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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how the f you cook a Christmas dinner ?

69 replies

ilikebooksandplants · 19/12/2020 23:01

Just that really. Boris and tier 4 has kiboshed the family celebrations and I’ve never cooked one before. Vegetarian - our main is sorted (I’ve made that before) but all the vegetables and sides and stuff? Give me your tips and tricks to make it a bit special, mumsnet.

OP posts:
Littlemissnutcracker · 19/12/2020 23:05

I'm not an expert but to make perfect potatoes parboil them a little. Then hot oil in a tray... Leave the potatoes for a good half hour before turning. A bit of saffron or a bit of flavouring is lovely (stock cube)

Roasted veg would be lovely with a vegetarian meal. Easy too.

Thatnameistaken · 19/12/2020 23:10

I start drinking at about 10am and keep going throughout prep and cooking time, it's far too stressful cooking a meal of that magnitude sober Wine

GazOnABender · 19/12/2020 23:10

Ghee for your roast potatoes! Try it, you will thank me!

FusionChefGeoff · 19/12/2020 23:11

Cook a side dish every day, bung in freezer. Basically then have to just heat it all up on the day!

Sparklesocks · 19/12/2020 23:13

I find it really helpful to write out the timings on a little bit of paper in order. Spuds in XX:XX out XX:XX, parsnips in XX...

Roast dinners are all about timing so it helps me keep track and means I get everything in/out/on/off at the right time.

NotOfThisWorld · 19/12/2020 23:15

Roast Potatoes: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-roast-potatoes (for vegetarians use olive oil)

SpudsandGravy · 19/12/2020 23:16

Google Delia Smith's cranberry and orange relish. I make it every year, and it's super yummy and very easy to make.

I don't know what veggies you're planning, but we always have mashed carrots with parsnips (plus other stuff, of course). That's also very easy. Boil the carrots and parsnips separately until very soft (separately, because they take different times to cook). Drain off the water from each and then mash them as smooth as you can with a potato masher. Mix them together and add a lot of butter and black pepper. Yum! And you can make it in advance and freeze, but if you do don't add the butter until you defrost and re-heat.

Sewsosew · 19/12/2020 23:18

I often make stuff earlier (roast potatoes, parsnips) and just reheat them. As long as main is ready, I reheat them, cook sprouts, heat gravy. Open wine.

Love51 · 19/12/2020 23:19

We can't advise what sides unless we know what the main is! Christmas dinner is served on your best plates (if you have those) and the kids drink lemonade out of wine glasses, and you have crackers. Pudding should be set on fire.
There should ideally be something on the table that only one person actually likes, and they should be humoured because it is Christmas. This can be in the same Venn circle as the flaming pudding.
There should be something that someone thinks isn't part of Christmas dinner, but this is covered by the Vege main course.
Enjoy!

dudsville · 19/12/2020 23:20

@Thatnameistaken

I start drinking at about 10am and keep going throughout prep and cooking time, it's far too stressful cooking a meal of that magnitude sober Wine
This made me laugh!

How many people are you cooking for OP?

We're veggie, and just the two of us now. I'll roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots and parsnips together for ease. Alongside this goes the cauliflower cheese (steam the veg a little, pour over a premade sauce, then bake). Then our veggie main joins the roasted veg. I'm using frozen Yorkshire puds that will go in the oven last with the box stuffing, then the red cabbage goes in the microwave and instant gravey gets made. It's our portions that make this an easier task.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 19/12/2020 23:21

My perfect potatoes. Par boil for 8-10 minutes. Put a light covering of olive oil in a roasting pan before chucking in the potatoes. After 30 mins add knobs of butter (NOT margarine) over the top & put back in oven with parsnips & carrots to roast. Turn & toss after 30 mins.
Boil brussll sprouts until tender then put in a frying pan with ready peeled chestnuts and butter for about 5 mins.
Microwave peas/sweetcorn. And put Aunt bessie's frozen yorkshire puddings into the oven last thing as don't take long.

Unescorted · 19/12/2020 23:22

I do Sparklesocks method. It is also worth working out what you are going to cook & serve things in. I keep getting half way through before realising that I don't have enough saucepans.

SpudsandGravy · 19/12/2020 23:22

If you're going to get a Christmas pudding and light it then you need to heat the alcohol in a large spoon before you pour it over the pudding. That's what enables it to light up.

cudbywestrangers · 19/12/2020 23:23

Do all the prep (peeling and chopping) the day before then writes down what time everything needs to happen, and tick each think of as you do it. Sounds a bit ridiculous but takes so much stress out of getting everything on the table and means you're not stuck in the kitchen for hours on the day. As soon as you start cooking start the wine!!!

DramaAlpaca · 19/12/2020 23:24

Just think of it as a posher roast dinner.

Work out your timings beforehand.

Apileofballyhoo · 19/12/2020 23:26

@SpudsandGravy

If you're going to get a Christmas pudding and light it then you need to heat the alcohol in a large spoon before you pour it over the pudding. That's what enables it to light up.
I've never heard of this and the brandy always lights from just being poured on.
AlrightTreacle · 19/12/2020 23:28

I cooked Christmas dinner for 8 people for the first time last year. Plan out what you're doing and write the timings down, I did a practice run before Christmas. Enlist others to help with veg prep. Also recommend cutting corners where you can/want to; I bought pre made gravy, Yorkshire puddings and desert last year.

Recipe wise honey roasted parsnips and carrots are lovely.

You could also try vegetarian pigs in blankets?!
realfood.tesco.com/recipes/halloumi-pigs-in-blankets.html

DriftGames · 19/12/2020 23:29

Roast ya veg. One roasting tray, jobs a gooden.

izzyrose85 · 19/12/2020 23:32

Have you cooked a roast dinner before OP? It's honestly exactly the same. Most people do more sides at Christmas but you don't have to!

Make sure to heat the fat for the roast potatoes before you put the potatoes in - stick them on to parboil for 8 mins or so and at the same time put in the (already hot) oven an empty roasting tray with the fat in. Then drain the parboiled potatoes, shake a bit to rough up the edges and (carefully!) tip into the hot tray.

Sparklesocks · 19/12/2020 23:37

Make sure to heat the fat for the roast potatoes before you put the potatoes in - stick them on to parboil for 8 mins or so and at the same time put in the (already hot) oven an empty roasting tray with the fat in. Then drain the parboiled potatoes, shake a bit to rough up the edges and (carefully!) tip into the hot tray.

This! They should make a lovely sizzle noise as they go in Grin

longtompot · 19/12/2020 23:39

@NotOfThisWorld

Roast Potatoes: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-roast-potatoes (for vegetarians use olive oil)
Olive oil isn't the best for roasting potatoes, use a veg oil instead. Parsnips and carrots are great roasted, and for the last 10 mins or so drizzle over maple syrup. Add puréed chestnuts to your usual stuffing mix. A bit of lemon rind and juice is great too.
Chailatte20 · 19/12/2020 23:44

www.bbcgoodfood.com/feature/christmas-kitchen

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 19/12/2020 23:48

Never olive oil for roast potatoes. Its smoke point is too low. Rapeseed oil is much better.

You can parboil potatoes the day before.

Work backwards from the time you want to serve up and write your timings down.

Mustreadabook · 19/12/2020 23:52

Just cook whatever your favourite meal is!

MeanMrMustardSeed · 19/12/2020 23:56

Came on to say exactly the same re not olive oil. Rapeseed is brilliant.