General Chat

We will have a turkey, as per usual, but I cook gammon, too. Hubby likes to get a large turkey, so I spend the following days turning it into curries, pies, pasta bakes, soup, sandwiches...........!

If anyone has any fresh suggestions on how to use up those leftovers, this jaded cook would love to see them :-\ :-)

Up to last year we have always had goose. However the year before were very disappointed in the goose.

This year it will be duck etc and at the price goose has shot up to - £58 Tesc o and £78 M & S. I would not pay that anyway.

As for shopping well I use internet mostly now except at this time of year, OH yells 'parcel here, do you want it opened'. He is also banned from looking at the credit card statement for Dec and Jan so he does not know what his pressies cost.

Morning Everyone, We are abit like GeordieinNorfolk, we shop together, so no suprises.
Athough I like all the "bits of Christmas", we prefer to push our boat out in the Spring when we can have a good spend at the garden centre.
As avid gardeners and allotmenters, we get more enjoyment from that than unwanted suprise presents.


Julia in Derbyshire

First time for a few years that I won't have to cook, my son's girlfriend has invited us for Christmas day lunch/dinner so I can have a lazy day except I will probably have to drive back (ten minute trip) as o.h. will drink more than he should as usual. Mind you, son's gf, son and myself were scheming what to get in so there's not too much for o.h. to indulge in, he can drink more when he's back at home in the late evening lol

I will still have to cook on Boxing Day tho, but won't be such pressure as no one will be joining us.

Son's gf is splashing out to get things everyone likes, so turkey crown for her and me, chicken for o.h. and my son, and various desserts as o.h. is diabetic as is her little lad altho he won't be there for the meal as he is being picked up by his dad after he has opened his pressies with his mum and my son.

Quite looking forward to it all

Lizx

Yes, Sharron, I have to do the same for my Dad, though only for about three carers and his cleaner, - Oh, and their ruddy kids as well! And wrap the damn things, and write all his Christmas cards.

Roll on ruddy January!

Carers Christmas presents. The old man likes to look like Lord Bountiful so I have to buy and wrap a whole load of presents for his grotto. It's a bag and they pick a present from it.

I usually get a few chocolate things,a few cheap smellies and some candles.They are not allowed to receive anything over a fiver without registering it in a book at the office and I couldn't afford to buy anything that cost that much anyway.

Then I have to wrap the bloody things!!!!!!!

Me and my Hubby have stopped buying Christmas presents for each other. For one thing, we always shop together - joined at the hip, you see.
Instead, we are having a couple of nights in London, and are going to see War Horse. I've seen the film, and it's definitely a two hanky job. :-(

We only give presents to each other and OH's mother. Siblings & a few friends get cards. Friends & rellies in other countries get e-cards!

OH wants golf stuff, so he can pick out his own! I know what to get MiL, will get it next week & then line up at the post office.

Went shopping yesterday for bits & pieces for OH ~ one item is a pen, it's bent into the shape of a reindeer & has fuzzy bits on it, and there's a small box of choccies. The box says "reindeer with chocolate balls". ;-)

:-D

Mine is sorted Hubby goes to work and brings dinner home. Don´t do xmas so don´t buy pressie´s (only cos no one loves me). I do send a few cards out but family get e-cards.

sorted

I usually start to buy things for Christmas, when I see special offers or if it catches my eye,I keep these in a box,ready for the time.
Hubby and I were hoping to go to daughters,but realised her house is not big enough for everyone.So as usual everyone is coming here to good old Mum and Dads house.
We all chip in and make a list of things we need,and share it all that way.I have ticked off quite a few things off my list already.

The family like being here,as the house is big enough,for people to disappear,and have a natter,or watch tv,or even have a snooze somewhere.Think this year,I will disappear in the bedroom for a snooze,after the Christmas meal,and leave them all to it to clear up.
Then they can call me and hubby,and say,Mum,Dad,teas ready.hahaha.
Would certainly make a change,if that happened.

I'm going to my mums and my brother and sil are coming up and we're taken mum out for her dinner cos its her 90th birthday,

Shops are manic near Christmas. Promised ourselves that we wont go overboard on food this year, but will probably end up with far too much as usual.
My old Dad comes to us on Christmas Day, and as he always gets really maudlin, we borrow our eldest grandson for the day. He always lightens the atmosphere.
I would love, just once, to go away for Christmas, but can't leave Dad, and Hubby would never go, anyway!

Maybe one day.......

i love christmas, but i just shop as normal food wise, except a posh tin of biscults n some nuts haha

duck or maybe venison? Keeping to game. Hope the salmon is 'gutted'.

Duck's a possibility! Thanks for that :-D

Lamb or duck?

We've bought some pheasants (half each) and rather a large salmon. Said salmon is curled up in the freezer and will probably need de head and tailing to fit in the oven for Christmas mark 2.

Still trying to decide what to buy to go with the pheasant. Turkey has at least one disliker, so Pork?

Only the best Merlin, Laphroaig is good, I like the Islay malts.

Sheila,I hope its a decent Malt. :-D Such as a Quarter Cask Laphroaig. :-D If so send a few Glugs down the cyberhole and I,ll send you a decent Hine. :-D Hic.

I don't know what to do this year as probably just the two of us. However we have 2 seriously ill and elderly family members who are causing much worry so I'm not really 'in the mood'. I do like turkey but won't get one for just 2 of us - don't really like the crown as it's only breast meat and I prefer leg...

No doubt it will be a last minute decision, probably something like steak and kidney pie!!

Neither of us like Xmas pud or are overly fond of sweet stuff so it will be just fresh fruit, yoghurts, cheese and a few good chocs as per usual.....oh, and my single malt... ;-)