Flying into town Christmas Eve what can I buy in advance for dinners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were in your situation here is what I would do:
Dinner on Christmas eve: frozen fish sticks and frozen shrimp and frozen tater totsd heated up in the oven. homemade cole slaw with a head of cabbage that I bought beforehand.
Dinner on Christmas day: stroganoff that I mostly made before we left. Make stroganoff using prime rib meat or t-bone steak meat before we leave. Put the sauce in the freezer. When we get back, pull the sauce out of the freezer and defrost it. Cook the pasta, stir in sour cream (purchased before trip), add the stroganoff sauce, stir.
Stroganoff would go well with peas, or brussels sprouts, or green beans.

Lunch on Christmas day: sandwiches and canned soup.

Hopefully your family will be understanding that the meals need to be pretty simple, what with you all just getting back from a trip and the stores and most restaurants closed.

P.S. -- here is a tip I have learned about milk -- the lactose free milk stays fresh for a lot longer than regular milk. So you can buy lactose free milk before you go on your trip and you won't need to worry about whether you need to go to the store to buy fresh milk or not when you get back. It tastes the same as the regular milk.

Is this a joke?

Hope so. I wouldn't serve my kids frozen fish sticks on the regular, and DH sure wouldn't eat them.

[Anonymous]

Lactose free milk is ultrapasteurized. Look at expiration dates. I have some I got this week exp date in January.

[Anonymous]

OP ask DH if he wants frozen meat or no meat or sausages or eggs or cheese for meals. REALLY.

[Anonymous]

Balducci’s. I’m picking up from them on Thanksgiving Day. Check their Christmas pick up options. They may even offer delivery. https://www.balduccis.com/catering

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Where are you flying into. What airport.

Dca

Is DCA home?

How many days will you be gone beforehand? 2 days would be a very different memu than a week before.

Yes dca is home and week.

What do you traditionally cook for Thanksgiving?

You can probably shop your entire meal the week before.

I didn't think meat would keep for a week and my family won't eat frozen meat.

They won't eat frozen MEAT? Like beef, hamburger, chicken? If they can do a taste test and tell the difference after it's thawed I will give them a gold ⭐

When I saw small I mean DH and yes he can tell and will comment.

In this case, husband should do all the meal planning, shopping and cooking.


Fyi

If you buy your meat from grocery stores, it was frozen and defrosted.

Grocery stores don't carry fresh meat that has never been frozen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP ask DH if he wants frozen meat or no meat or sausages or eggs or cheese for meals. REALLY.

Best advice on this thread. Everybody should let this thread die. So dumb. Ask the husband

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lactose free milk is ultrapasteurized. Look at expiration dates. I have some I got this week exp date in January.

Horizon Organic kids milk boxes are shelf stable and taste fine.

We used them on cereal during the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

I would hire a task rabbit to be at my house to receive a delivery the afternoon of the 24th and put it away.

[Anonymous]

This isn't what you asked but I'd do the best I could with what I have. Which would be:

order dinner or pick it up on the way home

have cinnamon rolls (immaculate baking co are great) to bake as well as TJs frozen crossaints that you can proof the evening before, apples in the fridge to make baked apples, eggs to make eggs (use frozen broccoli for a frittata, and honestly a red pepper will keep a week), oranges and grapefruits in the fridge will keep and they are nice winter fruits. you can also get TJs frozen breakfasts to cook - they have some interesting options. unopened organic milk lasts months. canned whipped cream for coffee is festive.

I'd have cheeses, crackers, cured meats if that's your thing, nuts, olives, pickles, and carrots and celery and bell peppers (bought just a week before you left, unopened) to nosh on. Maybe some frozen apps, again from TJs.

For Xmas dinner I'd do chinese and go all out. Buy a lot of ice cream you like and make brownies or cookies or cake that day.