Just made my first bit of crimbo dinner today. AIBU

[Whatabloodycircus]

So, I've done it for a few years... make and freeze the yorkshires, roast tats, roast parsnips, carrot and swede mash, braised red cabbage etc. a few weeks before xmas.

Today I got a lidl waste not box and it had carrots, swede and red cabbage in... I've made my first bit of xmas dinner on THE FOURTH OF SEPTEMBER!!! (carrot and swede mash btw... braised red cabbage'll be tomorrow 🤷🏻‍♀️).

I'm feeling a tad unreasonable!

Me too. I have my sprouts boiling away as I type.

Then throw them in the bin, best thing for sprouts. 😄

I think it’s great because it will make you feel organised. We freeze some things in advance too. We discovered Nigella’s make ahead mashed potato too a few years ago which saves boiling potatoes on Christmas Day. I’ve bought Lidl fruit and veg boxes in the past and they are amazing. You are certainly an antidote to the posters who complain that Christmas dinner is too expensive to make so order Dominos pizza instead. Maths is clearly not their strong point.

I'm impressed by your forward planning and organisational skills. PP saying YABU are just jealous, OP. 😁

TatianaBis thanks for your response. I realise I misrepresented myself as I do buy bread sauce and cranberry sauce ready made from M&S, and I do prep all veg on Xmas eve - carrots and Brussels sprouts, parboiling pots and parsnips (and coating them in flour and Parmesan). All I really do on Xmas day is prep stuffing, put Turkey in, cook all the veg, cook the vegetarian option and yes make the gravy last. I don't need to make puddings as my sisters bring those.

I'm wondering how long people re- heat pre-cooked roast potatoes that they have de- frosted in the fridge - does it really save that much time on the day?

Still keen to know how people store frozen roast pots in the freezer? Obviously I have a lot for 15 people!

@Bouledeneige

TatianaBis thanks for your response. I realise I misrepresented myself as I do buy bread sauce and cranberry sauce ready made from M&S, and I do prep all veg on Xmas eve - carrots and Brussels sprouts, parboiling pots and parsnips (and coating them in flour and Parmesan). All I really do on Xmas day is prep stuffing, put Turkey in, cook all the veg, cook the vegetarian option and yes make the gravy last. I don't need to make puddings as my sisters bring those.

I'm wondering how long people re- heat pre-cooked roast potatoes that they have de- frosted in the fridge - does it really save that much time on the day?

Still keen to know how people store frozen roast pots in the freezer? Obviously I have a lot for 15 people!

I store roasties in reusable zip lock bags. Yeah they take time in the oven but it saves pans on the hob. Fair enough if you do them the day before but I also like to spend xmas eve with my kids. In fact I got 2 bags of blonde bella potatoes in my waste not box yesterday so xmas roasties are on my list for this week too!

Thanks op for the receipe

I could not get excited about a “roast tat” made 4 months early because it cost 15p to save it going to landfill.
Why couldn’t you just make a Sunday dinner today with your bargain veg?

@SpiderinaWingMirror take that back! 😂😂

If I was at home for Christmas I’d probably prep from start of dec. you are way ahead of my schedule but I’m not judging!

I put some sausage meat in the freezer for Christmas two weeks ago and then remembered we’re moving house on Wednesday. Sausage meatballs for tea tonight then.

@TheChiefJo

I'm impressed by your forward planning and organisational skills. PP saying YABU are just jealous, OP. 😁

Hahaha nope 🤢

Yabu for calling it “chrimbo”

@Whatabloodycircus

I didnt mean it being nasty, I literally said that I couldn't even fathom why I dislike the idea of it. I think possibly just the length of time? Surely the opportunity to eat a roast dinner would come up before Christmas?

I am a huge fan of the veg boxes myself. I've had some amazing bargains. I also use a community project that saves food from landfill and you can do a shop for £3. For that you get 2 frozen items, 2 fridge items, 5 fruit and veg 5 ambient stored items and 5 bread/basket items. They have an extra i With other bits and boobs you can add on for 50p-£5 . Extra 3 fruit and veg is 50p . It works out great!

Actually I've just had a thought about why I may be averse to cooked then frozen fruit and veg. I'm stupid in my kitchen doing my own roast dinner and I'm cooking extra so I can make my grand baby some meals as he's 7 months now. I've done this for my own kids and my news before too. I think I have psychologically connected the cooking and feeding process to the mess the kids make actually eating it 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

I bought my daughters main Christmas present yesterday as my husband is obsessed with the shipping costs. So present wise we only have to get a few bits and pieces. We haven't started cooking the dinner though, but we do Christmas dinner tapas instead of big Christmas Dinner.

Actually I was just thinking the other day that I must make my Xmas cake soon, so that it is fed with loads of Irish whiskey before the big day.

@TheRabbitStoleMyHat

Me too. I have my sprouts boiling away as I type.

Then throw them in the bin, best thing for sprouts. 😄

How very dare you!!! Sprouts are delicious. Parboil and then fry them in some garlic oil. When they're almost done, stir in some honey and Marmite. If you want, and you make enough, you could then put them in the blender with some salt, pepper, veg stock and single cream and make sprout soup. Lovely with some crusty bread.

I thought you were going to say about making Christmas cake to be fair we start on that around September

Not unreasonable at all I fact a hero to me

I always make the stuffing the day before and cook the ham. But that's about it. I might make Jamie Oliver's 'get ahead' gravy this year too a week or so in advance. People for prep vegetable on Christmas Eve, do you just peel them all and leave them submerged in water? I might do that this year.

How very dare you!!! Sprouts are delicious. Parboil and then fry them in some garlic oil. When they're almost done, stir in some honey and Marmite. If you want, and you make enough, you could then put them in the blender with some salt, pepper, veg stock and single cream and make sprout soup. Lovely with some crusty bread.

Garlic, honey and marmite do not sound like a good combination but I love sprouts so I'm going to try it. I'm also going to try the prepped and frozen roast potatoes.

I made my nut roast for Christmas last week! Christmas doesn't fill me with joy but I love Christmas dinner.

YABU. ‘Crimbo’ is in a par with ‘holibobs’ and ‘moby’ for mobile

On ** a par

@LBirch02

YABU. ‘Crimbo’ is in a par with ‘holibobs’ and ‘moby’ for mobile

And drinkypoos 🤣. I admit I was being very, very unreasonable using the word crimbo... once again, I apologise profusely! (Plus each time I get a notification of a new message and have to see my thread title it puts keith lemon's xmas song in my head. Not good.) Sorry folks.

@Luzina

I’m impressed with your forward planning (in awe of it actually). But yep, YABU

I have the Christmas pudding ready, wrapped up and in the back of the old garage fridge but only because I made it last year and no-one wanted any!

Haha OP I now have to look up Keith Lemon’s song - haven’t heard it in ages!!