It sounds like a lot of fun. Come on it going to be great getting everyone together.
Go traditional, and start cooking a week ahead
Or do what we did one year, you do the Turkey and the Ham and have everyone bring a veg dish. assign each one so you don't end up with 6 loads of brussels sprouts

How about venison with chestnut stuffing? (nice and lean meat) then follow it by a black forrest gataue and cream (nice and heavy ) to send peeps to sleep or do the aussie seafood platters,meat platters and cheescake from the cheesecake shop !!!! (if one is local) know there is one in Inverness (saw it last year when visiting sis).

We are inviting ourselves to my mother in laws, only thing is she doesn't know we are heading back yet,haven't told her we sold the house and i arrive in Scotland on 7th nov,head down to Yorkshire when dh arrives the week or so before christmas!!!!!

ill bring an emu back for ya to feed that lot .

I've done the big Xmas dinner for several years and the best way, seriously, is to delegate some parts!

How about chicken breasts - stuffed with cheese/philly/that garlic soft cheese that I can't think of the name at the moment - and then wrapped in bacon or parma ham or similar. You can prepare them the day before, stick 'em in the fridge and then simply pop in the oven about 45 mins to an hour before you need them. Exclude the cheese for the kids if you think they won't like them!

Do a tray of roasties and get someone else to bring a big pot of mashed potatoes which can be microwaved 10 mins before you need it. I find this option covers fussy kids and those with dentures

Veggies - pick your top three and go for it - no need for mountains. Or make a big tray of cauliflower cheese and reheat on the day - but you start to run out of room - you need a shelf for the chicken and the roasties already - unless you have a dual oven thingie going on.

Delegate dessert to one or two other people - they can bring different options - and have some standby ice cream and double cream in the fridge/ freezer. I sometimes made a massive trifle because although it's a traditional throwback to the 70's (in my house anyway), no-one really ever has it anymore and it was a real treat! (I love trifle and hate that burnt flavour of xmas pud, yuck!).

Get someone else to buy the Christmas crackers - give them an idea on colour theme if you want the co-ordinated table.

Ask someone else to bring 6 bottles of wine, and put someone else on beer duty. Stock the fridge or garage with soft drinks.

Seriously though - share the cost and the workload. Everyone always says "Oh, let me know what you want me to do, or bring" Make sure you do!

Have fun - it'll be a wonderful homely day

Oh Nigella Lawson does a similar recipe - I have done it every christmas and it's delicious!! She boils it in coke and then coats it in black treacle and sugar and mustard powder and bakes it. It's very easy, can be done in advance and a total winner!

She also does an amazing recipe for Brussell sprouts pan fried with pancetta - I don't even like brussels, but thats delicious too!

Follow Marney's plan. I know it's for a US Thanksgiving dinner, not a UK Christmas, but I'm sure you could adapt it.

This is an actual letter, not a joke BTW.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2009/...giving-letter/

Holy Carp she's strict.
I like Amy wouldn't read it, you'd get what I bring in whatever I have even it involved covering with tin foil.

LOL yup, the great Aussie tradition of "bring a plate" - easiest way to go!

Have a Disney slayerfest meal.

Venison, Duck, Rabbit Nothing says Xmas like eating Bambi, Donald and Thumper And you could carry the theme through by serving Babycham

If you want to do the Aussie Xmas thing make sure everyone is drunk and fighting by 9am and the whole thing is a complete fizzer by midday and don't forget some crap telly. Job done.

Hey Flea why not invite everyone over for coffee one day and get them all to add something to the menu then say thats great so thats the dish you are bringing lol...make it into a pot luck all make up a menu together and write down beside each dish whose bringing what that way everyone gets involved and it becomes fun....Just my thoughts...Whatever you decide Flea have a fab time you deserve it xxx

Have to agree about the Ham in Coke, it's lovely. I think Nigella uses cherry coke but as I can't get that here in Oz I have always just used coke. It does taste fab!

I too would get everyone to bring a main dish of what they like to eat which would leave you to concentrate on the starter, sides and dessert and if all else fails, there is always M & S.

I wouldn't stress too much, you will be with the people you love, so I'm sure you will all have a great time whatever you eat.

My OH goes shooting (see my pic in gallery) and kills Rabbits. I don't agree with it, i will have nothing to do with any of it.
His aunty cooks the rabbits and they love it. Yak!

I'm very much a traditionalist when it comes to xmas dinner. There has to be turkey.

The wife and kids that I picked up somewhere were never keen on Turkey although I came to discover that was coz their mum/grandmum overcooked it. They used to think chicken breast was always dry too until I cooked it for them.

What 'makes' xmas dinner for me, though, is those wondeful ready made stuffings that Tesco, M&S and Sainsburys do. Can't get anything like them here so I have to make my own.

A turkey is too much hassle when three of you aren't that keen so I just get a turkey breast (crown?) to satisfy me and then chicken portions which they are more than happy with. It's the roast parsnips and fruity stuffings that make it a special meal though.

I reckon I could do without the turkey, though, if I had some of the M&S, Tesco, Sainsburies things.

What about Poussin? One each on the plate is out of the ordinary and simple enough to do.

Just popping back to say congrats Flea on a great thread!

Tell them to **** off and make dinner for you - what a shower of gadawful kids.