My first Christmas cooking!

[GiraffeObsessedBaby]

So this year I am hosting Christmas and cooking!

I'm really looking forward to it, I'm not an amazing chef but for an event like this I like to do something really good.

As it's my first year and I'm starting from scratch I need recipes for everything!

So hit me up what are your tried and tested Christmas recipes?!

list:

-turkey (we get ours from m&s)

-sprouts (chopped and fried in a pan with some bacon)

-gravy

-roast potatoes (peel, boil and then roast)

-baby carrots (boil)

-stuffing

-veggie option is this

puddings:

-trifle

-christmas pudding

-mince pies

good luck! xx

Oven ready turkey
Oven ready pigs in blankets
Frozen pre pared veg

Bung in the oven and enjoy drinks without the hassle

I’m hosting this time for the first time too!

I do these roast potatoes and have always had lots of compliments. They really are delicious. www.nigella.com/recipes/perfect-roast-potatoes

I make Jamie Olivers get ahead gravy but omit the star anise (thanks to lots of comments on here from people saying the same) www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/get-ahead-gravy/. I make 2 batches and freeze and on Christmas day I add 2 pots of ready made chicken stock to it and I also boil the giblets from the turkey with onion, carrot and celery and that mixture gets added too (I usually dice it all once cooked).

I make stuffing from scratch and freeze in advance too - although I cook it on the day.

I make my Christmas pudding at the end of October and then reheat on Christmas day (after the Christmas where it took 6 hours to cook).

I buy in cranberry sauce, mince pies (sainsburys) and pigs in blankets. Veg gets prepped the day before. I've been known to make red cabbage in advance and freeze.

My advice is to never try to do everything on Christmas day.

I agree with the Jamie gravy suggestion, I use leeks instead of celery and add a few mushrooms for colour and miss out the star anise. Also, don't skimp on the time browning as that's how you get a good colour. I'll be doing a batch soon to put in the freezer. If it's your first Christmas cooking I'd probably buy a little more han usual to reduce the stresst. Also, if you have time prep the day before. I always get a boned, rolled and stuffed turkey crown from my local butchers, it's very easy to carve. Good luck. PS I have a table top food warmer that's great for keeping things warm.

Turkey from the butchers is always more moist. I always find frozen turkeys a bit dry.
Also prep your veg the night before & leave them in water in their pans in the fridge to save you peeling & chopping on the day.
I usually do a soup or pâté as a starter. The usual trimmings for main. Turkey, proper gravy, sausage meat stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, roast parsnips, peas, carrots, red cabbage, Brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce & bread sauce.
Then pudding I usually do a fruity option (this year Eton Mess), a chocolate option (this year a Yule log) and Christmas pudding. All with either custard, cream or ice cream.
Then cheese & biscuits.
There’s usually 10 adults each year but this year we have 2 babies joining us too 😊

Nigella & Mary Berry recipes are always fab!

Thank you this is all really helpful! Will definitely be having a look when ds is in bed.

I'm going to be going for easiest options as I have -
One carnivore allergic to soya
One carnivore allergic to dairy
One vegetarian with coeliacs
One vegetarian
Two more carnivores 🤦‍♀️

And don't forget - turkey isn't compulsory!

That’s quite a list! Last year I had a diabetic, heart patient, vegan, traditional-all-the-trimmings carnivores, gluten-intolerant and picky dc. Gotta love a challenge

Sarah Raven cranberry and orange compote (make two weeks ahead)
Delia Christmas cake (made last week)
Usborne Kids Baking at Christmas Kringle (kids make this Xmas Eve)
Nigella mince pies (use bought pimped mincemeat)

I buy the turkey off the shelf at M & S or Waitrose on 22/23. Get the best pigs in blankets there are, and buy good quality stuffing balls. I used to make them but decided it’s a waste of time.

Golden rules for me are:
No more than 6 sides - we have potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, carrots, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls
3 sauces - these are worth making IMO - gravy, bread sauce & cranberry compote
Really crispy fluffy roast potatoes
Honeyed parsnips
A decent fresh turkey