What are your top time-saving tips for preparing Christmas dinner?

[JoshandJamie]

We're hosting the family this year. Am keen to cook everything myself, but am looking for some shortcuts. Anyone have any timesaving secrets?

Just remember it's Sunday lunch with a bigger bird! Don't stress...

DP cooks turky day before. Layers it in a dish anf just covers with gravy & reheats for 1/2 hourish on the day. Lovely and moist too.

have managed to get to the age of nearly 40 without ever having to cook one so can't help -sorry

Thanks JandJ, in fact all the recipes on that page look great, I'm bookmarking it!

Yes I vote for cooking the turkey the day before - it gives you more space in the oven,the oven doesn't have to be on for hours (making you hot and bothered) and you don't have to be worried about timing the veg.to coincide with the bird. I also prep.my veg.the night before. DH lays the table in the morning and does last minute hoovering.
To be honest, the most stress free Xmas day was when I was pregnant and bought every thing pre prepared from M and S.

Cook the same things every year so you know what you are doing.

Prepare veg and stuffing the night before.

Contraversial this one - buy frozen roast potatoes and ready made gravy.

Start cooking the turkey earlier than you think you need to. Or cook it the evening before, slice and keep the sliced meat in gravy overnight to stop it drying out.

Buy the starter ready made from M&S.

Heat the plum pudding up in the microwave rather than boiling.

Ok, some questions about preparing the veg early:

How long before I cook it can I prepare it? Would Christmas Eve afternoon be ok?

We will be having roast and mashed potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, sprouts, swede/turnip and broccoli. Can all of these veg be prepared early or would some be better done on the day?

Invite your 3 sisters and 2 BILs.

Divvy up the food (keeping only the turkey cos then you know where it came from and basically it goes in the oven. Job done! Oh and the bread sauce because then you have to make too much so that you can eat loads before it gets to the table )

Open large bottle of champers. Sit back, watch kids (whilst wondering why your own pile isn't as big as it used to be sigh.................) Wait for sisters, BILs, cousins etc to arrive.

Serve dinner an hour later than you planned!

Lay the table the night before.

ho long doe sit take to peeel a few puds

YUK at pre cooked veg

adn cookign the turkey the daybefore
barf

cook you turkey on xmas eve and prepare the veg, peel and put it in pans of water.

i wish i could afford to have champagne on xmas day we just have wine beer and vodka

siang, a bottle of something which is similar to champagne but not, won't cost much more than a bottle of wine, eg Cava, Prosecco, an Australian "champagne"

We have Cava. Tis yummy.

Get your BIL to do a greasy spoons brunch, then have Christmas dinner at about 6 or 7.