Christmas tips thread

[Rubybrazilianwax]

I thought I'd start a thread where we can share any tips for Christmas. Food, decorating, general household tips etc, that might help for a hassle free Christmas wishful thinking

Mine are:
Lots of bin bags and kitchen roll
Have a designated box to throw instructions and small bits into as dc open toys.
Make dc open Lego on a tray
If having a fresh tree buy a can of plant gloss spray to keep it looking fresh.
FROZEN sprouts, yes you heard me! I love my fresh veg but I normally stir fry the sprout with chestnuts and pancetta so might as well take a short cut nod buy the little button ones. IMO life is too short for peeling sprouts!
Use foil trays for some dishes, like roasted parsnips, then they can be dumped (I'm environmentally friendly for the rest of the year I promise)
Few extra gift bags with biscuits and wine in them under the tree, just ready to lift for the unexpected guest.
If you want to hang a wreath but don't want to mark a door, tack a ribbon to the top of the door and let it hang down.
Make something now for Christmas Eve, like a stew or curry or chilli and it leaves you free for prepping that day.
And for after
Store your baubles in paper cups in a box
Wrap lights around kitchen roll holder, starting with opposite end to the plug

Yes to making and freezing the cranberry and bread sauce now. Ive also done my potatoes. Put a pan of water I to boil, add potatoes when boiling and boil for 7 minutes. Drain ans shake in the pan with the lid on, then sprinkle in some flour and shake again.
Next lay them out on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen they can be bagged up.
On the day roast for 30mins at 190C then turn up oven to 220C and roast for another 30mins.
Ive done this for a few years now and they're lovely and free up a pan on the day

This may sound completely OTT, but I type up a timetable, detailing when I need to put the turkey in, remember to set the table, what time to do the pots etc.

It keeps me sane and stops me fretting "what should I be doing now rather than sipping sherry?".

Its also helpful if anyone pops into the kitchen offering to help - you can just point them in the direction of the next item on the timetable.

Actually, I generally set the table the night before.

Rumours- I am definitely trying your potato trick.

I ,too, have a time plan.
Also I put the Christmas pud in the slow cooker in water with a foil lid and let it sulk in the corner of the kitchen for a couple of hours.
All serving dishes are on kitchen table with a slip of paper inside saying what is to put in them.
And then I shriek for "Carriers " to take all the dishes to the dining table.

whattoWHO- love that idea!

I have a blackboard painted in my kitchen so I write on everything that needs cooked and what time they start/finish

I do the paper for one person wrapping so no mix ups

And my steamer is the best invention on Christmas Day. (It's a metal one with a steamer top bit)
Potatoes part boiled and left to go cold.
Turnip on a slow cook, parsnips on steam before roasting.
Then the carrots, sprouts , cabbage just need a quick steam at the end.
And the water used for gravy

LOVE the idea of a typed timetable. I type my food shopping list complete with pretty holly border. (Its is only in these christmas threads that I can confess to things like this)

Does anyone have any tips for hanging lights around a window? I used making tape last year but the condensation made it peel off. these supposedly do not leave a mark, but am afraid in case they do. Anyone ever tried them?

Fab ideas! Have glasses & serving dishes washed & stored in advance.

Store wrapping paper etc in a suit carrier that you can hang up out the way

Bring a bag of potatoes, veg and maybe extra meat to FIL house incase he has once again ordered 1kg of potatoes to feed 8 people for two meals and the butcher again told him that 500g gammon would be plenty to feed 5 adults, 3 children with plenty of leftovers. Oh just my family. ..

This year too I am planning to instigate a coffee, cake and wrapping morning with friends, as it always ends up being me who wraps presents so might as well find a friend to do it with and have a chat too.

ORuby, we ave used those, I'd use them on glass paint or on wood r UPVC/aluminium windows. We used one in the downstairs loo for hanging the towel, it's fine when it s just us, but whenever we have a party, someone pulls it down ad it has taken the winter surface off wallpaper.

I have some tiny pastic suction cups that we attach to the glass itself. Can't remember where they came from

Not winter surface, painted surface (must preview posts muttering emoticon)

Rumours, are your spuds defrosted or do you roast from frozen?

roast them from frozen