I have just booked our Christmas Dinner at a hotel we used for two years running and loved it.
I did it to stop my wife having to shop, prepare, cook, serve. consume, clear up and wash up. Being considerate as I am.
So she said "I will just have to do it all Boxing Day"...………………………………. just can't please some people.
I'm a lousy cook Terry. I can feed myself but cooking is an art I have never mastered. I do a packet from the freezer and into the microwave with no washing up. To me thats efficiency.
And what's wrong with a boiled egg and toast dippers for Christmas lunch ?
The egg of course, represents chicken and the toast all the veggie bits, the butter is the fat content, if you put it on thickly enough.
Job's a good'un, problem solved, everyone will be happy and relieved (except Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Coop and any others I've overlooked).
Pie party sounds a good idea. Perhaps guests could all bring one?
Ray, Boxing Day is not as pressured, I don't think, than Christmas Day for the cook. We always used to go out but then others wanted to join us and they moaned about silly things and spoilt it. We now share the duties with our daughter. It is her turn this year. Phew! I don't mind cooking but hate entertaining.
Yes Pat, Boxing Day is to me leftovers and bubble & Squeak. Less pressure as I tend to get anxious before any big event which spoils it for me and probably my wife.
Little annoyances can get blown out of all proportion in the height or discussion and can cause festering for ages.
I like to see and analyse the menu well beforehand and my wife hates to know. Leaving her choice until the waiter is hovering. We are both Geminis but so different in many ways. She likes dressing up and I hate it. She likes a crowd round the table and I like a select few.
Yes Dave, eggs anyway with toast and for a real treat crumpets.!
An evening meal, people can pop in and out informally during the day as they wish , I won’t be cooking till evening, when basically it’s a lamb roast dinner, which I’ll enjoy cooking and eating
We could go to family for Christmas lunch but I’d rather relax at home , pop to the pub at dinner time to meet up for an hour or so with whoever gets there without worrying about the meal
Christmas Eve I’ll cook the turkey and a ham ready for butties over the festive season, watch TV and relax
Tins of chocolate assortments, boxes of chocolate biscuits, that’s the grandkids sorted when they drop in
My busy time will be Fri/ Saturday and I shall be well rested by then
Oh no! Another family with a mashed potato problem
In our house my mother had to make mashed potato for one brother and boiled or roast for the other. One would only eat margarine and the other would only eat butter. Me? I just had to eat what was put in front of me
I can't bear it if people complain I have not entertained for about 25 years, ever since my brother and sister in law came to Sunday dinner. One asked if I had salted the potatoes and the other asked me if I always cooked the meat "that way". It was all perfectly edible. My sister in law never has a meal anywhere without complaining. I did have them over for Christmas once. She walked in the door and I asked her what she would like to drink (she always drank gin and I had bought some in, as well as various other spirits etc etc) She asked for something like Dubonet and lemon which I have never known her to drink before or since. When I apologised, and listed all the other options on offer, she huffed and puffed and said how much she wanted her first choice! I felt like I had ruined her Christmas
I used to have my mum and, of course, I now have my daughter who has been brought up to be grateful for any food at all , every other Christmas.
Yes Pat. My wife likes the more the merrier but more than six with my hearing causes serious conversational difficulties. We have six for lunch today and it's OK.
Now Sandra If you had been brought up by my mum you would be like me. She was from the East End of London where they compete over who has the cleanest door knocker or the prettiest lace curtains. When we had guests the tension in the house was palpable in case they should find a speck of dust or that we had run out of their favourite tipple. My mum would say that she would not be able to hold her head up amongst her friends or relatives if they found the slightest thing not to their liking. Those emotions, daft though they are, do not leave you.
Funnily enough I used to host the whole of my daughter's primary school class for her Birthday as it was near the end of the summer term. I met one of her class mates recently who told me that she still remembers them as the best parties of all! I refused to give out party bags but just gave the kids loads of food and loads of freedom (we had four acres) along with pony rides and hugs from goats. I remember Chris dressing up in a huge lion outfit, one year, and our German Shepherd nearly killing him when he charged through the door growling at all the assembled kids!
Now Sandra If you had been brought up by my mum you would be like me. She was from the East End of London where they compete over who has the cleanest door knocker or the prettiest lace curtains. When we had guests the tension in the house was palpable in case they should find a speck of dust or that we had run out of their favourite tipple. My mum would say that she would not be able to hold her head up amongst her friends or relatives if they found the slightest thing not to their liking. Those emotions, daft though they are, do not leave you. .
I have just been through that today Pat. Everting has to be just tickety boo for the guests who hardly notice. As long as I pour and my wife serves up plates everyone goes away happy. I was told it was too hot and two guests went outside to cool down. But apart from that all was delicious.
Our problem (or my wifes) is one of the ladies is a Egon Ronet award winner twice. So although they don't really compete it's kinda necessary to at least impress.
Our friends are sorta wine snobs but my satisfaction is proudly announcing that a wine they say they like is €2 from Lidl.
Well don’t come back if our relationship depends on that
My time is running out anyway
And I ain’t going to spend it trying to be perfect in the eyes of others
I’m old, I’m going to wear purple
And bask in the fact
My grandkids who know nothing think I almost am
Told you Pat, chips, hot dogs and chocolate biscuits swings it >
Sandra
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