[Allie_D]

We're doing DH's family Christmas at my house this year and MIL has said her and my SIL both want to know what to bring. SIL asked if she should bring a 'salad or a sweet'.

The thing is, this is Christmas lunch. Most things will be prepared and in the oven before they arrive (we have a hot lunch every year), and I have a pudding for dessert (and yes they all eat pudding). So there is no need for sides or salads or desserts IYKWIM.

All I've come up with is ham! And maybe some lollies for the table. Apart from that I am stumped! I would normally make custard for the pudding but I know MIL normally uses a carton from the supermarket, so maybe I could ask her to bring one of those and just use that?

And they are anti-alcohol so I can't even suggest they bring that!!

Any suggestions?! I really don't want to offend her as normally Christmas is at her house and we leave all the planning up to her.

[Red nut]

Cheese and dips to nibble on before.....

[handsfull]

Tell her to bring the custard, some lollies for the table and maybe some christmas bonbons.

That way at least she is bringing something useful....

[Amy 1976]

How about asking her to bring some sparkling apple juice? The non drinkers in my family like to have it in a champagne flute with lunch. Otherwise after dinner mints or nuts would be nice.

[Lou**]

We always have nibbles on the table before during and after Christmas lunch - maybe a cheese plate or fruit platter, some nuts or chocolates?

[aprilrain]

Maybe some nice non alcoholic wine, or grapetiser, appletiser.

Let them bring a dish if it makes them feel more included, you can always send some mixed leftovers home with them in it.

[IslandMummy]

Nibbles...white Christmas, shortbread, rum balls
Dinner rolls or as you said ham
What about making a non alcoholic punch or other "soft drinks"

This post has been edited by IslandMummy: 05/12/2012, 04:16 PM

[JECJEC]

Bob bons, serviettes.

Drinks - some cans/bottles of softdrink.

Eggnog. (although I have a feeling that that has alcohol in it not sure?)

Nuts

Rolls

Ham

Mince pies (to go out with the pudding)

[qak]

Cheese platter for after lunch?

[Julie3Girls]

Nibbles - either savoury stuff, or something sweet.
Something to drink.
An alternate dessert - even if everyone does eat pudding, some of them might like an alternative. It's really not a big deal to have 2 desserts.
Some fresh christmas fruit - cherries, plums, peaches.

My family actually share things like the meat - my mum brings pork, I cook chickens, my grandmother contributes some ham. Mum cooks hers putting it early in the morning, and brings it over, my oven if full with a chicken and vegies.

Is there anything that she normally dose that is her "speciality"? Or something she particularly likes?

This post has been edited by Julie3Girls: 05/12/2012, 04:20 PM