Christmas Eve/Christmas day/Boxing Day Menus.

Amanda65

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

Do many supermarkets take orders for collection? That's not something I've ever done before and didn't know it was an option for things other than special order meats etc.

I'm tempted to buy my big joints in advance and freeze them then pack them in an insulated bag for the journey up...chances are they'll still be frozen when we arrive but it'll be ok timing for them to thaw for use over the next few days.

Tesco do a click and collect option for you to pick up your order from a nominated store. I've never used it but might be worth looking into.

lunar

SugarSpun wrote: »

Right. Cook bacon and chop it smallish (or buy lardons and fry them. Whatever). Hardboil some eggs, peel them and chop them smallish. Throw them in a bowl with the bacon. Add generous amounts of grated cheese (I use whatever the white kind that isn't mozzarella that comes grated in supermarket bags is). Mix it all around. Now add mayonnaise. Add as much as you think will bind it all together, then add another heaping spoonful or generous squirt and stir it all together. It should be quite wet; if it isn't add more mayo (Christmas is no time to be worrying about calories but if you are use light mayo). Add some pepper and salt (I never add salt normally but some people like it). You can do this the day before, just cover the bowl with cling film and leave it in the fridge. I do it on Christmas Eve while my pasta bake is cooking and then I clean the kitchen up enough that it looks all nice for the inevitable disaster of messy cooking Christmas Day will bring.

When you're about half an hour or so away from being ready to eat them:

Turn your grill on and lift the grill pan out. Split your English muffins and top with the egg/bacon/cheese mix, making sure that it goes right up to the edges. Then lay them on the grill pan and put them under your grill till they are bubbly and starting to brown.

The key is having enough mayo and cheese. They are a bit dry if you're stingy with your dairy products.

Thank you for this, may have to give them a trial run this weekend!

2gorgeousgirls

Have 8 for dinner, my mum, DH's parents, DH's aunt, DH, our 2 gorgeous girls and of course me.

Don't eat 3 course meals the rest of the year so don't do it on Christmas either.

Main course and dessert (usually about 1.5 hours after dinner as we don't usually do desserts either).

I do some prep and clean up but hubby cooks, yeah!!

Very traditional, turkey & Ham with creamed and roasted spuds, brussels (obligatory), carrots and peas.

Dessert is usually a pavlova (there would be a riot if it wasn't available) and maybe a lemon meringue and (this year) a Christmas pud (DH's parents are the only people who eat it and they only come to us every 3 years).

As I have to travel 70 miles on Christmas eve to get my mum and then take her back on Boxing Day, I try to spend as much time as possible on Christmas Day relaxing and spending time with the family rather than stressing about food.

Breakfast is whatever everyone wants when they want it rather than all sitting down together. The same goes for later in the day, if anyone is hungry in the evening then they get fed sandwiches, salad, fruit etc.

My favourite time of the year, but hate the shops in the last run-up which is why I already have my Christmas pressies bought and will be stocking up with everything (except fruit and veg) at least 2 weeks before the big day.

pinkypig

WOW you organised lot!!
I have never managed to be this organised but this year I am going to start :j

We always have a house full at Christmas which I love but it is a lot of work and a bit of forward planning will really help so here goes;

Xmas Eve - 8 of us

Beef in Guiness, baked potatoes and braised red cabbage which can be shoved in the oven and left to its own devices. Christmas cobbler and whipped cream for pudding. This is great because it can be made in advance and popped into the oven when the casserole comes out.

Xmas Day

Breakfast for 16:eek::eek:
Pancakes (cooked in advance and put in freezer)
Bacon, sausage and black pudding (cook day before and put in oven proof dish covered in foil and reheat next day)
Mushrooms
Nigella's cheese and egg strata (actually best made night before and left in fridge uncooked - only takes about 20 mins to cook the next day).

Very late lunch - usually 4 ish for 6 of us

Starter - HM pate (chicken liver or smoked salmon)

Main - Roast turkey, Bacon rolls, sausage and chesnut stuffing, sprouts, cauli cheese, roast potoatoes, honey roast carrots and parsnips, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Pudding - HM Christmas pudding with rum sauce and a chocolate truffle torte.


late supper - cheese board, pickles and crackers

Boxing day

Day off :j:j:j:j:j:j

Eating up left overs - lovely!

That's the plan so all i need to now is stick to it...:rotfl::rotfl:

Tiglath

I'm at the mercy of my sister this year, so I'm just taking Christmas dinner dessert. I know Mum will insist on roast parsnips and mashed swede. Sis is angling for homemade white chocolate cheesecake, and I might also do a plain baked cheesecake with salted caramel sauce.

cdsmiler

pinkypig wrote: »

Xmas Eve - 8 of us

... Christmas cobbler and whipped cream for pudding. This is great because it can be made in advance and popped into the oven when the casserole comes out.....

Oooooooooooo what's Christmas cobbler!?!?!

Clare x

shezam

This has got me right in the xmas mood! We are going out this year though, which is going to be weird but lovely to not have to cook. There's 12 of us going out then back to mine for drinks.

I will no doubt have to cook little bits and bobs of party food when I return but thats just an oven job

shezam

I guess the one thing about eating out is no leftovers. Also it is quite expensive. £35 per head for 3 courses? Hopefully its worth it!

mildred1978

shezam wrote: »

I guess the one thing about eating out is no leftovers. Also it is quite expensive. £35 per head for 3 courses? Hopefully its worth it!

That's cheap!! Place near here is £80 for adults and £40 for kids!!

pinkypig

cdsmiler wrote: »

Oooooooooooo what's Christmas cobbler!?!?!

Clare x

Hi Clare

It is so easy and looks and tastes lovely!

1 large apple roughly chopped
10 oz of dried mixed fruit
4 oz of cranberries (fresh or dried)
4oz of dried apricots
6 oz brown sugar
zest of one orange
generous teaspoon of mixed spice
1 pt of red wine (or cranberry juice if you don't do wine)

Warm through and gently bring up to a simmer. Simmer for 10 mins or until liquid becomes a syrup.
Pour into oven proof dish

To make cobbler topping rub 3 oz of butter or marg into 8 oz of SR flour. Add sugar to taste (the base is very sweet so you don't need much). Mix in one beaten egg and 2 tablespoons of milk.
Roll into about 8 balls and then flatten the slightly. Place on top of fruit mixture and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake in oven for about 15 mins at 180 degrees ( or until golden brown). Dust with icing sugar and serve with chilled whipped cream (although I'm sure it would be just as nice with ice cream or even custard).

Looks really festive and the whole house smells like Christmas. it can also be made well in advance and baked later or once baked it freezes really well.

Best of luck with your festive plans :j

PP xxx