Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

What parts of Christmas dinner do you do Christmas Eve?

57 replies

nappyaddict · 24/12/2014 02:43

I want to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible so what can I do Christmas Eve to make cooking on the day less hectic?

OP posts:
babsmam · 24/12/2014 11:32

Ok potatos par boiled but turning black? Help!

Sallystyle · 24/12/2014 11:33

Delia's red cabbage, it is divine. It's not a slow cooker recipe as such but I put it in mine and it tastes better that way. I think I cook it on low for 4-6 hours. I just check it every now and then to see if it is cooked to my liking.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/party-food/accompaniment/traditional-braised-red-cabbage-with-apples.html

I just warm it up gently in a pan the next day and it tastes much better the next day.

Pollywallywinkles · 24/12/2014 11:38

Stuffings, nut roast and cranberry sauce has been made this morning. DH is currently prepping veg whilst I'm having a quick cup of coffee.

Anything that can be preped today will be.

Honsandrevels · 24/12/2014 11:55

Thanks Boysandme, although I'm alarmed by babsmum's post!

Boysandme · 24/12/2014 12:06

Honsandrevels I have had potatoes go black before but not using the method in the link. I intend to do mine later today.

Whoreandpeace · 24/12/2014 12:07

Babsmam - this is Delia's recipe which I use year after year. I cook it in the slow cooker (she doesn't). Once cooked then you can reheat it on the day in a saucepan (slowly) or in the microwave until hot enough.

Ingredients

1kg red cabbage, shredded
450g onions chopped small
450g cooking apples, peeled etc, chopped small
1 clove garlic, chopped very small
1/4 whole nutmet, freshly grated
1/4 level teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 level teaspoon ground cloves
3 tabs brown sugar
3 tabs wine vinegar
15g butter
salt and freshly milled black pepper

Method

a) Mix the garlic, sugar and spices together.

b) Layer up as follows

c) Shredded cabbage, then chopped apples and onions, then a sprinkling of the spices. Continue until all finished.

d) Pour over the wine vinegar.

e) Dot butter over the top.

Cook in slow cooker for 5 hours.

Reheats well and freezes well

babsmam · 24/12/2014 12:08

I suspect I didn't par boil Them long enough. They will be tonight's mash now and I will just par boil more before lunch tomorrow.
Stuffing done. Pigs in blankets next then prep and weigh turkey for cooking times calculation. Oh and more potatoes :)

babsmam · 24/12/2014 12:08

Thanks whore

babsmam · 24/12/2014 12:09

And U2

DamselNotInHerDress · 24/12/2014 12:23

Dp has made himself a list of things to do today. It says
Parboil and coat parsnips
Cauli cheese (now crossed off!)
Wrap pigs in blankets (now crossed off)
Yorkshire batter
Red cabbage (crossed off)
Boil and glaze ham
Prep sprouts
Get stock out of freezer
Prep stuffings (crossed off)

He is a busy bee in the kitchen and I'm lying down MNing! He even brought me a bacon sandwich in bed this morning - he's a keeper!

stupidgreatgrinonmyface · 24/12/2014 13:00

Make cranberry sauce. Make stuffing. Prepare the pork Wellington. Make apple sauce. D's has made rolls to go with soup. Make soup. Cook turkey crown for sandwiches. Everything else is ready- veg prepared. Frozen goose fat potatoes. Pudding in slow cooker overnight. Bought croissants to have with DS homemade jam and marmalade for breakfast tomorrow.

Sallystyle · 24/12/2014 13:00

On my husband's list was

Walk the dogs
get pissed

Grin

To be fair, he is amazing around the house but my son wanted to take over this year. I am still however having to supervise. So my lucky husband gets a year off cooking.

DamselNotInHerDress · 24/12/2014 13:45

U2, your DHs list is the best one! Minimal mess, first part is relatively good for you, and the second part is really fun!
Dp is starting to get on my tits now though, he's banning my from entering the massive kitchen as I'm "getting in his way" Xmas Hmm
Though he may be forgiven as he has just brought me out a lovely toasted sandwich for lunch!

Pasithea · 24/12/2014 14:10

You luck lucky lot. Just got out of hospital by the skin of my teeth been in three weeks . Got a taxi DH at work til six . House is a tip. All I want to do is crawl into bed , but dogs got there first where do I start.

SecretSquirrels · 24/12/2014 14:19

Why on earth would you do potatoes the day before? Confused I'll just cook it all tomorrow. I don't get all this cooking the day before, it would make Christmas dinner like a meal of re-heated leftovers.

I usually cater for 8 to 10 people. If there were more I might prep a few veg.

DontGotoRoehamptonUniversity · 24/12/2014 14:25

Bought all veg frozen , so no chopping and peeling, will just cook them tomorrow. Am amazed that people really start cooking the day before for one lunch...

QueenInTheNorth · 24/12/2014 14:33

Today we're doing the ham, preparing the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and our salmon starter.

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 24/12/2014 14:38

I've already made the cranberry sauce, Jamie Oliver get ahead gravy and stuffing, I will make the Yorkie batter later and prep the veg. I just can't believe re-heated roasties could be as crispy as freshly cooked ones. We don't eat till about 3, so it's not too hard doing most of it on the day.

Dumbledoresgirl · 24/12/2014 14:50

I spent all yesterday in the kitchen. Some of the things I did: made icing and iced Christmas cake (yes, I know I am slow!) cooked red cabbage, cooked ham, cooked onions to go with ham, made sticky toffee puddings (instead of Christmas pudding), made sausage rolls and cakes (dd and ds3 did actually).

Today so far I have made two stuffings, made breadcrumbs for bread sauce, and made marzipan shortbread biscuits.

Still to do: pigs in blankets, stuff turkey and get it ready so it can go straight in oven tomorrow morning, peel potatoes, prep sprouts and parsnips.

ExitPursuedByABear · 24/12/2014 14:56

All veg prepped. Roasties parboiled. Cranberry sauce made. Bread sauce and stuffing made. Turkey ready to go in oven overnight. Cakes iced.

Shattered now but at least I can chill out tomorrow.

MelanieCheeks · 24/12/2014 15:19

I've done the cranberry port sauce, including checking the port was OK.

Made the chocolate and Guinness cake, including checkin the Guinness ws ok.

Made da cream cheese Baileys icing. 'cludin' checkin' th'Baileys ws Ok.

Answered questings on faceboom concernin' rum, whish involved me checkin' my ginnerbread rum ws Ok.

I'm luvvin Chrisssmas Eve! I luffs you all!

Deux · 24/12/2014 15:22

Jazz, thanks. I had a quick look up earlier and found a method as you describe. So I boiled the gammon for 5 minutes, then into slow cooker covered in water, quartered onion and 2 star anise. It's been doing it's thing in low since 10.30 am.

I've made cranberry sauce, defrosted Jamie's gravy, iced cake, cleaned front room, hall and porch.

Still need to: prep veg; make pigs in blankets; make gingerbread house (waitrose kit), clean kitchen, loo and futility; lay table.

I've never been this organised before and really looking forward to a peaceful evening for a change. No crib service as DD has tonsillitis but may go to midnight service with neighbour though unlikely as DD woke me up at 5 am and I decided to get up.

Merry Christmas. Xmas Smile

Sallystyle · 24/12/2014 15:43

Secret, I started doing a lot the day before because my kids would moan that I would never get to sit down with their toys because I was in the kitchen and stressed.

Yeah, my turkey is warmed up in the gravy and my stuffing and cabbage is warmed up but it still tastes just as good; but I think most food tastes better the next day and if it doesn't my family really won't care.

IcicleTree · 24/12/2014 16:01

I find nothing worse than cold turkey with warm gravy on, always cook fresh on the day and rest for about an hour before serving.

I've made chocolate mousse today, but thats about it- can't be bothered to make the rest- leaving 'til tomorrow morning as off to the pub now Grin

Sallystyle · 24/12/2014 16:06

You warm the gravy up in the gravy then take it out to keep it moist and warm.

I never have it cold.

Swipe left for the next trending thread