Christmas Day Cheat Food

[roundtable]

I have 15 or more people coming round for Christmas Day.

I'm looking forward to it but the previous times I've made everything. Which meant I spent most of the time in the kitchen and missed out on stuff.

Don't want to do that this year so I'm looking for cheat food that doesn't taste synthetic if that makes sense.

I will still peel and roast own potatoes as you can't fake that and make own Yorkshire puddings for the same reason. Oh and probably will make own cauliflower cheese as I will do it christmas eve and refrigerate.

However does anyone have any brand suggestions that are delicious? I saw some places sell ready made red cabbage etc and wanted some tips please. But then I suppose I could make that prior and freeze it? The more I think of things, the more I think I could make it quite easily. But it all adds up time wise. I am definitely buying precut veg though.

Ideas gratefully received. Oh food places nearby are, morrisons, aldi, tescos, asda - further out but reachable: sainsbury, m&s,

Mashed carrot and swede in microwave packs has always been nice no matter where I've got it from. Not worth the faff of doing your own.

And I always do my red cabbage the day before and keep it in the fridge and reheat.

You can freeze (and cook from frozen) carrots, paranips, sprouts, roasts
You can freeze, defrost and reheat gravy, yorkshires, pigs in blankets etc

Whether they're bought or homemade I'd spend a week filling the freezer to minimise what's to do on the day

I'll write swede on my list. Good idea. I usually mash it myself.

I keep talking myself out of buying things already made. Now I think I might as well make pigs in blankets the day before. I don't want us to miss out on going out/having fun christmas eve because we're too busy prepping/rearranging furniture to fit everyone in.

Turkey is 2 crowns being picked up from the butchers on the 23rd this year. They'll cook quicker than a deboned one which is what i normally do so, no getting up at silly o'clock!

M&S red cabbage is lovely, far nicer than Sainsburys etc. IMO. They do lots of 'cheat food' so I'd look there. Nearer Christmas they do a big pack of mashed potato with cream that always goes down well here.

My pigs in blankets are already prepped and in the freezer. I've got red cabbage in the freezer too. I've also made a lasagne for Christmas Eve so all I need to do is defrost and cook it which gives me time to do other prep.

There's a m&'s food shop a 15 minute drive away from my house so I think I might go there first to buy food before going anywhere else. Might get a bit expensive though...

Thank you. Mashed potato is definitely going to be a cheat food!

Metalheads- I need to take a leaf out of your book and get more organised.

I just can't be bothered once the kids are in bed though during the week, and the weekends seem to get eaten up with parties, clubs and seeing people.

Do you cook them from frozen Metalheads? As merkin mentioned that too.

I saw some pigs in blankets in yorkshires the other day in Sainsburys. I'm definitely getting them as they are my youngest DS's favourite foods combined into one

Another vote for m and s here I buy from them every year as I usually have around 12 to cook for. I think there is still a few days left to order on line it just depends if they have any collection times that suit you.

Actually M & S beef dripping yorkies are very good, it's the only time of year I buy them, normally do my own. I just bought some fancy stuffing, shaped like stars so that's easy.

I haven't tried cooking them from frozen but they defrost fairly quickly on the side on the day or in the fridge the night before (if there's room!).

I definitely recommend something in the freezer for Christmas Eve tea though, especially if you're stuck for time because you'll want to get as much done on Christmas Eve as possible and not having to think about an evening meal is one less thing to worry about.

Could you get the kids to help? Mine love rolling up pigs in blankets and they can do that while I'm doing something else. Mashing potato is always fun too.

I have heard you can freeze roasties but I've never tried it. I always mean to some point over the rest of the year but I'm too chicken to try it for the first time on Christmas Day!

I am having 19 for dinner so far in the freezer
Home made gravy
Stuffing
Potato lyonnaise (sp?)
Batton carrots, prep'd sprouts and red cabbage
Roasties will be aldi in duck fat used them the last few years and no one knew the difference
Veggie nut and bean loaf
Pigs in blankets
Mince pies ready to be baked
Ice cubes with lemon and lime for the gin
Chocolate roulade
Sausage rolls and cheese rolls
We need veggie and gf

Children are very little and a bit too helpful if you know what I mean! I'm quite chilled about it all at the moment but that would stress me out.

I think I'll make 50 pigs in blankets at the weekend and freeze. Some sausagemeat stuffing and I've seen some slow cooker red cabbage recipes that I could give a go at and freeze.

Thank you and any other suggestions would be great.

My kids used to help do things like help make pigs in blankets on Christmas from about 4 or 5 and when they were old enough to have knife skills they were roped in for veg prep. Now they are older DD is making Christmas eve dinner,and I will rope DS into something manly, like making the stollen

I'm making my gravy this weekend.

Buying pigs, why would anyone waste their time making them?

I always buy pre made stuffing as well, no one has ever said anything. I make bread sauce a few days in advance. I store lots in the garage over night on Christmas Eve

And put everything in foil trays so you just serve dinner and dump the 'wash up'

I have bought loads of foil trays and serving platters in preparation.

Canyou I'm loving the sound of lemon and lime ice cubes, how do you do them is it fresh lemon and lime?

Yy I wanted to ask about the lemon and lime ice cubes. What a great idea!

Yes just slice the lime/lemon and pop into the ice cube tray with water and freeze.
If just for the water jug I some times add flowers or mint leaves. The DC love them

I've just bought most of my stuff from M&S today and I've bunged it all in the freezer. I've done this for a while now, sick of been stuck in the kitchen all day while everyone is having fun. So today I got,

Turkey crown
Pigs in blankets
Stuffing
Fresh gravy
Mashed potato
Mashed carrot and swede
Cauliflower cheese
Parsnips
Prawns (starter)

I get all of these out and put in the garage to defrost overnight and then put everything in foil trays to cook

Cranberry/bread sauce in the cupboard.

Stuff that is fresh on the day

Carrots (buy batons)
Broccoli (bagged)
Cabbage/spring greens (bagged)
Shredded sprouts with butter and bacon
Yorkshire puddings I make myself and freeze
So much easier!

Ok, so freezing Yorkshires...What do you recommend to reheat? Cook straight from frozen, how hot, how long?

Like another poster with the frozen roasties, I am a bit wary of risking my first go at it on Christmas dinner, but wouldn't mind getting the lowdown from someone who's done it before.

I get everything out of the oven, bung the yorkshires in while I'm heating gravy/putting stuff in serving dishes. So about 5 mins?