What can/do/are you make ahead fro Christmas food?

[worm77daisy]

I have a one oven cooker and have 14 people to entertain I am doing traditional lunch by request. What can I make ahead so that my day isn't so time managed last year I spent so much time in the kitchen I didn't get to open my gifts! Saw dd open hers though.

So far I have made:
Mincemeat
Christmas cake
Christmas pudding
Braised red cabbage

Will make and freeze
Stuffings
Bread sauce
Gravy

Is there anything else I can do? Anyone had any luck with prepreparing their veg?

Make and freeze the apple Sauce.

I usually prepare the veg the day before and cook the carrots/sprouts and mashed potatoes.

The veg is literally cooked to al dente and quickly put under ice cold water to stop it cooking any further - this way they keep their lovely colour. I also peel the potatoes for roasting too and place in water.

Make and freeze sausage wrapped in bacon. Freeze in foil trays that can go in oven. Cook on Christmas morning, remove from trays and wrap in foil. Reheat for 10 minutes or so when needed.

Cranberry sauce - make and freeze.

I made mashed carrot/swede earlier today and left to go cold. I am going to see how well it reheats later this evening. Will report back.

Braised red cabbage also freezes well, may do that this year.

Oooh. Red cabbage, yum. Would either of you mind sharing your recipe? And after you've frozen it, how do you cook/heat it?

I also do my red cabbage and shove it in the freezer.

Just defrost it and put it in a pan then reheat it through.

this is the recipe I have used time and time again

Excellent! Thankyou