Not in the Mood to Cook for the Holiday

[barbszy]

I'm just not getting in the spirit of cooking for the holiday like I normally am! Generally, weeks ahead of time, I have planned the menu and set up my schedule. Today, I hadn't even decided what time dinnertime will be :confused:

I need to figure out a way to get in the holiday cooking spirit--and fast! It wouldn't be nice for my hospitality to suffer tomorrow.

[cat lover]

I understand where you are! It will just be DH and me so I wasn't "looking forward" to cooking a big meal for just the two of us. So... I invited a lady that lives at the end of our road that will be by herself. She seemed thrilled and that gave me the "cook" mood! I tried to cut down some(from what I usually cooked when the kids where all home), but still have a variety planned and after I started getting things together today it helped getting in the mood. Maybe once you start cooking you will feel better about it too! Have a good Thanksgiving and enjoy all your kids while they are still around!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, I was thinking that since you have children living at home, they may be able to fill you with the spirit of the holidays. Have you thought about sitting down to a family meeting and asking them for some ideas for some new rituals for the holidays? Children can be so inspiring and creative. Also, have you done any decorating? Maybe if you decorated some area of the house, you could get motivated. Also, keeping the meals simple might help keep you from feeling overwhelmed. One more idea would be to get you a magazine that has ideas in it or even a few magazines. They may also charge you up with some ideas. Good luck!

[shepherdchild]

I don't know if this will help or not, but this is what my grown children and us have decided to this year. We feel Christmas has gotten away from the meaning and families don't take the time needed to just be together and enjoy each other like they used to. So we came up with the idea of since we had a big meal at Thanksgiving together, just to have a light meal, though nutritious. We are getting a deli tray of meats and vegetables, breads, a cheese ball and crackers, a dip and making wassil to drink. This doesn't sound like much, but we feel this way and want to enjoy being with our children and grandchildren, last year we were in a severe wreck and didn't get to have Christmas, so we have a lot to be greatful for if nothing else but being alive. Hope this helps, if not I'm sorry. Best wishes and may God bless you.

[ajrsmom]

I don't know if this will help or not, but this is what my grown children and us have decided to this year. We feel Christmas has gotten away from the meaning and families don't take the time needed to just be together and enjoy each other like they used to. So we came up with the idea of since we had a big meal at Thanksgiving together, just to have a light meal, though nutritious. We are getting a deli tray of meats and vegetables, breads, a cheese ball and crackers, a dip and making wassil to drink. This doesn't sound like much, but we feel this way and want to enjoy being with our children and grandchildren, last year we were in a severe wreck and didn't get to have Christmas, so we have a lot to be greatful for if nothing else but being alive. Hope this helps, if not I'm sorry. Best wishes and may God bless you.

I think that your plan sounds wonderful. I do believe that it should be less about the food and more about family and friends.

For 10 years now, I have cooked a turkey with the fixing that we like for us (and my family when we lived in Pa. ) --for Thanksgiving. Then for Christmas, I make lasagna with salad and bread or something along that lines that can be made and frozen ahead of time, then thawed and baked while I sit and enjoy time with my family. I used to cook a huge meal for Christmas too but then I realized that I had missed so much and I was not willing to give up that time anymore once I got married and had kids.

I was like Barbszy, I just couldn't bring myself to get into the spirit of standing in a kitchen all day! This was a win-win for all of us at my house. :)

[barbszy]

Well, I did it and got it done. I think I was missing my family since it was not "my family's year." EVERYONE was going to be at my sister's but me.

I was starting to get into it Thursday morning until everyone invaded my kitchen so they could make themselves hot breakfasts (and a big mess for me). I think next year I'm going to tell them to go buy takeout breakfast! What I really needed and wanted was the time alone in the kitchen to cook, and remember my grandmother who gave me her stuffing recipe, and enjoy the nostalgia of preparing those traditional foods. And I think I just have to SAY that to my DH.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, last Christmas I took one morning and had store-bought sweet rolls for breakfast. It made the day easier.

[cat lover]

When the kids were small I would make homemade rolls or breakfast casserole ahead of time so all I had to do was pop it in the oven or pour them some milk. For a while I even bought those "Christmas" cereals for Christmas breakfast. Cap'n Crunch used to have a Christmas cereal and I think several do it now.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am loyal and only allow General Mills in my house. lol ;)

[cat lover]

Guess you could say I'm loyal too; to my wallet!LOL Whatever is on sale that is what goes home with us! DH eats a lot of cereal in the warm weather, it is nothing for us to have 20 boxes at one time in the pantry!

[cau]

We keep it simple for breakfast on both Christmas and Thanksgiving. I usually buy bagels at the American bagel company, a treat for us. that way noone getts in my way. On Tahanksgivin we focaus on the meal and what we have to be tahnkful for. On Christmas we get together with my dbs family & who ever is having it make a simple meal & the other one brings snacks & dessert. That way no one does all the work.

[Momtwo]

Instead of cooking a big meal on Christmas, we started a tradition of a brunch instead and we still do it to this day- scrambled eggs, ham, English muffins, a coffeecake, oj, coffee, champagne for the adults and sparkling juice for the kids. I spend a lot of time cooking Thanksgiving dinner every year so Christmas is easy for me. The rest of the day we just nibble on whatever is around.

Mpmtwo

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Momtwo, that is terrific that you have started a new tradition in your family. That sounds like fun, plus I am sure it gives you more time to visit with family.

[cat lover]

Momtwo, can I come to your house for brunch? LOL Sounds good and lets everyone elnjoy the day instead of being stuck cooking all day!