Christmas dessert and vegtables!!

[ChirpyKez]

Help! We have 11 people coming for Christmas dinner and have no idea what to serve for pudding! We have the trustly xmas pudd on stand by but no-one ever seems that fussed about that! We want to avoid the boring gateux/pavlova route so anyone have any ideas for something to buy or something quite simple and quick to prepare?? Also, how many veg should be on a plate - we have a tradition of giving massive portions which then bloats everyone out anyway! Allowing for roast spuds, meat, stuffing, sausages etc -? We need room for tea don't we!?

[BBWCHATT]

Chirpy - at the very least you would need one green and one yellow/orange vegetable:) I will give you a couple of pie recipes I invented - that are SUPER easy - since I am not a good cook!!! You just buy the prepared pie shells and mix a couple of things up to put in them.

B�s Cherry Pie

Put everything in the fridge and let it get cold - yes even the Cherry Pie Filling.

1 - Graham Cracker Crust (from the grocery)

1 can Cherry Pie Filling (chilled in the fridge)

1 pack Jello INSTANT Pudding � Cheesecake Flavor

Mix up the pudding � I usually use a little less milk than the directions say so it will be a little thicker/stiffer � pour it in the crust. Put in the fridge until it sets up � 5 minutes or more.

Spoon on the Cherry Pie Filling (not just canned cherries) and spread it out.

You can decorate the top with Cool Whip/Whipped Cream/ReddiWhip if you want to � but it doesn�t need it for the taste.


B�s Chocolate Pie

1 - 8� Chocolate or Graham Cracker Crust (from the grocery store)

1 pack Chocolate Chips

1 Can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 � Small Pack Philadelphia Cream Cheese or � Big One

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Pinch of Salt

In a bowl � mix the Cream Cheese and the Eagle Brand.

Put it in the microwave and get it hot � usually 2 minutes in my microwave � they are all different.

Stir in the Chocolate Chips � (they will totally melt), vanilla & salt.

Pour it into the Chocolate Cookie or Graham Cracker Crust (I use the Keebler Hershey�s Chocolate Cookie Crust from the grocery � it is the best for this pie).

DON�T EAT IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY � it shouldn�t make a difference in the taste, but it does!!! If you wait 2 or 3 days it is even better than that!!!

[ChirpyKez]

BBWCHATT - Thanks for all your advice! I appreciate you writing such a long response!

[makemesmile]

A nice ice cream (green & blacks nutty caramel is gorgeous) might go down well. it's not too filling after a large meal. Or my fave, sherry trifle.

[zimzam]

I normally cook parsnips, carrots, cauliflower, peas, carrots and chuck on a small yorkshire pud on the plate. I dish out small helpings of the veg so with roast tatties and the boid the plate looks colourful. Nobody is ever fussed about a dessert but I have the xmas pudding as well as a trifle or hot mince pies so people can choose depending on how full they are. As a reserve I have home made alcoholic rum and raisin ice cream. Also on the table are a variety of cheeses and grapes.

[Scarlett]

Why not get a few really exquisite frozen puddings from Iceland/Tescos/Waitrose- like a Pavlova/Profiteroles etc and let them all choose what they would like? That way you only have to let them defrost on the day!

[Gef]

Forget the pud and serve cheese and biscuits and )if you wish) a nice dessert wine or port or red wine. Could serve it with a nice chutney or apple/grapes/celery etc.

As for veg I prefer roast parsnips and sprouts along with the rest of the stuff.

[jakegibbo]

yule log's nice

[spudqueen]

We've given up on Christmas pudding in our house - no one is that keen. We now have sticky toffee pudding, which only takes 15 minutes to heat up in the oven, so we can let our main course go down for a while before we finish the meal off.

[Alibobs]

A really posh box of chocolates is nice to share as an alternative to a dessert.

M&S are selling a Chocolate Christmas Tree dessert - didn't see how much but loked fun - a sort of choc mousse affair

[drchasuble]

We generally have parsnips, mashed carrot & swede, sprouts and peas. And roast potatoes but mash or pommes dauphinoise for my sister and I who hate roast potatoes.

This Christmas I am making a panetone bread and butter pudding. It's really easy, nice and rich but quite light. Just use a regular bread and butter pudding recipe but use panetone instead of bread.

[valsuey]

M & S have a Chocolate Pudding (looks like Xmas Pud) but is full of choccy sauce.
I do several vegetables put everything in bowls or plates and let everyone help themselves!

[joegina]

This came from someone like Nigella or Nigel Slater. Ice cream (vanilla pref) with a little very strong black coffee poured over it at the last minute. SUPERB and very easy. Happy Christmas!

[ChirpyKez]

Happy Christmas to you too joegina - and to everyone who has offered advice - all very appreciated and there are some good ideas as well! Thank-you all!

[rachel1973]

http://www.recipesforvegans.co.uk/christmas.ht ml