Help me with Christmas dinner!

[NauseousNancy]

So, I have decided within the last few weeks to cook a proper Christmas dinner. I’ve always just done party food!

I’m an ok cook, just not so much of a roast dinner cook. I’ve ordered a turkey and gravy from M&S, and I have some pre done parsnips. I’ve also got stuffing, and pigs in blankets.

What else do I need? I need a full talk through! I also plan on making:

Brussels with bacon and chestnuts
Cauliflower cheese
Honey carrots

I’ve got soup for starters, and pate.
Trifle and chocolate cake for dessert
Cheese and biscuits

Am I missing anything??

Also, how do you make it all ready at the same time??

What about bread sauce and Cranberry sauce? Both really easy to make. And don't forget roast potatoes - I parboil then whack mine in at a higher temperature while the turkey is resting. In fact I do just about everything while the turkey's resting.

I just watched the Jamie Oliver roast dinner program on channel 4. That’s probably what you need.

Oh they aren’t on my list - thank you!

How long do I rest the turkey for? MIL says to cook the day before but I’m not sure!! M&S website says it cooks in 2 hours.

(You could pick out the bits you do and don’t need if you have pre-bought some items)

Roasties and batter puds!

Part baked rolls for soup/ pate and proper butter. They take about 10 mins to warm through.

Turkey timings depend on the size, but it will probably specify on the packaging exactly how long it needs in the oven. Definitely cook on the day, not the night before!

I would add on 20-30 minutes for the turkey to rest (cover it in foil to keep it warm) then work backwards from there with the cooking times for all your vegetables and roast potatoes.

Sage is nice with the sprouts and bacon, although I think carrots are quite sweet anyway without the honey... you could roast them to really bring out the flavour?

I think the most difficult part of a roast is getting everything into plates (or in serving dishes, depending on how you plan to serve) while keeping it hot so I would recruit some help for that part.
Good luck, and sure it will be great!

Potatoes!! I have the goose fat, but no potatoes on my list. Oops!!

Ok, maybe just regular roasted carrots. I can do that!

Part baked rolls are a great idea. I will get oatcakes too!

I’ll give Jamie a watch, too.

Thanks!!

I wouldn't both with a starter, soup is very filling. Or have some canapes an hour or so before with a glass of fizz. I sometimes do blinis & smoked salmon, or bought canapes before getting the turkey out to rest, putting the spuds in etc

I always cook my turkey for longer than they say.
Check it’s cooked by sticking a knife in the thigh - if the juices run clear it’s cooked, if there’s even a trace of pink it’s not.

Funnily enough I always find turkeys cook quicker than they say! A thermometer is the best way of checking

I wouldn't do a starter. I start my turkey lying on its breast and then turn it after 1 hour. You can rest your turkey for 2 hours - it will stay hot if you put foil on it. I only ever do roast potatoes, sprouts, parsnips, brocoli for the sprout refusers and a few roasted carrots. I think doing cauliflower cheese is unnecessary work. Gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and stuffing.
Cook your spuds once the turkey is out as well as your pigs in blankets. Stuffing can go in the oven 30 minutes before you're ready to serve. Make sure your plates are hot and then everything will be lovely. Good luck