Christmas Day food prep

[TheMindfulMum]

Inspired by another post I've just seen, what food/nibbles/accompaniments can be prepared now or in the days before Christmas Day itself?

I know Jamie Oliver did a gravy once that could be made before Christmas Day, just wondered if there are other tasty things that people prepare ahead of time to serve with their Christmas dinners?

I do everything on Christmas Eve.

So far I've made
Jamie's get ahead gravy (leave out the star anise and only a tiny bit of cranberry or too sweet)
Mash potato
Cranberry sauce
Shredded sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts

All in the freezer.

I've done the gravy and braised red cabbage. I plan to totally do the roasties and mash the day before, and prep the rest.

I don't do mash for Christmas dinner but out of interest, how do you store and then reheat?

Also, cranberry sauce recipe please!!

Dh starts about 3 days before Christmas,
making stock for the gravy, puddings that can be prepared ahead of time, gradually doing things like prepping the parsnips, yorkie batter, peeling carrots etc the day before. He writes himself up a daily time table and then one on Christmas Day for what’s going on at what time. It’s a military operation. He spends hours and hours in the kitchen but it’s his absolute happy place. I myself could not be arsed but amazingly he loves it all and wouldn’t let me help anyway!

This is just lovely 🥰 I can relate to both sides! I love being in kitchen too. I don't have an much time as hour DH due to young children demands but I hope to find some time in the days running up to it to pull a few things out the bag this year. Enjoy yourselves!

I’ve done my roast potatoes using the BBC good food recipe (I think it’s just called “freeze ahead roast potatoes” or something). Done them like this before and they’re perfect. I’ve blanched and frozen my chantenay carrots and runner beans, to save time on the day. Couldn’t be bothered with mash this year but I usually make that ahead and freeze it too. I’m afraid I’m quite lazy and do a lot of shop-bought stuff; pigs in blankets are just frozen ones from Sainsbury’s, cranberry sauce from a jar etc. We usually go away for the week before Christmas so I like to keep it simple.