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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What prep do you do the day before Christmas (for dinner)?

143 replies

grannyinapram · 01/12/2020 14:10

Reading another thread and the Op is talking about prepping christmas dinner the day before.
I was thinking about it and I just couldn't think of anything other than thawing out a frozen turkey? Maybe peeling spuds?

It's just a big Sunday dinner here with a few extras.
We definitely don't prepare anything the day before.

What is this extra food I've been missing out on?!

(this is light hearted clearly but this is also mumsnet so I need to state it clearly) Grin

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 01/12/2020 16:02

Peel potatoes and soak in water.

Peel and cut carrots into batons, soak in water.

Clean sprouts and cut their crosses, wash in salty water.

Peel and chop parsnips and butternut squash, airtight tub with no water. Onions and garlic ditto in separate tubs.

I usually only remember to make my herb butter that day, but try to so it's soft and ready next morning.

Make the stuffing, including cooking the sausage meat.

Last year, I did brine the turkey which I thought was nice but DH was sceptical.

Make Santa's cookies (from scratch some years, just slice and bake frozen dough others - I freeze half a batch earlier in December).

That's probably about it. It doesn't take too long because we do it together as part of the annual slowdown. On Christmas morning, we are out for mass and a couple of family visits before coming back to get turkey into the oven, so not needing to prep at that stage is good - cook some M&S nibbles while we get butter and stuffing into the bird and fire lit, throw bird into oven, open wine, start opening presents with nibbles to sustain us. Turn on spuds or whatever the next task is when someone goes to refill wine glasses.

The nibbles are our starter, we don't do big desserts (proper pudding is steamed to eat much later after cheeseboard), so it is a roast main course to cook really.

BiddyPop · 01/12/2020 16:10

It's more about doing the messier jobs when in ordinary clothes not nice dress for mass. And having time to remember to zest a lemon for the butter before squeezing it for a hot lemon drink. Dinner on 24th is a "pull packets from the fridge and decant to the table for everyone to help the,selves" meal.

But it's also a quiet hour with music going, all shopping is done, and we are all together in the kitchen as a family doing this.

When I was still at home, I used to have to do the veg prep from about age 10, my siblings went to town with DF, while DM had a specific neighbour who called for a drink (or 4) every year. So I spent a few hours doing enough for our much larger family, for both 24th and 25th dinners (DM cooked the ham with spuds and veg on 24th, and full roast on 25th).

mindutopia · 01/12/2020 16:11

I would be thawing the turkey, but otherwise, it's all just snacking on nice food and drinking prosecco, that's the only prep we do around here the day before. I can see if I was catering for 25, but it's only ever at most been 7 ish? Everything can easily be done on Christmas day as long as we don't get too distracted. There is no room in the fridge for prepped food anyway as it's stuffed to the gills, so veg etc has to stay outside.

Redwinestillfine · 01/12/2020 16:13

DH makes the stuffing.

haircutsRus · 01/12/2020 16:18

When I was growing up, it always felt like DM was busy all morning cooking and missed all the fun with opening presents etc. She hated doing it as well, and said so. As soon as I had a home of my own, that was it - all round to mine.

I vowed to not be a martyr like she was, and over the years I have got it down to a fine art - due to laziness rather than time-and-motion.

Puddingypops · 01/12/2020 16:20

I do most of the cooking on Christmas Eve hahaha! When I wake up I start my Christmas ham (which has of course been soaking for 24 hours to remove salt), cook that, then move onto making the stuffing and pigs in blankets (not cooking them just assembling and putting on baking trays).

Then I start the BIG ONE! I spend a happy hour making and chilling then wrapping in pastry my Wellington which I then pop in the fridge wrapped tightly in cling film so all I have to do Christmas Day is put things in the oven.

I also do as others have said and prep my veg and leave standing in water x

I can’t wait!

What prep do you do the day before Christmas (for dinner)?
Nottherealslimshady · 01/12/2020 16:20

Make the mash then cover it in fridge.
Peel and chop potatoes for roasties, store in cold water in fridge.
Make cauliflower cheese, cover and in fridge.
Peel and chop carrots, cold water in fridge.
Last year I prepped the camembert and made the haloumi fingers so they just needed baking. But this year we're having soup because I cba.
I also prepped the brussel sprouts but again, cba this year, no one even likes them.

Then in the morning I season the meat and shove it in. Trim broccoli.and then just cook everything. We're having yorkshires from the freezer this year because I cba with fresh.

It's not that it's more work than a usual dinner but that I'd rather spend Christmas morning, having a lay in, opening presents, playing games and having fun than be cooking.

Brighterthansunflowers · 01/12/2020 16:25

I got into baking a few years ago and would bake bread rolls from scratch to have with Christmas day breakfast, they had to be made the day before because they had to prove twice. And sometimes make mince pies on Christmas Eve if I’m not working.

Otherwise I’ve sometimes peeled and chopped the veg and left them in a pan of water, but it’s only me so it’s not like there’s mountains of veg to do, so doesn’t really matter if I have to do it on Christmas Day. Makes more sense if you’re feeding a big extended family though

One family member does a trifle for Christmas Day pudding so that needs to be done the day before. Christmas cakes/Christmas puddings would generally be made way before Christmas Eve.

Malbecfan · 01/12/2020 16:31

None here. DH and DD1 like to go for the Christmas Day swim down at the local beach at 10. I normally get up at 8 & sort out the turkey. DD2 is really into cooking too so we prep all the veg whilst DH & DD1 are out. My dad comes in from next door and we open presents together. I nip out to baste the turkey every hour in between drinks. We eat around 1.

@icedaisy, I'm interested in your slow cooked red cabbage. Could you post the recipe please.

cologne4711 · 01/12/2020 16:32

Nothing. Usually I get up early to do a Christmas parkrun (won't be any in the UK this Christmas Sad ) and before I go I peel the veg and get the turkey out of the fridge to warm to room temperature and then it goes into the oven when I get back (or a little later, as it doesn't really take that long to roast).

This year I'll have a little longer in bed, get up and do the veg prep and then go out with my mum for a walk before Bucks Fizz and presents.

I don't need to do anything the day before as things like cranberry sauce comes out of a jar ;) We do make our own pigs in blankets but that doesn't take long.

Rosebel · 01/12/2020 16:47

Defrost everything and prep the vegetables and potatoes. I usually lay the table as much as possible too.

Gracesquirrel · 01/12/2020 17:01

As much as I possibly can so that Xmas day its just bung it on to cook, both the Turkey & Ham are done Xmas eve I usually also make the base for the gravy (stock made from the turkey giblets and veg). Peel and chop all the veg and leave it in cold water over night last year I did the mashed potatoes for boxing day lunch bubble and squeak on Xmas eve and had that in the fridge to save all the juggling of pans on Xmas day.

This year I have to cut back a bit as I recently had a heart attack so I've decided it's going to be a lot of pre prepared veg this year and I probably will opt for Turkey bisto rather than making my own - although I may well change my mind as it seems unthinkable for me not to make my special gravy this year.

squiggleirl · 01/12/2020 17:13

I do loads of prep either the weekend before or on Christmas Eve - I found I enjoy Christmas day much better that way...

Weekend before:

  • Make soup & freeze
  • Make base for gravy & freeze
  • Make sausage rolls and pigs in blankets, freeze on trays, and move to bags once frozen
  • Make red cabbage and freeze

Christmas Eve:

  • Cook ham and spiced beef to be nibbled on throughout the day
  • Make cranberry sauce
  • Make Yule log
  • Assemble trifle
  • Prep stuffing
  • Peel potatoes and put in bowl of water
  • Prep carrots, sprouts and parsnips, and put in Ziploc bags in fridge

It's all very calm, lots of Christmas music playing, and a really nice way to spend the day.

icedaisy · 01/12/2020 17:46

Yes @Malbecfan let me sort Dd etc and will do it later, replying now to remind me

Tobebythesea · 01/12/2020 17:49

Red cabbage, stuffing, cranberry and bread sauce.

CloudyVanilla · 01/12/2020 17:51

I need to do morr prep this year as I spend no exaggeration between 5 and 6 hours in the kitchdn on the day, even when it's just my little family Confused

I genuinely don't know how I do it, I clearly have very poor executive function in the kitchen.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 01/12/2020 17:54

None. That’s just extra faff for no good reason in my opinion - it takes hardly any time to peel some potatoes/carrots/parsnips/whatever and chop.

We don’t eat at lunchtime though - we have dinner anywhere between 4 and 6, so we just chill and eat when everything’s ready.

I do the red cabbage beforehand so I just need to reheat it on the day (as that doesn’t impair the dish at all).

Cook the turkey (or other bird/roasting joint - we often have goose), once that’s done it rests for at least an hour whilst the roasties, stuffing and sides go in; when they’re halfway to being ready the Brussels sprouts are sautéed with pancetta, the gravy is made and then at the last minute the red cabbage goes in the microwave. Job done.

HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 01/12/2020 17:55

We do make our Christmas ham at least a couple of days before, as well as the cranberry sauce and any other accompaniments.

TeaOneSugar · 01/12/2020 18:10

This is only my second ever Christmas lunch at home (long story) but last year went well so it'll be a repeat. We won't be eating until probably 2:30 or 3pm so I'll make cauliflower cheese Christmas Eve and the rest will be done on the day, the carnivores have requested beef so no turkey to brine and less pressure on the oven. I'll prep the veg in stages during the day.

MrsJonesAndMe · 01/12/2020 18:10

Here it'd just be peeling veg - potatoes, carrots, parsnips really. It is just a roast and we never cater for a large group either, so manageable on the day.

icedaisy · 01/12/2020 19:52

@Malbecfan
Red cabbage sliced thinly
One punnet of fresh cranberries
Zest of one orange
Good shake of mixed spice
Good shake of cinnamon
Brown sugar probably about 50 grams but I'm a guessy cook
Glug of balsamic vinegar
Glug of cider vinegar
Dollop of butter
Half a can of cider

Stick it on low when you get up and leave it till you eat. Even better next day with ham and cheese leftovers,

VestaTilley · 01/12/2020 19:56

Peel the potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts and swede and soak in water. Make the red cabbage and the cauliflower cheese (latter for baking on Christmas Day). Make Marie Rose sauce for the starter and cook the ham. Make the stuffing.

Christmas pie and cake are made on Stir Up Sunday and latter gets decorated on about the 22nd.

VestaTilley · 01/12/2020 19:56

Christmas pud!!

ghostyslovesheets · 01/12/2020 19:56

nothing! I buy things ready done or frozen - much easier to do and less stress

Diverseduvet · 01/12/2020 20:01

I check the prepared veg have enough room in the fridge for their party and open the rum and Quality Streets.