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[honeybun]

Have you decided on your Xmas menu and are you left doing the whole lot.

Hubby and I were talking last night about how stressful Xmas was when the kids were young. Getting the presents sorted after the kids went to sleep....whoever thought it was a smart idea to put them up the loft  . Then getting up at silly o'clock with the kids who were convinced "he" had been and then slaving in the kitchen cooking for fourteen folk and being too tired to eat and getting squiffy on too much wine.

This year it's dinner for four cooked by all of us.
Smoked salmon starter.
Turkey and pheasant for main with all the trimmings.
Xmas pudding for those who want
Then a nice cheese board.

Too much wine and then chocs later for those who are awake 

So much easier since I hung up my mass catering apron and refused to do the extended family do.

Honeyb
X

[littleminnie]

Turkey and Pork this year with all the trimmings.
There's only me that likes Xmas pudding so we will have something else.
Having it about 5 o'clock this year.  OH will be cooking.   

[Joyce]

This year we're going to son & GFs for Christmas. She's doing mains I'm doing two desserts & starts are selection of bought pates. 6 adults & 2 grandchildren.

I got knickers in a twist New Year 2013 though. Spent whole blooming day in kitchen.

So this year we are having:

Pates
Beef & ham with, pigs in blankets with assorted veg & potatoes
Lemon mousse & Raspberry meringue pie

Got an awful lot of parcels to take. Santa's stuff will have to go in car boot until big night. Looked out piles of Christmas DVDs to tire eldest GD out.

Sounds like you will have a lovely time HB. Much less stressful all round. 

[CLKD]

For over 40 years Mum has cooked pheasant with all the trimmings, DH helps these days as Mum finds it a bit of a hassle.  Bread sauce and stuffing followed by plum phd and brandy sauce.  She buys the veg., cheese etc., we take the pheasants for roasting ………. Boxing Day we take a lump of beef which DH's bro/wife cook with trimmings.  Job Done!

[Limpy]

Smoked salmon and probably brown bread.

Roast duck, with prunes in armagnac, boiled  potatoes - roast too heavy, green beans, sprouts or red cabbage perhaps. 

Probably remaining prunes with ice cream for pudding or christmas cake.
Mind you the prunes also go amazingly well with roast lamb which is what we'll be having in boxing day.....     

Oh - cooked by me mostly, OH very helpful when draining duck fat

[andius]

We have a big Xmas breakfast after opening our presents.
So....eggs, bacon, sausage,  blueberry bisquits, asst. of various jams, fruits, etc. Hubby cooks pancakes.


I will probably cook tamale soup for supper...it is very heavy.  Cut up tamales, enchilada sauce, tortilla soup mix, hominy and black beans with grated cheese, garnished with tortilla chips.  My other option is shrimp gumbo for dinner over rice. Peppermint ice cream for dessert.

We used to have a big dinner, but no one ate it and I spent all the time cooking and cleaning up.  It is only 1 month since the traditional Thanksgiving feast and it is too soon for the same type of foods for us.

Andius

[littleminnie]

And a nice bottle of wine andius?

[CLKD]

Prunes in armanac will do  nicely <hands over glass > 

[andius]

 

Wine would be great, but as all my family is over 21, it will likely be something a little harder!
Definitely some eggnog with whiskey as a toddy, but mixed drinks otherwise.  You have got me thinking.....I usually serve mimosas with breakfast, but we may have prickly pear margaritas with supper. We will be missing my older son and his new fiancee as they will be with her family.

My grandma used to make bread pudding with brandy sauce when I was a kid.  What is the recipe for your brandy sauce CLKD, if you don't mind my asking? I have never been able to duplicate grandma's.

Andius

[Pennyfarthing]

Turkey, homemade stuffing, homemade bread sauce, roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, carrots, chipolata sausages, leeks, gravy.  Xmas pud and brandy cream. Very traditional but it's what they all like! 

Cooking for 5 and I do the cooking.  Hubby and DD prepare all the veg though and DS always does pots and loads dishwasher.

[Scampi]

On Saturday (Yule), I will be cooking for 8 adults and 2 children - really looking forward to it!  Cooking lots of food is my favourite bit of this time of year.  We are having:

Turkey
stuffing
stuffing and sausagemeat loaf
pigs in blankets
roast and mashed potatoes
carrots
sprouts
maple and mustard glazed parsnips
cauliflower cheese
proper gravy (made with giblet stock)
bread sauce
cranberry sauce

.... there will be some sweet stuff around, but most people don't have room!!!

On Christmas Day, we will be at my Mum's, and I'll be doing a toned-down version of the above for the 4 of us (no stuffing and sausagemeat loaf, no parsnips, a turkey breast roast rather than a full bird).

[CLKD]

Mum buys a packet, adds boiling water and stirs the bread sauce until it's 'done'  - I can't stand the stuff myself 

[Scampi]

I have to confess 'my' bread sauce and stuffing both come out of packets!!  I (and my family) prefer Paxo to home-made, and I've never tried making bread sauce.  I'm sure it's easy (looks it from recipes and seeing it on TV), but the packet version tastes fine and is quick and easy - much as I love cooking (and 'faffing' as my mum calls it!), some things have to give when you're trying to get a meal the size of the 'festive feast' on the table!!

[Rowan]

Just for the two of us, so will have a turkey crown, I prefer packet bread sauce and stuffing too. Plenty or roast potatoes (like them cold with left overs) fancy Brussels sprouts and glazed parsnips,  cranberry sauce, the best part is the gravy ( OH hates gravy ) so as its just for me, turkey flavoured with a drop of red wine.

Red wine for OH and purple grape juice for me.

Christmas pudding with brandy or whisky cream.

My turn to cook this year.

[Greyhoundgal]

We were supposed to be going to my sister's (she runs a pub and her husband is an excellent chef) but had to cancel today - even if hubby is out by then he's not going to feel like socialising and won't really be able to drink (or eat much) so it seems a bit pointless.