what is everyone having for xmas eve meal?

NoahsPennilessMummy

hi

Looking for inspiration for xmas eve meal so just nosing to see what everyone else was planning.

We always had cooked ham, potatoes dauphinoise and veg when I lived at home but thinking of doing something different.....do not want to spend all xmas eve in kitchen hehe:rotfl:

peb

We always do something simple that can be prepared in advance and is a "one pot dish". For example shepherds pie or lasagne. That way you can catch up with family without being stuck in the kitchen.

Bobbykins

Hiya noahs mum :wave: ........I'm with peb on this one. We try to keep it as simple as possible, usually something I've precooked earlier in the month and stuck in the freezer. Last year we had a "curry" night and it was great!

This year, though, going for something needing just a tiny bit more effort, we're having veggie toad in the hole with mash, veg and onion gravy :drool: :drool: :drool: YUM!

Uniscots97

We're keeping it simple too but we're having a buffet style tea. Lots of little nibbles (from Aldi's frozen section) that can be put in the oven and crisps, crudites and dips.

sali_mali

Hello :hello:

There's a thread over on the Christmas board of everyone's festive menus so you'll definately find some inspiration there! We usually have gammon, parsley sauce and mash with some other veg.

kitchpoo

After a tour in the car of the local christmas lights, I am going to do a picnic of nibbly bits in the living room by putting a table cloth down, christmas lights on, christmas movie or music on....nice and christmassy!!!

redruby

we get a selection on nibbles from sainsbugs, things we would not normally have, prawns on skewers, smoked salmon, crisps, dips etc, I set it out on the table, and we can have tea, then help ourselves throughout the evening, and a bottle of something bubbly and expensive :beer:

ageandjo

We usually have a takeaway but this year I think I will do the finger buffet thing and get some nice prawns etc like redruby!!! Hey redruby you are only up the road from me!!!!

LouBlue

I don't have anything special on Christmas Eve, what with all the food on Christmas Day and the days following..........I like to keep it simple and easy. Takeaway for us, whilst watching Its A Wonderful Life.

Horace

I shall be soing something different and my thanks go to Sophie Grigson for the recipe (I pinched it out of Worcestershire Life magazine).

Lancashire Cheese, Apple & Cranberry Pie

Serves 8 as a starter or 6 as a main course. You can use cheddar if you want the cheese to ooze out of the hot pie. You can use leftovers to make it too.

500g puff pastry
a little plain flour for rolling
1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Filling:
2 eating apples, cored and sliced
150g lancashire cheese, crumbled
100g Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce
Salt & Pepper

Divide the pastry into two pieces and roll each one out thinly Cut out a 25-26cm diameter circule (use a dinner plate as a template) from each piece. Lay the first circle of puff pastry on a greased baking sheet. Spread the cranberry sauce over it, leaving a bare 1.5cm border all the way round. Arrange the apple slices over the cranberry sauce, season with salt and pepper, then scatter the cheese over thickly, brushing away any crumbs that have collected on the bare border.
Brush a little of the egg and water mixture over the bare pastry border. Lay the second circle of puff pastry on top, press the edges together to seal, then brush the top with egg mixture. Make a hole i the centre for steam to escape. Score radiating lines from the centre to the edges (or decorate with scraps of puff pastry cut into leaves, apple shapes or whatever takes your fany). Chill for half an hour.
Pre-heat the oven to 220C/425F/gas 7. Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat through. Once hot, take the chilled pie from the fridge and slide straight onto the hot tray in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to 190C/375F/gas 5 and bake for a further 25 minutes.

Can be served hot, warm or cold.

frogga

I just had to read this thread twice ~ I thought you were all talking about what you have on Christmas Day in the Evening!

I was thinking " blimey , wont you all be too full!! "

Then when I read that ageandjo was having a takeaway I thought
" and they'll be open on Christmas Day?" " surely not!"

What a twit! Any way on Christmas EVE we always have chips out of the paper, our only takeaway of the year so we REALLY look forward to it. It is a family tradition as the cook always has too much to do on the day and the last thing you need is more washing up et.c