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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas Dinner tips

75 replies

CupCupGoose · 27/09/2019 17:31

I know it's early but this is the Christmas topic and I just want to start planning as I love christmas so much!

So I'm hosting this year and cooking for 9 which is quite a big deal for me especially as my DB and his girlfriend (who I've only met once) are coming and are big foodies.

Please share your Christmas Dinner tips with me please!

OP posts:
Barbarara · 27/09/2019 19:12

Once I realized how important it is to rest the turkey after it’s cooked, it transformed Christmas dinner. Nicer meat and lots of time to faff about with roasties and gravy. I use Gordon Ramsey’s turkey and gravy as my starting point.

I think it’s really important to consider the balance of flavors with the sides. It’s easy to overwhelm the palate with too many flavors.
Think about what you want as the star attraction and what are the supporting roles. When you look at sides in the supermarket they sell them individually - carrots with a hint of ginger, Brussels sprouts with almonds and garlic, potato with mustard and cheese - but if you have them all at once it’s a bit over powering.

Courtney555 · 27/09/2019 19:21

Yes I agree. If you're doing plenty of sides, keep them plain. Parsnips in honey, sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts, parmesan swede, are all lovely. But by the time you've got turkey, stuffing, chipolatas, Yorkshires, gravy, a tonne of veg, you don't need honey, parmesan and other flavours cluttering it up.

Make a spreadsheet of what time you want to eat, then work backwards of when the turkey needs to come out to rest, when the sprouts need to go in etc etc. Invaluable.

livingthegoodlife · 27/09/2019 19:51

Go for a cold starter that can be preprepared and same for dessert. A Christmas pudding microwaved is much quicker than steaming!

Ditto what a pp said about plain sides.

Prep as much as possible in advance do you can just bring stuff on!

Have fun!! And enjoy a tipple of something nice whilst you cook.

katmarie · 27/09/2019 20:04

Prep as much as possible in advance, you can make gravy and freeze, same with pigs in blankets etc. cook as much as possible on foil trays which can be rinsed and chucked in the recycling. Do more roasties and pigs in blankets than you will need. Serve it family style and let people serve themselves. Serving dishes can be recyclable as well, although I prefer nice crockery ones on the dining table. Have a choice of a couple of desserts. If someone offers to clean up, let them, if not, delegate. You'll need more tea towels than you think, and plenty of serving spoons. Have wine. And enjoy!

Lunde · 27/09/2019 20:13

I pre-prepare as much as possible and freeze to make it stress free on the day

  • gravy
  • stuffing
  • pigs in blankets
  • stuffing
  • bread sauce
  • mince pies
MrsLeclerc · 27/09/2019 20:48

Jamie Oliver’s Get Ahead Gravy recipe is amazing. You can make it before and freeze it or make it on Xmas eve and put it in the fridge.

It’s treated with reverence in our house! Half is kept back and frozen for a special Sunday roast in January whe were feeling miserable.

Also the Jamie Oliver veg butters are genius for side dishes. It’s like a mixer for your veg. He does a thyme and orange zest one for adding to carrots. Basically you chop, zest and squish it into a block of butter. Form the butter into a roll in some grease proof paper twisting the ends like a cracker. Pop it in the fridge to firm up. Then you can slice it and throw a chunk to melt on top of your cooked carrots. You can freeze them to so can make them in advance.

(I’m not Jools I promise!)

Courtney555 · 27/09/2019 21:00

@MrsLeClerc

Had no idea about make ahead gravy, thank you, so much! I'll be due on the day with twins, so anything I can do in advance is fab.

(Wondering if I need to get out more when I get so much joy for making gravy in advance)

formerbabe · 27/09/2019 21:06

Cook turkey before everything else....it can be left to rest for hours wrapped in foil and covered in a couple of bath towels.

Roast potatoes seem to take longer to cook than you think.

Flowerpower321 · 27/09/2019 21:06

If you’ve likely got newborn twins for God’s sake get someone else to worry about it or get a takeaway!! The last thing you should be doing is cooking. Otherwise m&s premade and throw it in the oven. Seriously don’t start prepping with baby twins (as a twin mummy)

OhTheRoses · 27/09/2019 21:18

Cook the veg and put in serving dishes (I do it in the morning) and blast in the microwave as you are taking dishes through.

Really good quality poultry gravy. Bung a spoon of turkey juice in a pan, add gravy, add glass of sherry or two or slosh of wine. Stir in a desp of cranberry.

Buy good quality stuffing and a large prepped crown from M&S.

We have turkey, pigs, stuffing, bread sauce, chantenay carrots, runner beans and red cabbage.

Cranberry sauce, use a jar, add to pan, add juice of an orange and two cloves.

Original poster
CupCupGoose · 27/09/2019 21:26

Thank you all so much! The Jamie Oliver gravy idea is brilliant. I'm not great at making gravy so making it ahead of time will save me a lot of stress! Agree with keeping flavours simple with so many sides going on, thank you. I need to come up with a good cold starter. I love a good Christmas Dinner and reading this thread is making me hungry! I'm pregnant so unfortunately no drinking for me!

Agree that you should absolutely no way be cooking if you're going to be due with twins!

OP posts:
Barbarara · 27/09/2019 21:41

I find it helpful to physically touch each dish/pan/pot when I’m planning as I have form for planning to serve 3 different things at once in one container!
Also think through what will be on the hob, and when; how many oven shelves you need; how to fit things in the fridge.
A cold starter made the day before sounds great in theory until you’re trying to fit it in with the turkey and all the veg. Frozen soup that can be defrosted and heated in the microwave might be more practical. That’s only an example though. I’m not really advocating one or the other - the point is just to consider the logistics!

OhTheRoses · 27/09/2019 21:50

I don't think christmas lunch needs a starter.

Ylvamoon · 27/09/2019 21:54

I agree pre cook your turkey. That will give you plenty of oven space for your roast potatoes & "mixed" roast vegetables which are easily prepared with oil and a bit of seasoning use veg like parsnip carrots beetroot and sweet potato.
And don't forget to "practice" - I find testing out a sample menus really helps with timing and portions.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/09/2019 21:57

Keep it simple. Simple done well is far nicer than passable fancy food and far more relaxing to cook.

A good time plan is invaluable.

Make some salmon pate and serve with some smoked salmon, prawns and toast / fresh bread and proper butter for starter.

PersonaNonGarter · 27/09/2019 22:08

We do the turkey hours in advance and wrap it tightly in loads of foil and tonnes of bath towels. With hot gravy and on hot plates you won’t notice.

Don’t have a starter at the table. Get a guest to make or bring cold canapés.

Digestive28 · 27/09/2019 22:11

As others have said but also..
It’s cold in winter so if just overnight we sometimes use shed as extra storage for things would otherwise be in fridge
Write down a list of what needs doing when and stick it up. Makes it easy to delegate - if someone wants to help then you don’t need to think just show them the list
Don’t do it when drunk! Tipsy fine but drunk not so much!

N0tmyrealname0 · 27/09/2019 22:18

We have a BBQ

Simples

MrsLeclerc · 27/09/2019 22:38

@Courtney555 @CupCupGoose It’s the best gravy ever! It takes a bit of work to make but you end up with plenty. I portion it out into freezer bags so it’s just a quick reheat job on the day. Definitely a plus if you’re expecting some new arrivals! (It says to put a bit of alcohol in but I never do and it’s still perfect)

DS was 3 months old last Christmas so we had a more relaxed menu than normal and the only thing DH insisted we have was the gravy.

Link for anyone interested www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/get-ahead-gravy/

hannahbanana2007 · 27/09/2019 22:50

On the Jamie Oliver recipe app there is a 2 day Christmas dinner recipe which lets you prep loads of stuff the day before and then gives you timings on Xmas day when to put stuff in the oven. We have used it for the last 4 years, love it as makes it all so simple but really nice flavours! Also do the Jamie make ahead gravy too

4forkssake · 27/09/2019 22:55

We always have canapés & bubbly at lunch time rather than a starter, then we have Christmas dinner at about 5pm. Are you able to ask people to bring something? If so, make sure you delegate what people should bring so you don't end up with several of the same dishes. Prepare as much as you can - freeze anything possible. Prepare the veg the night before. If you can, lay the table the night before so there's one less thing to do.

gostiwooz · 27/09/2019 23:00

I cook our turkey on Christmas Eve morning, let it go cold, slice it all up and put it all in the fridge. I make giblet gravy the day before too, and prep all the veg while watching the telly in the evening.

Sorting the turkey beforehand totally frees up the oven and your time on the big day. Just bung the sliced turkey in a dish with the gravy, cover tightly and warm thoroughly at the bottom of the oven while you are doing the roast potatoes.

stucknoue · 27/09/2019 23:08

A decent turkey, don't buy a large one though as it tends to be dryer.

Cherryrainbow · 27/09/2019 23:17

Step 1. Open wine
Step 2. Watch husband cook 😂

Seriously though all the above suggestions sound great.

LaMarschallin · 27/09/2019 23:21

If you're having mashed as well as roast potatoes, prepare the mashed ones on Christmas Eve and put them in a microwavable serving dish to serve on Christmas Day.
While I found I could just rinse out the saucepans I'd cooked the carrots and sprouts in (the only other boiled vegetables we have), having to properly wash the starchy potato pan (plus the masher) just seemed the last straw.

Nothing to do with main Christmas meal, unless you have brandy/rum butter or hard sauce with the pudding, but all of those are better with salted butter imo.