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Christmas

christmas day meal

20 replies

CbeebiesIsMyLife · 09/10/2013 16:44

I'm in need of some inspiration. On christmas eve we go to my parents for the day. its when all my brothers and sister come over and we have a big christmas dinner. my mum cooks ham for sandwiches then turkey for dinner.

On boxing day we go to DH's parents house. Dh is 1 of 2 children, the other lives at home and they wait till boxing day to have a christmas day as they dont see the point of celebrating without any children (sil is 42). They cook turkey and beef.

As much as I love these christmas dinners I love having our own traditions too, I want a christmas day lunch but never quite know what to cook! Up until now I've gone with what I've grown up with turkey and ham using left overs for lunches the following days (pil only feed us 1 meal when we go despite us staying over so we have to take packed lunches)

Any ideas of a special meal I can cook for my children that will become a tradition but isnt the same as the day before or the same as the next day? I love that we get to see everyone but get so frustrated at the ridgedness of it all :(

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HavingAnOffDAy · 09/10/2013 17:19

In the past we've had a BBQ on Boxing Day. Is that an option for you?

It's always a welcome rest from stuffy roast dinners for us, and gives us an opportunity to be outside for a while, even if it is just while the sausages cook.

Last year we had a curry (NOT turkey) on Boxing Day & that was well received too.

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HotCrossPun · 09/10/2013 17:23

We always have steak pie on New Years Day, it's quite a common tradition in Scotland.

Or what about a nice big spread on New Years Eve? That's still within the Xmas season, but not too close to the rest of the big meals. You could do a lovely homemade pate, nice cheeses, bake bread, make chocolate truffles etc.

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SugarHut · 09/10/2013 17:27

I'm doing goose this year. It always "was" goose, so figured I would try it for a change. Or do a big fancy rib of beef with the little hats on the legs? Or so you don't have 3 roast dinners in a row, why don't you have yours as "party" day and do like buffet food? Way less stressful and much less time comsuming....

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Ragwort · 09/10/2013 17:45

Do you really have to take a packed lunch to your PILs? Shock.

I can't imagine the scene, do you arrive for lunch, open up your sandwiches, have presents and games and then they cook you a big roast dinner? Why don't you arrive after lunch.

The family dynamics of mumsnetters never ceases to amaze me Grin.

Regarding your own lunch I would suggest either a BBQ or a really scrumptious buffet. Do you like fish - a poached salmon is nice?

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WipsGlitter · 09/10/2013 17:50

You have to take a packed lunch??

Good suggestions above. Curry would've good. We always get a Chinese take away on Christmas Eve.

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SmallBee · 09/10/2013 17:58

We have a 'gammon & salmon' day at some point, usually smoked salmon to start and then a lovely roast gammon usually with a different chef's recipe each year (Nigella/Dehlia etc)
DH's family are half swiss so we also do a raclette around that time, worth googling if you're not familiar with it but its essentially a really nice cheese based meal with new potatoes, cured hams, salad, pickles and things.
A great tradition we don't do but I have heard of is that a lot of French families will have shellfish on Christmas eve for their evening meal. lots of crab, scallops etc.
Or if you want to do something with leftovers you have to go a long way to beat my MIL's Turkey A La king. Which is basically just the leftover turkey with some peas, chicken & mushroom soups and rice. Usually served with the remaining veg!

(our Christmases MIGHT be heavily food based...)

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CbeebiesIsMyLife · 09/10/2013 17:58

I wrote a long ranty post post where I explained how much I hate the set up.

Ragwort its complicated but basicly (due to having many mutual friends, facebook accounts and everyone having cameras) pil are very jealous of the time we spend with my parents and when they find out weve had lunch with them or been to visit (or like today my mum and I took my girls and my bro and sis - 5 and 3 - out pond dipping) they 'demand' to spend the same amount of time with us. my parents live 10 minutes away they live 2.5 hours away Angry

Anyway we try and spend as much time as possible with them. so every visit goes something like this. We try and arrive between 9-10am, then they serve lunch (some sort of roast) around 2pm (bearing in mind we have a 20 month old and a almost 3 year old) then they will announce they are too full for dinner were expected to fall inline and accept this. They aren't breakfast people so don't offer any the next morning and Lunch is again served around 2pm (this time much lighter usually sandwiches or soup) and we leave around 6pm and head straight for the nearest drive through. They'll eat about 8/9pm and dont understand why we cant wait till after then to leave. Its a nightmare so yes I have passive aggressively started taking packed lunches and snacks for us all using their fridge and helping myself to the utensils in their kitchen much to mil disgust, apparently i'm not a good guest. I may not be a good guest but I have 2 toddlers to feed!

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Ledkr · 09/10/2013 18:06

I'm sorry but I wouldn't fucking go!
They sound like idiots.

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deepfriedsage · 09/10/2013 18:16

What?????? Are they poor or tight fisted?

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deepfriedsage · 09/10/2013 18:19

Do a buffet and send leftovers with your DH, when you take the kids to a panto. Don't visit that odd Woman again.

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CbeebiesIsMyLife · 10/10/2013 08:27

Deep, they're not tight fisted or poor.
They've also decided thy next year they want to take all of us to Disneyland which will be lovely. They're paying for accommodation an we are very greatful to them, the dc will love it! We are however having 'discussions' about food, they are insisting on paying for everyone's and I really don't want them too! It's almost like a control thing with them I think. I don't understand why but they need I be in control of when and how much everyone eats. It's very odd.

I might cook a turkey and do a buffet type thing for Christmas Day, dh loves that sort of thing anyway and it'll be much more relaxed. Although I think I'll miss the family sit down meal with just us. We don't often get to sit down as a family as dh works away so often. I need to keep thinking.

What can you do with left over goose?

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CoolaSchmoola · 10/10/2013 08:58

I think bbq sounds fab, and what a brilliant tradition when the kids are bigger. Imagine being the kid at school who gets to nonchalantly say 'Oh we have bbq for Christmas dinner...' - instant cool lol!

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Chottie · 11/10/2013 03:25

Still amazed at PiL and the sandwiches....... I'm a GM, why doesn't MiL just ask you what DGC like to eat, get it in and have it ready when LOs need to eat - simple :) They are very fortunate that you are prepared to go and visit them still.

Regarding Christmas, I think the BBQ idea sounds fun and different.

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deepfriedsage · 11/10/2013 06:47

What an odd pair they are. They want to ruin Disney now as well, do you have to have them come? I would sort my own holiday out as you say your allowing them to control your life.

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raisah · 11/10/2013 11:48

My goodness how odd that they are not prepared to feed their own gc. My dad is continually overfeeding us when we go to visit, it is a very asian thing that we like to feed people. My gran used to say that you express your love for people by feeding them & it looks like your pils arent considering the needs of your young kids.

If your pils are jealous of your family, then they should match the level of hospitality given, not the time. I would wind up your mil by mentioning that your mum cooks your dc their favourite tea, gets in their favourite snacks etc & see how she responds. You are not a guest, you are family and surely you should ignore her & make your dc some porridge. What a dysfunctional woman.

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sonlypuppyfat · 11/10/2013 15:12

I've read it all now a packed lunch to go to your own family. And they sit and watch you eat it!!

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girlywhirly · 11/10/2013 16:01

I would make the holiday conditional that you organise your own meals, or you won't be going.

She has the cheek to call you a bad guest when she is such a bad host, and has clearly forgotten how young DC need regular meals at sensible times. And your DH lets the PIL get away with it. Did he have such weird mealtimes when he was a child? Perhaps you should all limit the amount of time you spend at PIL home regardless of whether she is jealous of the time you spend with your family.

I would be inclined to only go for the day when you visit, arrive a little later in the morning so that the DC can have a snack on the journey, then put up with the late lunch and leave before the DC (and your) tea. There is no benefit to spending the night if you get no breakfast. Could you have a pressing reason to be at home the next day and justify not staying overnight?

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deepfriedsage · 11/10/2013 21:10

I think if you do as raisha suggests you will get fed. Talk about the great food you have at your parents.

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deepfriedsage · 11/10/2013 21:12

Take pictures and put on fb and gush at what a great host your dm is.

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WallyBantersYoniBox · 12/10/2013 23:14

Alongside the Swiss raclette that was mentioned, another upcoming tradition in Switzerland and this region is to have Fondue Chinoise on Christmas day?

A broth rather than cheese fondue pot, with very thin slices of meat to skewer in. If you look in Aldi or Lidl you'll see the meat prepared in the freezer section. Quite light and easy to prepare. My DS loves the whole fondue set up, and it is okay for kids if you supervise it.

It's okay to have by yourselves in the evening too - my ds wasn't really great at sitting for lunch until he got to about 6 yo.

Or you could look to the Swedish smorgasboard style of Christmas eating?

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