Christmas 2018 - Mega index and Christmas chat!!!!

SIRENS

I've bought 4 alternative calendars this year, a bath bomb/soap one for dd an eraser one for ds and for the first time we've had one in about 30 years, I bought dh a candle one and a coffee one for me, am so excited!

freyasmum

Cuddlymarm, come on in; the more the merrier!

Now that we have bonfire night over and done with (at least for us), we can get on with focussing on Christmas.

I have created a spreadsheet to track spending on festive food and drink :A

We will be having a warm mushroom tart, served with a simple green salad for starter (cost: less than 50p per portion)

Our main course will be a choice of turkey or beef with every imaginable trimming, projected cost circa £5-6 per person.

Followed by (ahem) Christmas Pudding with custard, mini individual trifles, salted caramel profiterole gateaux or pavlova with limoncello curd and flaked almonds. Goodness only know how much that little lot will cost!

We will also have a cheese board.

There is so much choice as some people don't like certain things! Needless to say, it will all go at one point or another.

VfM4meplse

freyasmum wrote: »

Cuddlymarm, come on in; the more the merrier!

Now that we have bonfire night over and done with (at least for us), we can get on with focussing on Christmas.

I have created a spreadsheet to track spending on festive food and drink :A

We will be having a warm mushroom tart, served with a simple green salad for starter (cost: less than 50p per portion)

Our main course will be a choice of turkey or beef with every imaginable trimming, projected cost circa £5-6 per person.

Followed by (ahem) Christmas Pudding with custard, mini individual trifles, salted caramel profiterole gateaux or pavlova with limoncello curd and flaked almonds. Goodness only know how much that little lot will cost!

We will also have a cheese board.

There is so much choice as some people don't like certain things! Needless to say, it will all go at one point or another.

Your family is being well-looked after! I'd be more than happy with the starter and dessert / cheeseboard. So yummy!

freyasmum

I can never quote on my phone, but I hope so!

We (read: OH) are massive overcaterers anyway,
and we don't see family all the time, so we go for it when we all get together.

I'm also cooking a small gammon on Christmas Eve. I've always wanted to, but this is our first Christmas season completely in our own home, so this is the first chance I've had to do it. The gammon is for boxing day (which I almost prefer to Christmas Day!) and will be served with bubble and squeak made with leftover sprouts and mash or parbaked baguettes and homemade piccalilli and chilli jam. OH will be having the obligatory turkey and chips!

Any leftover turkey recipes will be very well received!

nannywindow

Hi :wave:

I bought this morning - a ninten*o game for DGS, a crafting set for DGD, 4 rolls of kids Xmas wrapping paper and some biscuits for cheese ( and the marzipan I forgot in my last shop :doh: ) So I am plodding along nicely . Next week I need to get the Xmas cakes started, as I have all the necessary ingredients now.
On Boxing day we will have our gammon along with cold cuts of turkey and pork. DH always makes a turkey curry too, which has become a Christmas tradition.

MandM90

I'm getting so excited!

This will be our first Christmas in our own home, and not having to host or visit anyone. And we're having our home redecorated in Nov/Dec so it shall feel beautiful to us!

Have started to put together a high level plan (love a plan!)

2nd Dec:

Family Festive Fun day:
Watch a Christmas movie, eat our first mince pies, put up the tree and decorations

9th Dec:

Family Festive Fun day:
Go for a frosty winter walk, gather holly and oven dry orange slices - make a wreath!
Snuggle with a Christmas movie whilst writing Christmas cards

16th Dec:

Family Festive Fun day:
Bake cake for Christmas day (bizarrely will be vegan carrot cake at DD's request :rotfl:) and freeze for the big day
Snuggle with a Christmas movie whilst wrapping gifts

23rd Dec:

Invite friends/neighbours over for mulled wine and giggles

24th:

Day: Clean house and pre-prep Christmas dinner

Evening: Meeting my mum, sister (and probably allll my neighbours!) at our local pub

25th (how I imagine it!):

Pad downstairs in jimjams, get woodburner going, music on, put croissants in oven and sip Bucks Fizz as DD opens gifts.

Have breakfast together

Have baths, then go out for a Christmas walk

Pint at local pub (they open for 2 hours in the middle of the day)

Go home, cook and eat lunch (all prepped the day before)

Read, watch movies, play games and have a drink or seven.

Pick at leftovers/nibbly food (samosas, olives, etc all on the list) all evening.

Boxing day:

Host in laws for a 'lunch'. And by lunch I mean put out some nice bread, dips, salad bits and cake....and booze!

nannywindow

Another of DGS presents arrived today - Fortnite Monopoly. It's been hard to get as everyone wants this game, but I was in the right place at the right time :j. ( That makes a change! ) However I'm sure Monopoly used to be in a much bigger box than this one.

C_J

I have just had emailed confirmation that my doubled-up Sainsbobs nectar vouchers have been dispatched so hopefully they will arrive in time for me to spend them next week. It is a bit annoying that there is only a one-week window in which you are allowed to spend them in store (and I am really hoping the things I want will be available). I have saved the nectar points for a few months so have now doubled up to £200 - woooooo!

Laura_Elsewhere

That's why we get ours in store, rather than pre-ordering them - we go and get the things we want in a basket/ trolley and then go to Customer Services and get the vouchers, so we aren't left with unspendable vouchers!

We're off to the big mega-Sainsbury's when we're passing a nearby city, in hopes they have more of what we want!

VfM4meplse

MandM90 wrote: »

Bake cake for Christmas day (bizarrely will be vegan carrot cake at DD's request :rotfl:)

Now this sounds interesting! Recipe?

beenthere_donethat wrote: »

the meal has to cater for meat eaters, a vegetarian, a pescatarian and a vegan, so it will need military precision planning :rotfl::)

Life is hard enough as it is so go with the lowest common denominator. Bite the bullet and make one big vegan meal.