down grading meals until christmas

Bitsy_Beans

For the first time ever I've not bought anything food wise for Christmas other than chocolates from Aldi for the kids Advent calendar. Previous years I've bought two tins of Roses or Celebrations and they would have taken a bashing, then there would be the Christmas biscuits, probably would have got though a couple of boxes
I will be buying some booze in tomorrows shop but we've not a a drop in the house. What I'd just finished drinking last month was from April and the Christmas before so it will last the entire season :rotfl:

Not doing a roast today but i will confess that's because I haven't defrosted the bird :rotfl:

Waxy_Bean

We're on a use-up-the-freezer drive before xmas so will be eating some fairly random meals over the next few weeks. Our son is allergic to milk, eggs and nuts so we tend to eat a lot of meat, fish and pulses for protein and can't cut back too much there. It also means we don't get too excessive over xmas as a lot of the treats are out. We're out for xmas day (mum and dads) and the only "special" meal we're doing over xmas for guests is boxing day lunch for which I've already got a ham in the freezer and will just do it with either hm bread or jacket potatoes and salad. We're both working between xmas and new year so will be back to batch cooked meals by then.

We're having roast beef for dinner tonight - but it's pre-cooked meat out of the freezer. We tend to have a roast at least once a week - it's our son's favourite meal and a good way of guaranteeing he will eat loads!

VfM4meplse

I feel extra-inspired this morning to subsist on my freezer from now until the 23rd....it's curry and soup for me for the next 2 weeks, hundreds of millions of Indians survive on this and so will I. If I want something sweet there is no shortage of delicious but laxative Christmas cake to be had...that should limit my intake!

lostinrates

I'm downscaling christmas itself anyway this year. I do buy snacky things that we don't have at other times of year mainly because at other times of year dh is away five days a wake and over the holidays he is here.
last night he did have some of the chocolates I've been hoarding because I hadn't made a pudding though.

I find if I buy ne or two things a week in the weeks from Thanksgiving (I know we're not in US but dh and I both mark thanksgiving in a small way) then the christmas shop is pretty stress free.

tiff

Its funny we have been doing the same although we do have roast dinners very often but never in the run up to Christmas. In the past I've bought 2 tins of Celebrations but only 1 this year and 1 tin of biscuits. I think a lot of people realise how wasteful they have been in the past and refuse to do it now money is much tighter, well thats the case for me anyway.

gailey_2

We did similar last year but I did make

homemade xmas bread
chutney
cherry brandy
homemade mince pies
mini quiches
sausage rolls

we had 2tins free from hubbys work

wew havent eaten turkey in 3years as too pricey

my freezer curremntly quite full as did big shop at farmfoods so we eating

sausage/ beef casseroles
mince dishes
hm pizza
something with chips
omlette
fish with potaoes and veg
pasta with bacon peices

Only thing we have done so far is buy £4.99 pheasent from lidls
also hubby got 30 100g milk choc bars as was 17p each be great for cooking and making xmas treats.
We brought kids £1 advent calender each!

leaving the xmas meat shopping until december 24th in hope will get some reductions
will have some backup lamb in freezer
wont be eating poultry in the house until xmas day.

will be making some homemade treats again this year
as cost of special xmas lines are huge!

so will make a choc sponge
fairycakles with butter icing and choc stars
cornflake cakes
gingerbread men
choc twinks
homemade mince pies.

Hoping to spend bulk of my december grocery budget on reductions to see us through jan usually theres tonnes reduced chicken!

we have works party tonight and roast then
going with freinds next wek to local pub 2course xmas roast £12

so will get my turkey fix then.

home xmas day but just 2adults/3kids ones a baby
boxing day mam and sis coming over do small buffet then
new years even will do buffet type tea in house may invite freinds over.
new years day over aunts and she does the best food.

cyclingyorkie

We defrosted and inventoried the contents of the freezer last weekend - and we are currently eating our way through them to make way for the Christmas stuff. None of the kids have noticed/complained..which makes me feel we should do it more often!;)

We sorted out the cupboard a while back and threw out a couple of christmas puds that had gone out of date - I would have served them...but you know what kids are like...... Anyway we have bought an appropriate no this year - 1 tiny gluten free one for me and a small one for OH and DD1. The other 2 don't eat it so will have a small chocolate gateau.