - but bought luxury pre-made versions, easier when you are only catering for 3 and still work!

I would like to do a traditional christmas dinner, so would like to attempt a turkey - the thing is that we have a 5 year old daughter so I don't want to spend the whole morning in the kitchen prepping. Does anyone have any time saving ideas? I don't want to use premade potatoes or parsnips (mainly because I only like fresh ones, and if I'm going to go through this then I want to make sure I darn well enjoy the results!!!). I don't mind buying pre-made pigs in blankets (in fact I can't imagine being bothered about doing those!!!).

What are people's opinions on Fresh vs frozen turkeys? Does it make a difference? What about stuffing?

Thanks, sorry for being a pest!

nannygladys

Last year I had the whole family around and as I dont eat meat, one daughter bought cooked turkey and beef that she had cooked Xmas eve for the meat eaters, whilst I provided all the veg and veggie option, that I had prepared the night before. We dont bother with Xmas pudding as most dont like it, but we all like a cheesecake that I made the day before and after asking round the family everybody (except one who was overruled) didnt want a starters, saying they would prefer a pudding! so it was more or less stress free especially when all the sons in laws did the washing up afterwards. Oh someone bought a load of after dinner chocs that went down really well with coffee and another daughter bought a few bottles of wine and beers to help out as well, so I suppose I was lucky but it doesnt hurt to ask the others to bring around a few goodies etc to help you out.

seafarers_wife

We cooked the turkey on Christmas Eve the other year and took it round to his Gran's the next day. She sliced it up and it was served cold, but with all the hot veg and gravy no one said anything.

It saved so much time and effort on Christmas day and took some of the stress off his Gran as well for not having to be up at the crack of dawn preparing it all.

This year Im doing aunt bessie yorkshires, roasties etc all the way with a very nice joint of beef most likely from the butchers to cut down on the hassel. Defo agree with the people that have said to ask people to bring things, I would never dream of turning up anywhere, Christmas Day especially and be expected to be waited on, as if you divvy it out to a few people then it works out cheaper for everyone and also time savings for everyone as well.

katyboo123

Make your Christmas Cake now if you plan to have one. My family recipe is easy to follow and even though I've never made one before gave me perfect results see my blog post on it for some hints and tips! http://nanna-kate.blogspot.com/2011/10/piece-of-family-tradition-cake.html

Prep your veg the night before, when little one is in bed. Peel, chop, grate, cube, etc - everything wants to be in a pan covered in water and a dash of salt ready to just stick on on Xmas day.

Parsnips cut, rolled in a mix of flour and parmesan cheese (roast these in with your roasties if you're doing them. Oh and use frozen mash - no one will know and it's a serious time saver - and cheap as chips too, put a bit of mayo in when you mix it up and it makes it really creamy. mmm. Make Yorkshire mix and put it in the fridge, this will make them rise better anyways.

Good luck, I hope it goes really well.

babyshoes

I agree with divvying up the 'extras' - and not only food. We ask guests to bring stuff like: Starters (we have a friend who usually brings smoked salmon with cream cheese, black pepper and lemon juice served on thin slices of nice dark bread - super easy to throw together), snacky bits like nuts / crisps & dips, pudding, cream/custard etc for the pud, crackers, a bottle or two of bubbly, other booze, soft drinks, table cloth & serviettes if someone has some nice cloth ones you can use, extra cutlery / crockery / glasses if needed, centrepiece (always nice if made by kids, using things like found pinecones, ribbons and poundshop silver/gold spraypaint), after dinner chocs, cheeses & crackers, etc.

You probably know who of your guests to ask for these things, taking into account finances etc. If someone makes really good puddings, then it is a no brainer to ask them to bring one, while someone with more money than sense is a good person to hit up for bubbly, and maybe crackers as they will likely bring nice ones from M&S rather than Poundland! Someone skint can be asked to bring extra utensils and maybe crisps plus dip, for example.

Stuff like a ham can be made beforehand and served cold - perhaps someone would bring one of those so you can make a smaller amount of turkey - eg 2 crowns instead of a full bird. If someone wants dark meat, get a handful of tesco value turkey legs or thighs for the freezer now (as they get harder to find closer to the time) and shove them in to cook with the crowns.

In terms of drinks, let people know what (& how much of it) you will have available and say that if they want anything else they should bring it with them. These people are your family, so I assume you can be honest about struggling financially? I am sure no one will mind contributing a few small bits to make the day special!

We usually do a late lunch around 2-3pm so there is less time pressure, (but have light nibbles available from early lunch time) and eat slowly with a big gap before pudding and cheese/crackers to watch a movie. That way, the cheese and crackers plus pud becomes supper! Obviously, if doing this with kids you will want to make sure they have a decent healthy, filling breakfast like oats before opening presents, (as they will probably wake up early with the excitement of Santa anyway) and have a wholesome snack ready (pre-made sandwich/ fruit & yoghurt / hm oaty biscuts or similar) that you can pull out for an early lunch before you put out crisps/nuts etc so they don't turn into a piggy with all the nice snacky bits around! Perhaps you could persuade Santa to put a few healthy-ish muesli type cereal bars into the little one's stocking?

Rainy-Days

I try and buy an item a week for Christmas in my normal shopping. This week I have bought the Christmas cake from Lidl, which are highly recommended and are beautifully done. There was only ten left, so I needed to get it this week before they had all gone!

I did think about making my own puddings but I am not a big fan of them and to be honest it is mainly DH who eats them. So I buy one of the Tesco Finest when they have them on half price for £5.00. I just try and sread the cost of it all over the weeks and then the last couple of days or so all I need to get is the milk, cream, cheese, fruit and vegetables and we are done! That final shop can cost about £20.00, which is very good. I also have a £150.00 contingency fund to last me until the January payday which is always month end. It can work out a five or even nearly a six week month from getting paid just before Christmas to the last week of January! So that little 'stash' comes in very useful as a buffer from having to put it on the credit card!!

Write your food list and then each week cross something off, you will be surprised how it all comes together and if something is on special offer get it - just watch your food dates

Some things you might want to consider are:-

Tin of Biscuits
Tin of Chocolates
Biscuits for Cheese
Wine (boxed might be cheaper and look at Lidl and Aldi for those)
Christmas Cake
Christmas Pudding
Cheese Board Selection (sometimes it is cheaper to buy individually and do your own, but it depends on your cheese taste, strong, medium, mild!), stilton is traditional as well.
Pigs in Blankets
Stuffing - either fresh or packet (fresh is always nicer for Christmas)
Cranberry Sauce
Bread Sauce
Fresh Vegetables - sprouts are a must for tradition
Fresh Fruit Oranges, satsumas, (lemons and limes for drinks)
Make your own ice cubes by freezing in trays and then bagging them up yourself in the freezer.
Mixers for drinks (tonic water, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, lemonade, coke etc)
Milk & Cream
Trifle Sponges
Jelly (for the trifle and also fruit) . You will also need sherry and custard too, also whipping cream (can be double).
You can either buy fresh gravy or make your own from stock.
Ham or boiling bacon for slicing cold with any left over turkey for supper.
Bread rolls for cold cuts
Pickles, such as onions and red cabbage
Sausage rolls and Pork Pie
Turkey (can be a big standard turkey, crown etc) we had one of those Aldi three bird roasts last year and they were fabulous, really nice and no waste at all.
Make sure you have adequate tea and coffee as well as you will be making a few hot drinks.
Are you doing starters?
If you are doing a complete big turkey you will need a roasting tray big enough (look at wilkinsons they sell ones specifically for this on size), foil, butter and streaky bacon.

UnluckyT

when i can i stop over at mums christmas day and its pretty informal, plus we dont really get much in at all. it just another day and often will only get the odd extras we fancy/can afford.
that said i usually contribute to the food by giving x amount and helping with the shopping by going with for carrying.
plus i have picked up extas that i gat cheap/fancy/we want en route.

meritaten

When my daughter moved in with her partner nearly thirteen years ago - I stupidly invited her, her partner and the baby to christmass dinner! That set a precedent and now all the offspring assume I am 'doing' christmas dinner for them!
after all this time I now cook for FOURTEEN people- its not the cooking - its how the hel do we all get round a table!!! in a tiny terrace house! my dining room seats 8 if we all squash up - so I have to get my extendable table into my living room while 6 grandkids try to play with their toys. its interesting to say the least!
as for the food
I only actually make one course - and thats a roast dinner!
the first course is assembled before everyone arrives and stored in the fridge.
then the roast dinner - which I can do with my eyes shut (if OH DOESNT help!)
dessert is a bought one which is easily served.

so typical menu
starter - smoked salmon on good brown bread - or pate for those who dont like fish. takes five minutes to assemble.
main - either beef or pork or turkey crowns cooked the day before and warmed up with previously made gravy (you only have to cook the veg then)
dessert - gatuax (I cant spell that word for the life of me) or sara lee cheesecake.
The kids always offer to chip in some money - which I always decline. I can do the meal for fourteen on less than £25! you can pay that for one meal in a pub or restuarant!
I usually do a cheeseboard - from Aldi - £3.99 with a packet of water biscuits or ritz.