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Christmas

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

How do you cook everything at Christmas?

80 replies

Knittedbreasts · 08/10/2017 08:22

Hi I am loving reading threads about those of you that are cooking for 20 people etc and I guess sometimes people will bring food with them.

But. I struggle cooking a normal roast dinner for 6 and finding enough space or layers in the oven for roast potatoes, the mean amd parsnips. Any advice or tip?

I'm so excited about xmas!

OP posts:
Maryann1975 · 08/10/2017 20:08

I did Christmas lunch for 17 last year. I have two full sized ovens which massively helps (which I bought for occasions such as this when we redid the kitchen). I cooked the meat the night before which I have always Dione (haven't always had 2 big ovens) and prepped all the veg then too.

Also in advance, I made a very comprehensive list of everything that needed to be done and this was checked and rechecked several times. The table is done on Christmas Eve morning, including the bottles of drinks put outside to chill.

Only allow good workers in the kitchen. Absolutely no good having mil in with me as she can't cook, doesn't know where anything is kept and dislikes washing up. I found nominating my brother who is quite happy to be bossed around if he gets fed in the end and my mum who cooks in a similar way to me to be my best helpers.

BeyondThePage · 08/10/2017 20:18

we have steamer bags for the veg - do them in the microwave, and disposable trays for the roasties/stuffing/roast veg for the oven. Makes a big difference - you can get ones that make the best use of the space (2 trays fit each oven shelf exactly for us)

Our trouble is 2 vegetarians, 8 meat lovers. So 2 main items, 2 different lots of roasties, 2 stuffings, 2 gravies.... arghhhhhhhhhhh....

Knittedbreasts · 08/10/2017 20:39

Thanks everyone. It seems meat and veg separately or at least with a break is the way to go. I am Def going to write a schedule! Thank you!

OP posts:
cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 20:40

JO gravy, not JP grave!!!!

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 20:53

Don't mean to sound bad, but I leave him indoors to it all, and it's great. Only four of us so it works. I load the dishwasher after. Even better if there are 20! No way would I do all that prep or cooking. I am a woman you see, I don't do these things, lol.

In Ireland I heard they have a celebration on 6th January called "Women's Little Christmas" where the girls/women only, go out and get hammered or eat out whatever and enjoy the fruits of their labours over the Christmas/New Year period. Now if that doesn't tell you something about women's work nothing will.

FGS, it's always the wimmin's work. Feck that.

tigercub50 · 08/10/2017 20:57

I usually dread it but actually looking forward to it this year as we will be in our new home & hopefully I will have a brand spanking new double oven!

cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 21:02

In our family, we all have jobs, so that means the men do things too.

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 21:14

cowgirls,

That is how it should be, but in general it isn't really.

I doubt there are many men on this thread, and those that are will doing the prep and cooking!

But I suppose it is a nice and cuddly thing for many women to prepare, shop, chop, plan, cook, clean the house, decorate the table, time it all and serve it up. Red faced and glowing. And then everyone falls asleep after.

I am not one of those women. I love DH for his insistence that he does it all for us. Well mostly it is M+S which is lovely, but it is the thought that counts.

I will do lunch and dinner on Boxing Day though. I'm good at that. The number for the takeaway is in my phone lol.

cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 21:19

I think you are right Doramay, which is a shame.
I actually like cooking for Christmas more than at any other time of year. I feel like I can justify spending time doing fiddly things that at any other time of year would seem a waste of time. I have plenty of friends though who can't cook and at Christmas either buy everything ready made or go out. For me, as long as everybody gets together and the food is nice it doesn't matter.

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 21:25

cowgirls,

Am I getting a slight "dig" for mentioning ready made M+S stuff there (only joking). It is the business for himself I can tell you and is gorgeous if pricey, but worth it!

Each to their own, whatever makes us happy is my mantra.

I know Christmas is special for very many people and getting together is a great thing too. It is just the fact that women seem to do most of the work that gets me. It was always and ever was thus though.

I know is only October, but Merry Christmas to you!

cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 21:42

Haha. Not at all Doramaybe. I'll try the M&S stuffing on your recommendation Grin

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 21:48

cowgirls,

Everything from M+S for Christmas is on our plates! Himself indoors has to work so hard putting it in the oven. I wipe his brow regularly lol.

Thanks for seeing the humorous side of things. I like that.

Getting rarer here now, not this thread, just in general.

cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 21:50

Totally agree Dora and if you can spare your DH on Christmas Day please send him round to my house. He sounds like he'd come in quite handy.

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 22:02

cowgirls

loving the banter.

Thank you. It is nice to read posts that are not, well I don't know how to put it, but I think you will figure it out.

DH has two new knees from running injuries over the years. So sometimes I really HAVE to do a bit of work on Christmas Day by putting the trays from M+S into the oven for him. It is not an eye level la di da oven, you need to bend down for it Ha Ha. sorry he's fine really.

But he does all the serving up on the plates and that. Such hard work for the poor man. LOL.

washingmachinefastwash · 08/10/2017 22:18

Some meat goes in the slow cooker (Ham in one slow cooker, silverside in the other slow cooker)

Turkey in the oven.

Pigs in blankets cooked in another persons house and brought in.

Roast potatoes in 2 actifrys.

Soup, made the day before, will be in a pot on the hob.

Cauliflower cheese will have been made on the day and put into a food warmer.

Cabbage is from Iceland so fire into the microwave and put in another segment of the food warmer.

Other veg heated and in food warmer.

Turkey comes out the oven and ham goes in to crisp up the skin before serving.

All served at the same time (apart from the soup).

I do it every year for 22 people.

cowgirlsareforever · 08/10/2017 22:34

Yes Dora. I have to admit to getting a bit heavy on here myself recently (which is completely not me in real life) so it's great to have a laugh Smile

fakenamefornow · 08/10/2017 22:49

Potatoes and parsnips can be parboiled in advance, put in the freezer and put straight in hot oil from frozen on the day to cook. I do this every year and they taste great. I make carrots and swede mash in advance and freeze, this needs defrosting and draining but can then be microwaved in its serving dish before serving. I have now heard the stuffing also freezes great so will do that this year and freeze in the dish I plan to cook it in. I don't stuff the turkey but serve stuffing separately in its own dish. This should just be able to be defrosted and cooked it its serving dish. For veg this just leaves red cabbage and brussel sprouts, these can be prepared Christmas Eve and cooked on the day, as can pigs in blankets.

Doramaybe · 08/10/2017 22:51

cowgirls

Onwards and upwards. Enjoyed the chat and a bit of fun.

isthistoonosy · 09/10/2017 05:36

We have 16 ish normally.
OH does the turkey as we buy a live one and I've no interest in learning how to kill, pluck, butcher, cook and carve. He also preps and par boils all the potatoes (on the 24th) and puts in to roast when the bird comes out. I do the sides normally do a cauli cheese, prepared the night before and a couple of trays of roast veg (par boiled 24th) and boiled sprouts. I used the old wooden oven he used the electric one. MIL brings the gravy.
Table sorted as people walk in as we've young kids and don't want it messed up.
Dessert is normally something cold and easy to just pull out. OH makes proper boil on the hob coffee for afterwards.
We eat around 1500 though so there isn't a mad panic, after presents are opened kids play while we get on with things or 'help'.

cowgirlsareforever · 09/10/2017 08:43
Smile
tootsieglitterballs · 09/10/2017 09:35

The answer is simple ladies, just do as I did... marry a chef!

Failing that , prep is everything, if everything is prepped ready to go, work backwards on your timeline so you know when to put everything in.

Once turkey is out, leave it to rest and cook everything else that needs the oven.

Par boil your roasties first and fluff them up in a colander before roasting.

Use disposable foil trays to save on washing up.

Roast carrots & parsnips together.

Don’t bother with too many veggies - we do carrots, parsnips & sprouts only.

Ham the night before.

Or buy a bigger oven (I did that too... came with the territory of marrying a chef... )

buttwingsham · 09/10/2017 09:45

After years of putting crosses on sprouts, making gravy and all the usually stuff on my own with no help I decided one year to m and s the lot. I usually have around 12 for Xmas dinner, I didn't tell anyone what I'd done and every single bloody one of them said "oooh buttwing this is the nicest Xmas dinner you've ever made!"
Bastards.

Sandycarrots · 09/10/2017 10:03

Grin buttwings

churchilllounge · 09/10/2017 10:23

I've got a heated trolley thing I bought off Facebook just for Christmas. It's amazing so no faffing!

BiddyPop · 09/10/2017 11:34

Cook the turkey, take it out and cover with tin foil and a couple of clean bath towels to keep it hot for up to 2 hours.

Have the potatoes par boiled and toss them with the goose fat, so they are ready to go in as soon as turkey comes out. I like to have them hot going in, but doing them beforehand (say Christmas Eve) is fine too, just add an extra couple of minutes to cooking time.

Have the veg for roasting ready as well, that you have steamed them for a few minutes in advance and then tossed with the herbs and seasonings (including some satsuma juice for carrots, yum).

Both of those will reduce cooking time for the potatoes and veg.

Brussels sprouts can be steamed, frozen peas can be boiled, carrots can be glazed (gently cooked with some onion and a tiny amount of liquid) all on the stove top. Cauliflower cheese can be made, possibly by having the cauli cut into florets, by cooking the cauli and sauce on the stove top, and just popping under the grill to get golden while you are clearing starters and getting the mains put out.

Gravy can be made in advance and just add in the juices from the meat as you reheat it, again just while you are clearing/serving.

Plates and serving dishes could be heated in the oven (turned off - residual heat is plenty) while you eat starters. Or soaked in hot water in the sink and quickly dried. Or run the dishwasher to have them hot and clean just when you are serving.

For large groups, I would tend to have either a cold starter that you can have plated up in advance, or else something like a soup that only needs a large pot rather than anything needing oven space.

Ham - cook it in advance, slice it, and reheat from cold by steaming with a tin foil cover over the meat to prevent it getting soggy. Could do the same with spiced beef.

And if you have that large a group, plan on having 2 or 3 sets of each dish spread around the table (or serve each plate in the kitchen), a few salt and peppers, at least 2 jugs of gravy etc.

I would also tend to make sure everyone gets one roast or hassleback or duchesse potato (whatever your seasonal preference is), but also do a pot of mashed potatoes to put on the table to reduce pressure on oven space. Have more seasonal specials if you have room - but perhaps have a second tray of roasties that goes in while you eat starters that will be ready as people are starting to look for seconds.

And also think about the trays you use - can you fit more in the oven by buying those disposable trays and fitting 2 to a shelf? SO you could have smaller amounts of 2 things, and have a second lot to go in as you serve up to be ready for seconds if needed? Or maybe having some things cooked in advance (that morning, day before etc) and just needing reheating rather than full on cooking? So they could go in after potatoes or whatever?