Christmas day dinner, Eat in or out?

Question

Its christmas day, what would you rather do for dinner?
A good old fashioned turkey with all the trimmings, christmas pud , crackers & the lot or would you prefer to take everyone out for a slap up meal somewhere & leave the washing up to someone else?

Answer 1

I vote in--because of all the candy from Santa, nobody gets hungry for "real food" until later in the evening, so that leaves plenty of time for cooking and chatting and watching some tv and such. Instead of turkey, though, we always have flaming game hens--turn the lights off and light that cherry sauce on fire! It's very pretty and dramatic and when the alcohol burns itself out, it's delicious. (Plus, it doesn't take as long to cook.)

I don't have the recipe we use on me, but I found this through a google search and it sounds about right:

Game Hens With Flaming Cherry Sauce

2 Rock Cornish game hens (20 oz. each)
Seasoned salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon each seasoned salt, ground ginger and paprika
Cherry Sauce
Orange slices
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)

Thaw hens as directed on package (set giblets aside for other uses); rinse hens and pat dry. Sprinkle inside cavities with seasoned salt and pepper. Place hens slightly apart, breast-side up, in a roasting pan. Combine butter with the 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt, ginger and paprika; brush over hens, using it all. Bake hens, uncovered, in a 350-degree oven for about 1 hour or until leg joints move easily; during the last half hour, baste birds several times with pan drippings. Meanwhile, prepare cherry sauce and keep warm over low heat or in a chafing dish. When hens are roasted, discard excess fat from pan juices into cherry sauce. Arrange hens on serving plates and garnish with orange slices; keep warm. To flame birds, warm brandy in small container; ignite (not under an exhaust fan or near flammable items) and pour into sauce. While still flaming, spoon sauce over birds. Serve with colorful vegetables.

Cherry Sauce: Drain 1 small can (about 8 oz.) pitted, dark sweet cherries, reserving 1/3 cup syrup. Combine reserve syrup with 2/3 cup water, 1 chicken bouillon cube, 1 small onion (cut in wedges), 8 whole cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring; then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes; strain, discarding cloves and onion.

Yields 2 servings

Good luck!

Tessa Somers
www.professionalhomebar.com

Answer 2

Christmas Day is the one day you will only find a Waffle house open till late in the afternoon when maybe one or two other places might open. So just go all out. - you don't have do turkey and all the trimmings. How about ribs, ham, or chicken. Do something different- start you own tradition.

Answer 3

I don't think there are too many restaurants open for Christmas Day dinner. Unless you want Chinese food.

There are all sorts of restaurants that have full Thanksgiving and Christmas menus with all the trimmings. You have to order a few days beforehand and just pick them up in the afternoon.

Or you could just cook.

Answer 4

We celebrate on more on Christmas Eve due to custody issues within the family. So for the younger kids that thinks theres a santa they get a gift on Christmas morning. All the kids know that santa only brings one gift so that gift will be there on Christmas morning, but all other gifts will be open on Christmas Eve. Christmas day is a day for relaxation and enjoying our new presents the same as you do on the day after Christmas.

Answer 5

I love staying at home and have a traditional Turkey dinner and all the trimmings. At least you can have a nice snooze after. But this year we will be on holiday in NZ so were going out for dinner { hope its good }

Answer 6

Family day in - not turkey but a roast beef dinner. The washing up will be tidied up and put in soak then sorted out on Boxing morning

Answer 7

Cook a meal and eat in with the family,open presents,pull crackers and and watch christmas shows lol.

Answer 8

We're cooking our Christmas lunch on Christmas Eve, then taking it to the beach for a picnic on Christmas Day!!

Answer 9

Roast dinners don't take all that much cooking if you're organised. Or all that much cleaning up if there's a few of you to help.

Spend it with your family and you might even have a memorable moment with someone while they're washing and you're drying.

Answer 10

I like the tradition of eating in with family and friends, watching football, playing games, sharing stories ect. It's much more personal, and you will be creating memories that last forever. Also, another reason would be atleast you know what your putting in your mouth if you are eating at home...:)