QUESTION 1 (OR REALLY PLEA 1) - Has anyone any ideas on what to cook for a family get together before Xmas ie not a Xmas dinner? It always lands to me to be the hostess and I am wondering what I can do this year so that most is cold with some hot dishes so that I can enjoy myself (ie have a drink and relax :D :D and not be slaving away in the kitchen all the time?

Help please - 12-16 people in total.

In hope Gina :p :p :p

QUESTION 2 - And who also makes their xmas cakes and puddings - I do even though I am allergic to most of the ingredients - but they do smell nice :D :D

Edited to say: I am not allergic to the booze in them obviously - so I have mine in a glass :)

Can't help with 1 :) but I make my puddings and cakes each year - except that last year we didn't get around to eating the cake and so are having it this year :D (We have done this before - it keeps really well as it is 'fed' with Greek brandy :D and so will be really yummy )

Good luck with your meal - I always do something like salmon - but depends if your people like fish.

Daisy

When we do get togethers its easy stuff likecold meat platters (or you could warm it), salad, potato wedges, crusty bread and dips, egg mayo and chilli mushrooms and a bit of pizza and garlic bread for the kids. but have you though of getting the supermarket magazines witht hteir ideas especially the csristmas ones, cos they always have scrummy stuff in the pics
Happy hunting
Fi xx

how about salmon? that is just simply baked in the oven, so more or less sorts itself. you could serve it with potato salad, other pre prepared vegetable salads. then marks and spencer do a great delivery service if you fancy splashing out :)

Gina I also get to be chief cook and bottle washer as you know and last year had 18. christmas day.
Because there was so many I decided have a buffet lunch where all helped themselves.
I cooked all the meat the day before . The next morning I carved the meat and put little dishes of cranberry mint apple sauce and pineapple slices and salads,on the counter.also fresh fruit salad whipped cream and brandy sauce.
It was then easy do some mash and roasties later on and a nice hot gravy
everyone filled their plates and took it to the ready set tables.
It was much easier then sitting them all down and seving them the meal.
Mari.

Hiya, how about ringing round the relatives and asking them to bring a dish each - they dont have to cook it so a supermarket flan would be fine or a dessert. Keep a note of who pledged what.

Or you could do a big venison casserole with crusty bread and bought salad ( once its in the oven it cooks itself) with good vanilla ice cream and espresso sauce for afters. And get paper plates !

I used to bake the Christmas Pies, Puds and Cake until I totted up the bill and realised it was as cheap and less tiring to buy it in.

Thanks for the replies (LOL@Tanni). I have decided to do a buffet and cook the meats the night before as Marie suggested and get a whole salmon as well. Just got to decide what to feed the veggie who doesnt eat anything with a face or that lived LOL

Gina :p

a buffe with salads etc but also cook a couple of joints of meat and have them warm and salmon always goes well.

15 - 20 lb. Turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Paxo will do)
1 cup uncooked popcorn
Salt/pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush Turkey well with melted butter,
salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with
stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the
back of the oven. Listen for the
popping sounds.

When the Turkey 's ass blows the oven door open and flies
across the room, it is done.

How about a nice curry. You can keep it hot in the oven or reheat in a microwave. If you have a big dish and a plate warmer you can keep it warm and guests can help themselves. A thai red or green curry is easy to make and tastes delicious. Coconut rice to go with it and big bowls of prawn crackers and dips. The good thing about making your own is you can adjust the basic curry paste to hot spicy or cool spicy.
Good luck with whatever you decide
Lorna

:D:D:D Popcorn stuffing, eh? Must try it!

Oh Tanni I have laughed at that

Jean

lol@Tanni best laugh all day
Mari

Try this dip Gina
one 24 oz jar of randell beans [do not drain]
one and a 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 1/2 cup mayo
1/4 teasp garlic powder
assorted crackers and raw veg,
combine randall beans with other ingredients [not the veg and crackers ] and put in casserole dish
bake for 25 mins serve dip with raw veg and crakers
makes 4 cups
you can also do an egg mayo with salad
and this
one cup rice two cups water one can tomatos and green chilli peppers
1 can blackeyed peas

boil the rice add the rest of ingredients and stir then use the veg and crackers for this dip

told you on phone tonight id find something for you lol
I thought id post here in case anyone else may like to try it out
Mari

Hiya Marie, so come on then tell me what`s randell beans, heard of a lot beans but never them?? :)

Christine, Spain

I marinade salmon in lime juice, chillies & garlic for about 12 hours then grill. This is nice served either hot or cold.

I have just sent the link Christine mate lol
you can use any beans you like .
chat later
Mari

Get the caterers in :D
Or a whole salmon with saffron rice, steamed veggies, parboiled asparagus wrapped in pastrami and loads of different breads......lovely!

Hiya Marie, got it thanks :) Pinto beans, we get them here, will have to give it a go when I have the house warming do :)

Christine, Spain.

Sounds tasty - will have a go but let the others eat it - beans :p :p :p
well I might try a little so not to be unsocial LOL :D
Gina

absolutely roflmao at that Tanni :D