Xmas Lunch at our house (with 2 under 18 months)...
I know it is early but i am planning ahead lol
Any tips of surviving the family christmas lunch (about 20-25 people) at our house this year with a 18 month and 2 month old?
Exactly what BG said and what fun!! I LOVE Christmas but it shouldn't be stressful at all especially as you have little bubs and one that will be having their first Christmas and the other that will be much more aware this year!
Yes i am going to delegate food for people to bring, might have a few bbq hot things that DH can cook.
Great ideas girls.
I am excited about having it here. (even laybyed a christmas tree.. yes they are in the stores lol)
And i am telling my self it will be easier here with the 2 littlies that having to trek them around the country side all day visiting family lol
so you wouldnt be offended invited to xmas lunch and being told to bring a certain food or item>?
plan in advance (have as much done ahead of time as you can!) - last year, we had almost everything ready in advance - just put it all in the oven to cook on the day. things like vegies for roast were prepared the night before, pork cooked on the bbq the day before. lamb seasoned and sitting, ready to go, in the fridge to put on in the morning
and DELEGATE!! i don't care if it's YOUR year to do Christmas - why should you be put under a mammoth amount of stress just so everyone else gets to enjoy the day - you should be able to enjoy your Christmas day as well - give out jobs - find something that each person/family is good at, and make it their responsibility!
for us, Christmas used to be salad (prepared the night before), ham and bbq chook, cos it was "too hot" for mum to cook - if that flaots your boat, go for it - but it's not what we do now. i figure Christmas can be a bit more effort
now, it's roast lamb, beef and pork - usually cooked on the rotisserie on the bbq. either bro and hi family stay here, or we stay at their place. up early to put the meat on to cook, then chill over breakkie. we do cheat, and get bbq chicken - only cos mum needs to have "something" she can do - and that's about all we trust her with we then have cauli/broccoli in white sauce (which you can make in advance, and freeze - defrost the day before, and throw in the oven), baked spuds (you can cheat and buy the frozen packet ones), and a mixture of other baked vegies, mixed greens. it's not that difficult if you have it all organised in advance (like vegies peeled and sitting in water in the fridge ready to go). plan your times, and make sure there is someone there that, if bubs is playing up, you can say "ok, you need to do this NOW" and take the pressure off yourself
dessert wise - always delegate. unless you are the only person that can make perfect plum pudding, leave it to someone else!!
and in all honesty, ANY family that expects you to do it ALL when you've got a newborn, needs to be dished up fish and chips and told not to whinge cos they don't deserve anything more!
I had forgotten about the whole thing of Christmas lunch/dinner. Thankfully our family is nice and small, so its only like cooking for about 5.5 people at any meal.
At Christmas, I'll be nearly due to hatch, so I'm not about to go to any great trouble. I will have to pull my finger out and do my own preparation though. Our Christmas' may be small, but I do want them to be special. As does everyone I am sure. I think I will try to get Christmas happening here this year. I don't want to drive to the other sides of Melbourne when I'm nearly due. People can come to me! I know I will make my delicious Christmas Trifle.
I agree with Rach, and get people to bring food. Talk to each of them and see what they are capable of doing (not just being able to buy a caterer's pack of salad, anyone can do that), ie who can make what. Just because its at your place doesn't mean you have to hang yourself in getting everything done. You provide the venue, they provide the dishes (of food I mean). Make sure you get people to help you clean up afterwards. Get the children to crush all the recycling, if you can drag them away from their new toys! BYO is a good idea too, if anyone drinks.
Kafer, you'll be okay. If the day gets too much for you, just run away to the bedroom and nap with bubs! No one can deny a new Mum a bed to lie down on.
Pink Palace, I would not be offended to be asked to bring anything. I would be more than happy to be able to make my favourite Christmas dish for others to share. I can't beleive the trees are already in the stores!
Bear, You have some marvellous menu ideas! Your guests would have been spoilt!
Sorry for the long post! I'm off to do some planning, and to go back through the Christmas thread in the recipes section. I'm making the most of having a sick little bub curled up asleep on my lap.
we've already pretty much got Christmas planned for this year. it will be at my brother's place as they have kids already, and it's better for them to be able to play with their toys at home - plus they have more freedom to be in and out of the house there (we dont have proper fences, so someone has to be outside with them for safety). we have the "shared meal" thing down to a fine art as we do this pretty much every week, so it will just be a case of feeding an extra few people (my old's, an intellectually disabled aunt, maybe SIL's parents)
bro is keen to do a roast turkey breast for him and DH, so that will be done in the oven, roast lamb in the dutch oven on the shed fire - makes the shed warm, but OMG - DIVINE FOOD!! takes about 3-4 hours, depending on the size of the piece of meat, so bro will get up in the morning and put it on. pork and beef cooked day before on the bbq rotisserie. my aunt will buy a chook just so she can contribute, and the old's will supply some ham. i'll make vegie bake in advance and freeze it ready to go. other baked veg will be prepared the night before and just put in the oven to cook. green veg is easy. once the lamb is done, i'll make the gravy, DH carves the meat, SIL sorts out the simple veg, and bro grabs the other stuff from the oven (which is in their laundry) - that's about the only time it's busy in the kitchen - the rest of the time we just flit about and do our part, entertain the kids etc
what i would suggest for anyone having extra people over - learn to reliquish control of your kitchen!! dance the tango with anyone that is trying to help (unless they're taking over your signature dish!), and above all - don't let Christmas be stressful!!!
we effectively had this same meal (a lot less meat!) at the end of last month for hubby's birthday - but had it here - and only decided on it at about 2pm - it turned out fantastically, and even though it was elaborate for a week night meal, it wasn't stressful as everyone just did their part - even the four year old - she put the sprinkles on uncle boof's birthday cake!!
Registered User
Xmas Lunch at our house (with 2 under 18 months)...
and what fun!! I LOVE Christmas but it shouldn't be stressful at all especially as you have little bubs and one that will be having their first Christmas and the other that will be much more aware this year!
we then have cauli/broccoli in white sauce (which you can make in advance, and freeze - defrost the day before, and throw in the oven), baked spuds (you can cheat and buy the frozen packet ones), and a mixture of other baked vegies, mixed greens. it's not that difficult if you have it all organised in advance (like vegies peeled and sitting in water in the fridge ready to go). plan your times, and make sure there is someone there that, if bubs is playing up, you can say "ok, you need to do this NOW" and take the pressure off yourself
Its coming isn't it!
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks