From the Good Housekeeping Christmas pamphlet '101 Recipes, tips & ideas to make Christmas entertaining easy':
"If your parsnips are large and woody in the middle, halve them lengthways and cut out a 'V' to remove the centre."
Phew, thanks. If something is too big, cut it up smaller. Entertaining sorted.
Your contributions for Mumsnet useless Top Tips at Christmas, please.