Ideas for a super-quick and easy Christmas menu?

[AchtungBaby]

Last year (when DS was ~4 months old), DH and I faffed about for hours making a roast Christmas dinner. The results were generally pretty good, but (in hindsight) we were sleep-deprived, and we would rather have relaxed and spent our time having fun with DS and our guests.

So, now we're not sure what to do this year - another roast Christmas dinner, or something much easier / quicker ?

Delegating is only worth it if you have willing and competent helpers IMO. Otherwise, more stress and grumbling resentment from Great Uncle Bob that you kept him peeling the spuds and away from the telly and his sherry.

Nope, it's got to be throwing money at ready prepped canapes, veg, gravy, pre-stuffed turkey etc. Microwavable christmas pudding (we won a Fortnum & Mason hamper in a raffle and even their posh Christmas puddings are microwavable) and a cold plated starter. If you are not a domestic goddess - cheat, and look like one.

FIL: "No, there would be too many people in the kitchen!"

Achtung: "No, because I'm going to be sitting in the living room watching ds play with his new toys".

Here is a great recipe for freeze-ahead roast potatoes -
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4967/
On the day you put them straight from the freezer onto a tray with some fat and bung them in the oven.

Carrots can also be prepared, simmered for 5 minutes, and frozen.

Last year I got a turkey crown (just the breast, basically) and cooked by spreading 50g butter under the skin, spreading a pack of streaky bacon over the top, covering the tin loosely with foil, and bunging in the oven. Remove foil half an hour before the end. It was yummy and moist and dead easy to carve. The crispy bacon bits were good for snacking on while dishing up, too ...

forgot the linky box -

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4967/

Bohica, the red cabbage is Delia's and I do about a month in advance. I make it in double quantities and freeze in smaller amounts. I makes a bog standard sausage casserole and mash into dinner for friends (IMO! realise some would never give sausage cass to friends, they can go for beef/venison!).

braised red cabbage I don't layer it up just bung in casserole dish as half way through you stir it all together anyway!

I also do delia's cranberry and orange sauce, again make up to a month in advance. Or do on Christmas Eve and freeze leftovers for with ham at New Year. delia's cranberry

Have to confess I've had M&S stuffing recently, I like the selection of different types you can get. I ADORE stuffing but generally just 2 of us eating it so seems a bit daft to make massive amount. Friends have done Nigella's gingerbread one but I'm not convinced...

Enjoy!

Thank you tassisssss those links will come in very handy and great to know I can get christmas under way in November. I'm going to be brave and make gravy and stuffing this year - they can both be frozen, can't they?

Thanks for all of the replies everyone, and sorry for disappearing! (I think I had a virus, and then DS probably got it too... Hopefully everyone is on the road to recovery now though.)

at HazeltheMcWitch and WhereDidAllThePuffinsGo suggested responses to FIL trying to dodge vegetable peeling duties. Actually, I think I might have thought of a solution - DH and I have decided to prep all of the veg the night before, while we drink something lovely and listen to carols on the radio. If FIL wants to sit by himself in the living room, then that's up to him. We will probably not be ferrying him cups of tea etc!

Yes, gravy and stuffing can be successfully frozen. I make one with wholemeal bread, crumbled vacuum-packed chestnuts, bacon bits, fresh sage thyme and parsley, onion, and seasoning. Some gets put in an oven proof dish to bake and a small amount in a freezer bag to put in the chicken. I just thaw it out in the fridge and it's ready to go.

I will be a bit earlier this year getting it done in advance, as last I had to shovel snow off the herbs before I could pick them!