Although I’ve prepared Christmas dinner a few times now, this year is only the second time we’ve hosted guests. There will be nine of us eating on the 25th and more arriving for a buffet on Boxing Day.
The need to get the Christmas decs up and prepare the house for visitors means I’m in full-on planning mode. I may not have broken a sweat yet, but I can definitely feel the stress and panic beginning to build.
As well as the obvious, there’s also the various satellite meals to consider, not to mention the drinks, snacks, sweets and treats we all look forward to at this time of year.
Having scribbled countless lists and reminders in my fabulous Christmas Planner from Busy B {c/o} and completed the odd online food shop, I’m hoping I’ll soon start to feel like I have everything under control!
If you subscribe to my Weekend Prompts, you’ll already know that I’ve made a start on some of the cooking. Basically, if I can make it in advance, I will. By the end of this week, the freezer will be full and I’ll have ticked a fair few tasks off my lengthy to-do list.
I cook a lot from scratch, not because I want to be some kind of sanctimonious kitchen martyr, but because I enjoy it. Cooking for and feasting with friends and family is my favourite thing about this time of year.
Here’s a quick glimpse of my meal plan for Christmas week, complete with handy links just in case you’re still in need of some inspiration…
Wednesday 23rd December – Dinner
- Poinsettia cocktails
- Carbonnade a la Flamande served with jacket potatoes and a leafy green salad.
- Carte D’Or Chocolate Hazelnut Log
Christmas Eve – Breakfast
- Bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
Christmas Eve – Lunch
- Spicy Butternut Squash Soup with bread rolls
Christmas Eve – Dinner
- Danish Cold Table
- Cheese board
- Star-Topped Mince Pies and mulled wine
Christmas Day – Breakfast
- Bucks Fizz
- Christmas Muffins
Christmas Day – Mid-Morning Snack
- Toasted brioche and pâté
Christmas Day – Dinner
- Turkey with Allspice Gravy
- Redder Than Red Cranberry Sauce
- Bread Sauce
- Gingerbread Stuffing
- Pigs in Blankets
- Roast Potatoes
- Maple-Roast Parsnips
- Brussel Sprouts with Chesnuts
- Red Cabbage
- Peas, Carrots and Brocoli
- Yorkshire Puddings
- An individual Root Vegetable Gratin with Winter Herb Topping {for Izzy}
- Blackberry and Apple Trifle
- Cheese board and various snacks
Boxing Day Buffet
- Ginger Glazed Ham
- Endless leftovers
- Date and Marmalade Christmas Cake
What will you be cooking and eating this Christmas? How organised are you feeling? After all, there’s only 21 days to go…
Love Audrey xxx
Your menu sounds delicious. I am curious about one thing. I live in the US and we don’t do bread sauce. I have read about it in books and I checked the recipe you linked but I am still not really sure what you do with it. Is it eaten on its own or with something almost like a gravy? Is it similar to a bread pudding except savory and more liquid? I hope you don’t mind me asking, I am just really interested.
I don’t mind at all! It is a bit of an odd dish to be honest! It’s eaten as an accompaniment to the meat, a bit like gravy or cranberry sauce. It’s actually quite hard to describe, but I’d say it’s a thick savoury sauce that you have to spoon on to your plate. As far as I know it’s only ever eaten at Christmas.
I’d be fascinated to hear about Christmas dinner in the US. I know Thanksgiving is all about roast turkey, so do you have something different on the 25th? Are the sides different to here in the UK?
xxx
Thanks for answering. Bread sauce sounds interesting. I think I might have to try making it just out of curiosity. I am planning on making a turkey dinner soon anyway. I am not the best person to ask about traditional Christmas dinners in the US since I don’t celebrate Christmas. A full turkey dinner similar to Thanksgiving is very common, sometimes ham or a roast. You have yorkshire pudding on your menu. That is another thing we don’t have though I would really like to try making it. Also, it seems to me that roast potatoes are very big in the UK. I would say that mashed potatoes are more common in the US. Sorry I am not more help!
Oh you really must try Yorkshire puddings, I can’t imagine serving a roast without them. Sometimes we make giant ones and place everything else on top as if it’s a plate! They’re so good with gravy. If you don’t have Yorkshires, I wonder if you’ve ever tried Toad in the Hole? This is another absolute favourite of mine, especially with onion gravy! >>> http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5822/toad-in-the-hole-in-4-easy-steps
The potato thing is interesting. My mother-in-law actually serves both mash and roasties at Christmas, so I think it probably differs from one family to the next, but roast potatoes are probably more traditional here.
Goodness gracious that’s a lot of planning!
How terribly organised. And so much delicious food.
There is just the two of us this year so I think maybe a heck of a lot of cheese and bubbles will probably suffice.
I’ve been dying to ask- what is Izzy’s tv show called? (I realise it isn’t ‘her’ show but a first little acting gig is terribly special). I am so excited for her.
Cheese and bubbles sounds heavenly!
Izzy’s show is called ‘Thirteen’ and it will air some time in the spring I think. I promise I won’t shut up about it when we know more! So sweet of you to ask!
xxx
Oh wow, you are super organised! We will have at least two guests, last year I cooked for 12 so it should be easier this year.
I am undecided between a turkey or a capon but will also do a beef joint, I do nigella’s cranberry sauce too and her sprouts with chestnuts and Marsala. I did Jamie’s sweet glazed carrots last year and they were delicious so will be doing them again: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/sweet-glazed-carrots/#kI8eAf2DGax37DIV.97
Roasters, mash, stuffing, green veg, pigs in blankets, yorkshires. I’m undecided about a pudding, I’ll be making a baileys & choc cheesecake at some point as my mother in law loves it!
I am hoping to have neighbours over between Christmas and new year and I’ll be serving poinsettia cocktails (love them) and crispy duck.
It’s the tidying that’s the hard work!xx
I’m staring to feel very hungry reading through this list! The cheesecake sounds amazing! Totally agree about the tidying! xxx
Oh I wish I could be there before Christmas Eve dinner – look at what I am missing!! X
We wish you could too! xxx