Christmassy one-pot type entertaining? Inspiration needed please!

snowleopard61

I'm feeding 8 people for a pre-Christmas get-together on Christmas Eve. I suspect it's probably more economical to give them a one-pot type hot meal than lots of snacks, although I'm not sure which I'm going to do yet. We have mainly meat-eaters with a couple of vegetarians, and I wouldn't mind doing a separate meat and vegetarian dish.

The obvious sorts of things would be chilli with garlic bread, lasagne etc., but somehow they don't seem very Christmassy. Has anyone any ideas for a Christmassy version of this type of food, without breaking the bank?

Grimbal

How about a tagine - with all those dried fruits & spices in it, it's a bit reminiscent of Xmas flavours perhaps? Easy to do a veggie & meaty one, and cous cous is a doddle to make up quickly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/moroccanlambtagine_6696

Maybe make up the sauce/fruit for both, then divide out:

1 x lamb
1 x veggie - add root veg & chickpeas

then slow cook them both in the oven together

snowleopard61

That sounds pretty promising - though I've never heard of argan oil except in the context of hair care! Is it the same thing?

And if you don't have a tagine, do you cover the casserole dish with foil or something in the oven?

ETA: I only have pyrex dishes and other shallow serving dishes like lasagne dishes, not a proper casserole.

Grimbal

snowleopard61 wrote: »

That sounds pretty promising - though I've never heard of argan oil except in the context of hair care! Is it the same thing?

And if you don't have a tagine, do you cover the casserole dish with foil or something in the oven?

never used it myself, so can't say what it does for the dish, but many tagine recipes dont use it, so I'd probably leave it out


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil#Culinary_uses


I would just put everything in a casserole dish, as you said, and cover with either a lid or foil - it's just a stew really !

ETA: Am sure a lasagne dish would be absolutely fine

snowleopard61

That sounds really good, and better still if I don't have to buy anything expensive such as special oil.

I may try making a veggie one soon and see how it turns out, with a view to doing both for the get-together.

Still open to further suggestions too!

Grimbal

how about a fondue? Very retro I know, but all that booze & cheese is very indulgent during the season of excesses !

oldtractor

Potato Hash with pickled red cabbage.

snowleopard61

Grimbal wrote: »

how about a fondue? Very retro I know, but all that booze & cheese is very indulgent during the season of excesses !

Sounds fab but one of the main people is on a really restricted diet and cheese is a major no-no! I'd love it myself ...

snowleopard61

oldtractor wrote: »

Potato Hash with pickled red cabbage.

That does actually sound really yummy, although I'm not sure it would suit my particular guests. How do you make your potato hash though? I'd love it for a family meal.

heavenleigh

Last year was the first year i have ever ventured out Christmas Eve (usually too busy with last minute things i've forgotten about)
We went to a friends and had mulled wine and hot dogs on a BBQ. Can honestly say it was the best C.Eve ever! something about everyone outside with festive sausages in buns in the cold catching heat from the BBQ was quite magical! And to finish it off we set a few fireworks off! Kids in awe, adults smiling, i'd really recommend it! Sometimes it's the odd things you do that make the best memories :0) sure you'll have fun whatever you chose xx

snowleopard61

Heavenleigh, that does sound great fun. I think it may prove a bit too tricky in my garden (not very scenic, lots of mud, no lights and one toddler, plus problems if I plan for dry weather and get rain!), but as a spontaneous one it sounds great and so relaxed.