Christmas Dinners!

Last night, my DH invited his parents over tomorrow (Saturday) so we I can cook them an early Christmas meal before we go on holiday.
So now there is about zero time to prepare, no fresh turkeys at our local Waitrose and no time to defrost one. My in-laws only really eat really traditional roast dinners, so this will be an interesting experiment to see what they will try to eat!

STARTERS
Cranberry Cheddar on fancy crackers   
Mini Yorkshire Puddings

MAINS
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Dirty red Mashed Potatoes
Parmasean Pumpkin Au Gratin OR  Roasted British Veg Medley
Garlic Bread Knots

DESSERT
Chocolate Brownie Trifle
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mint Ice Cream

DRINKS
Hot Spiced Apple Cider (non-alc american kind)

Off to the store soon to buy and make!

I'm making some cranberry-orange Christmas morning muffins ala Nigella for breakfast.

Boxing day will just be snack foods mostly since we are going out, I will probably do a cheese board with some leftover ham and chutney, and I'm planning on making some cranberry and soy glazed cocktail sausages to eat when we stumble in (if I don't land in the bushes first.) 

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful friends!!!
   

Could you please share the recipes for cranberry-orange muffins and cranberry-soy glazed sausages?  I've never met a cranberry I didn't like, and these sound tasty! 

It was 9.99/kg and since there's only 2 of us, we're getting a tiny size turkey -- the guy at the meat counter said it would probably be right around 2kg all in.  Possibly insane?  I don't cook much (or well!) so I'm clueless about what that sort of thing costs because I tend to not cook more than chicken breasts.  

Thanks on the change in plans.  It's a bummer all around.  I am sad to miss the holiday at home, especially since we'd managed to convince my husband's father that he wanted to spend a few days with my family so we could all be together and not spend all of our home time in airports.  But our little cat means so much to us, and she's been so ill (but thankfully is holding steady right now) that I'd spend the whole time worrying and would never forgive myself if something happened while we were away -- and our regular catsitter was happy to refund our non-refundable holiday deposit because it means she's not responsible for a terminally ill cat.  I am pretty sure a lot of people think we're nuts, but our cats are family, too.  

I've just done the exact same thing and ordered a 2kg brined breast from wholefoods, that's probably quite a bit but my boy can eat turkey sandwiches until New Years as they're his favourite thing. I got a french trim pork loin as well. I just need to sort out some small sides but I may just do that in store. I have no energy to cook this year, especially as I'm not eating much yet and the boy would eat clay if it had nutritional value.

I totally understand on the cat thing, you wouldn't be able to relax anyway knowing that something might happen to her. Hope you have a nice holiday at home to compensate

Last night, my DH invited his parents over tomorrow (Saturday) so we I can cook them an early Christmas meal before we go on holiday.

How how nice of him.... 

How did it go? Sounds like a nice menu!

Could you please share the recipes for cranberry-orange muffins and cranberry-soy glazed sausages?  I've never met a cranberry I didn't like, and these sound tasty! 

Here is a link for her Christmas morning muffins:

http://www.nibblous.com/recipe/684

Can't find a link for the cocktail sausages, so I will type this from the book:

Cranberry and Soy Glazed cocktail sausages

125ml Thia sweet chili sauce
60 ml cranberry sauce (from a jar is fine!)
60 ml soy sauce
1 (15ml) Tbsp dark brown sugar
juice of one clementine or satsuma
juice of one lime
50 cocktail sausages

Preheat oven to 200C
Put sausages into a foil lined roasting tin (or foil tin)
Mix the chili, cranberry and soy sauces in a measuring jug and whisk in sugar along with clementine and lime juices
Pour glaze over sausages, turning until coated, and roast in oven for 30 - 40 minutes, with a turnover at 20 minutes.

Nigella says you can also use this glaze as a marinade for spare ribs or chicken wings, which if marinated overnight, should take about 45 mins for the wings and an hour for the ribs at the same temperature.

Sounds easy enough to me!  I've not tried either of these recipes, mind, but expect they would be delicious. 

We're having:
Fancy Roast Beef (Prime Rib or something like that) w/ horseradish
Mashed Potatoes and gravy
Bacon-y Brussel Sprouts
Salad w/ stilton and fruit
Homemade Rolls

Shrimp Cocktail to start

And hazelnut boozy oranget tiramisu for puds

I am thinking about making some pate for appetizers but we'll see.  

You were right not to believe it! Look here! 

LOL!  Just saw this... I knew someone must have started one somewhere! 

Here is a link for her Christmas morning muffins:

http://www.nibblous.com/recipe/684
Thanks, Jewlz!  They sound tasty to me too.  The HEB where I live sells a sweet chili lime sauce that might also work with the sausage recipe.

Can't find a link for the cocktail sausages, so I will type this from the book:

Cranberry and Soy Glazed cocktail sausages

125ml Thia sweet chili sauce
60 ml cranberry sauce (from a jar is fine!)
60 ml soy sauce
1 (15ml) Tbsp dark brown sugar
juice of one clementine or satsuma
juice of one lime
50 cocktail sausages

Preheat oven to 200C
Put sausages into a foil lined roasting tin (or foil tin)
Mix the chili, cranberry and soy sauces in a measuring jug and whisk in sugar along with clementine and lime juices
Pour glaze over sausages, turning until coated, and roast in oven for 30 - 40 minutes, with a turnover at 20 minutes.

Nigella says you can also use this glaze as a marinade for spare ribs or chicken wings, which if marinated overnight, should take about 45 mins for the wings and an hour for the ribs at the same temperature.

Sounds easy enough to me!  I've not tried either of these recipes, mind, but expect they would be delicious.

Thank you, Jewlz!  Our nearest HEB sells a sweet chili lime sauce that I might also be able to use for this recipe.

Thank you, Jewlz!  Our nearest HEB sells a sweet chili lime sauce that I might also be able to use for this recipe.

mariposa you have HEB! <jealous look>

Half of my family are Brits - this is my second christmas back in the UK after over 20 years in the US.  The kids and I have to go without our American treats and have them on another day.  The Brits are very funny about their Christmas dinner or any other traditional dinner for that matter.  Anything unusual is not going to be welcome.  Sweet potatoes etc is not a big thing here.  Hate to be negative just trying to warn you.  Brit chefs to check out their recipes would be Delia Smith which I am using as she has old fashioned Brit type food.  Pierre White is another mothers favorite and coming up behind are Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver but I am finding they are more for the younger pallett.  Good Luck with it all.  Stick to the old fashioned Brit favorites and you will be loved forever!  Merry Christmas

My British family always does sweet potatoes! I love them!

We're doing the traditional thing:

turkey
sage & onion stuffing, sausage stuffing and chestnut stuffing (we like stuffing)
roast potatoes
roast sweet potatoes
sprouts with chestnuts
carrots
maple-glazed parsnips
bread sauce
Grand Marnier cranberry sauce
gravy - and lots of it

And a sherry trifle for afters

I have been asked to bring my sweet potatoes with marshmallows and my pumpkin pie to Christmas! I am converting my British friends one by one ;-)

Asked DH this morning what about his turkey (he's in charge of Christmas) He said "Oh we haven't discussed it." I said I doubted he'll get a fresh one now and a frozen one will probably never defrost in time. Chicken?  I wanted to have steak as I got DS a set of steak knives for Christmas. But no, it has to be turkey or a reasonable facsimile. 

It's just going to be the two of us this year, but I am making ham and roast beef.  Mr A wanted both (mainly, I suspect, for the sandwiches that follow).  Sprouts, Yorkshire puds, scalloped corn, roasted potatoes, etc.  Very traditional and simple this year, but hopefully yummy.  Next year I might try something more elaborate, but we sort of want to focus on other things this year.

Asked DH this morning what about his turkey (he's in charge of Christmas) He said "Oh we haven't discussed it." I said I doubted he'll get a fresh one now and a frozen one will probably never defrost in time. Chicken?  I wanted to have steak as I got DS a set of steak knives for Christmas. But no, it has to be turkey or a reasonable facsimile. 

I saw fresh ones in the supermarket this morning. Hurry - it might not be too late!