Xmas dinner

Our family tradition is to have a takeaway we let the kids pic this year its Chinese, we’ve done this tradition since I was little and just carried it on , I can then concentrate prepping the meat and veg and then having a deep clean of the kitchen and livingroom , one the kitchen has been cleaned and food prepped the kitchen is then closed off for the rest of the day x

I’ve normally done a variety of buffet food, however this is our first Christmas with our baby who’ll be 3 months old and it’s going to be our first time hosting Christmas Day so we’ve decided to start the takeaway tradition😊

Depends on budget. We started a couple of years ago that we book to eat out. We have a wander around the shops (the less busy ones) pick up some treats then go for a meal. Go home get cosy and put the tv on with the goodies we’ve bought. When lg gets a bit older we will start going the cinema too. I also like the take away or buffet idea

We are making our own pizza’s. Last Xmas eve we just did Christmassy ones this year we are doing snowman edition! It’s a competition between us. Could be a fun idea to do with your kids 😊

We have a fish pie. Can be made ahead and we like to have fish the day before as I can get a bit too meat heavy for us otherwise.

Little picky bits buffet is always a winner , you could get the kiddos to make their own choices on what to add to the table & prepare it all together. Maybe you could decorate a gingerbread house too, make it a table centre piece? Followed by Christmas movies and hot chocolate of course 🎅

Takeaway, there is NO way I’m cooking and clearing up on Xmas Eve 😂

Do they like to eat salmon? A couple of years ago I made a really epic take on a festive salmon nachos - I used bilinis which I heated in the oven, along with some hot roasted salmon which I cooked for about 10 mins to get it warm and then mixed some horseradish with some Tabasco, creme fraiche and salt and pepper and drizzled it over the top. Served it with lemon and it had all of the festive vibes. If you need something more kiddy friendly, I’d maybe roast some crumpets and cut them into cubes, then take some chipolatas which you’ve cooked in a honey and mustard glaze and chopped into pieces, toss them in with the crumpets and then smother in cheese and lea and perrins and put under the grill for 5-10 until the cheese browns. Depending on what you fancy, you could then add some blobs of cranberry sauce or chutney and some dollops of crème fraiche if you think it needs some more moisture to make the whole thing more like a nachos of sorts.

I’ve also seen M&S are doing a charcuterie tree this year which you could totally rip off for much cheaper with your own bits and bobs of cheese, hams and pickles etc.