Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

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

What food is worth making yourself?

34 replies

Postmanbear · 09/12/2019 13:30

I am hosting Christmas for DH’s family for the first time this year. My original plan was to buy all ready made (I have two toddlers) but then I have been a bit shocked at the price (hosting for 5 days, 3 big meals expected). I don’t have a lot of time but was thinking of freezing some things that were worth doing. So far I’ve thought about homemade cauliflower cheese and the red cabbage (?!).
What tastes better homemade in your opinion?

OP posts:
Besidesthepoint · 09/12/2019 13:31

Pesto

Digestive28 · 09/12/2019 13:33

Well for one of the non Christmas Day meals I would make and freeze a pasta sauce or similar. Also when we host we ask others to bring puddings or cheese instead of gifts which may help

I think it is most noticeable if not home made with veg without much else - so roast potatoes are best made but red cabbage is in so much sauce etc it’s fine from the shop.

Selfsettling3 · 09/12/2019 13:34

Cranberry sauce

Kaz2200 · 09/12/2019 13:42

Sausage roll, Delia Smiths are fab and you can make ahead and freeze. Also do a big ham for two meals one with new potatoes and Parsley sauce another with egg and chips. Lasagne. Chilli. Soup.

ritzbiscuits · 09/12/2019 14:01

I came on to say Delia's sausage rolls. They can be made in advance and frozen too.

bakingcupcakes · 09/12/2019 14:31

I make my own yorkshire puddings and freeze them. I still like them better than shop bought.

AdaColeman · 09/12/2019 14:41

Sausage rolls
Yorkshire puddings
Bread sauce
Brandy sauce
Gravy
All better home made

You could do a sort of Pasta Alfredo with left over turkey for one of your other meals, and cauliflower or macaroni cheese with ham for another.

ArabellaPilkington · 09/12/2019 15:10

Sausage rolls
Mince pies (not the mincemeat, pimp shop bought)
Cranberry compote (v boozy)
Massive ham w marmalade top

Keep the sides down if you can. I no longer bother with red cabbage or more than parsnips, carrots, sprouts and potatoes. Add in stuffing, turkey, bread and cranberry sauce, gravy and pigs in blankets and it's a heaving plate already.

dreichXmas · 09/12/2019 15:11

Ask family to provide wine.
Have a takeaway one night (we always buy for our hosts)
Jacket potatoes with salad and slow cooked is reasonably cheap and low faff.
Baked pasta dish could be frozen, lasagna maybe?
Homemade soups can be frozen for lunches along with part baked rolls.

Bluetoothbitch · 09/12/2019 15:14

Lasagna make ahead and freeze
Gravy
Gingerbread

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/12/2019 15:22

I'd do a lasagne for either boxing day or Christmas Eve.

Veg to be honest I'd get all hands on deck on Christmas Eve to prep and pop in water overnight, will save you a lot of money and it's fun to do communally. Obvs miserable doing it all yourself.

I'd definitely suggest they do a takeaway one night! And of course contribute wine, etc. Getting a decent amount of cheese will cover you for a lunch (with soup) and a snacky tea (toasted cheese!).

We live on leftovers/cheese/soup for two or three days after Christmas so it's worth buying generous portions.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 09/12/2019 15:28

Def lasagna. If I'm in the mood I also make my own bechamel sauce. You really can taste the difference compared to a jar.

AuntSpiker · 09/12/2019 15:29

You can prep and par boil the potatoes and parsnips now, freeze them, then roast from frozen on Christmas Day. That alone saved so much faffing on the day. Just as quick as ready made, but so much nicer. Home made bread sauce can be done now and frozen. Bought bread sauce doesn't compare.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 09/12/2019 15:35

Everything is better made yourself. But if you are the mum of two toddlers then don't beat yourself up over it. Time enough to be a domestic goddess when the kids are older.

A big ham is a good shout. We have one with chips on Christmas Eve and use the rest as cold cuts. Turkey curry is pretty quick and east for Boxing Day.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 09/12/2019 15:38

Cranberry sauce. Homemade is super easy and tastes much better than ready made (far less sweet!) You can make in advance and freeze it too so no faff on the day

Aycharow · 09/12/2019 15:44

Buy ordinary veg and prepare the evening before they are needed while you are watching tv, and rope in any convenient adults to assist with this chore. Bag it all up and chuck in the fridge (or outside the back door if it is cold and the fridge is full).

lpchill · 09/12/2019 15:48

Christmas Eve day i cook the meat and make gravy. Means it can marinade in gravely and just needs reheating. I take out half of the meat for curry/fajitas for Boxing Day. Christmas Eve night we do Chinese takeaway. Means I can prep all the veg that night- minimal washing up/dishwasher to unload. Christmas morning crumpets. Lunch and in the evening whatever they can find. My family that come over pay for the Chinese but for 7 of us it comes to £50 including tip

SimplySteveRedux · 09/12/2019 15:51

Cranberry sauce.

user1497787065 · 09/12/2019 16:04

I can't think of anything that isn't better home made although I don't routinely make bread, pastry or biscuits.

PickAChew · 09/12/2019 16:08

The red cabbage is definitely a goer as it's super easy and freezes really well. I made mine yesterday using half of this recipe, which is still a generous amount for 6-8 people. The quantities in the recipe are a bit bonkers, tbh!
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/juniper-apple-red-cabbage

kateandme · 09/12/2019 16:08

micne pies.easy with one of thoe ready rolled jus rol pasty packets too.they will keep people going if yo have a big tin of them ready.
also if you make some christmas biscuits or fridge cake in a tin ready.very happy family with those in a tin of the side.
are any young family coming.if so i would get one of those diy gingerbread houses in for them to do.that will take an afternoon up and then fun to snack on.

can you cook.you could do a pata bake or lasagne now.
or a shephards pie or chicken and bacon pie,even if you could do the base meat bit then bung it in tupperware in the freezer.that a few evening meals right there.

id get pizza,fish and chips for one night.we always do this xmas eve.
a curry.again this is something you can do a day before for when they come.
stuffing is always better.and easy with a box of paxo.
gravy.
veg.i dont get people saying it needs to be done the evening before.its a roast dinner.just do as you would if you have a sunday roast.on the day,whislt watching tv.it really isnt a stress.
there are sides of salmon everywhere at the minute.which is an easy one to put in the freeer until the evening befor eyou need it.then you can have it with anything.
buy sausages now and put in the freezer.
cheese and crackers buy now.
get some of those ready to bake baguettes from the shops.stick them in the cupaord.they take literally 8 mins warming in the ovening.job done for bread.
get som garlic bread in the freezer.
depending on what meal you think youd do you could chop some onions,garlic,peppers now.
and if its going to go inside meal then you could do carrots,celery etc.
make a salmon or mackeral pate and freeze
buy a tray of chicken thighs and freeze.
steaks are easy to freeze.
could you make some pastry parcel to freeze.

Postmanbear · 09/12/2019 16:08

Some great ideas, thank you. Feeling a bit overwhelmed but need to start writing a plan/list and I’m sure it won’t be that bad! 😳

OP posts:
lettersbyowl · 09/12/2019 16:13

In your situation I would think carefully about what was worth the effort/time! Christmas Eve I would do the ham with a cheeseboard and bread/crackers plus salad bits. Christmas Dinner get sauces etc ready done, but prep the veg yourself as it's so little effort really and they can help you. Also get ready made desserts. Bring out the ham and cheeses again that night! Boxing Day is either the day for a takeaway or do a lasagne/curry etc that you can make ahead and freeze. Done!

LadyCordeliaVorkosigan · 09/12/2019 16:20

Roast potatoes, gravy and the carrots are the only things best done yourself IMO. Mince pies if you find shop ones too sweet.
Red cabbage and Yorkshire puds are fine ready-made, frozen peas, a rolled roast if you don't like picking over a turkey carcass.
Ready-made Christmas pud and cake are often better than home-made.

But the company is more important than fine dining-standard catering. Have enough for leftovers, maybe get a pile of ready-prepped veg to roast with another joint of meat, and have lots of cheese and crackers and fruit. Soup and bread is another good meal - soup can be made in advance or bought in cartons. Enjoy!

BiddyPop · 09/12/2019 16:22

I've just stuck a large and 2 smaller lasagnas in the freezer last night that I made over the weekend for Christmas enjoyment. I really much prefer HM lasagna, and now its done and out of the way, just needs cooking (45 minutes) once defrosted. Chuck in some shop-bought garlic bread (for ease) and throw some salad at the table. One meal done, and can be expanded if more appear than I expect.

I always do the veg and potatoes ourselves. Whether it's just the 3 of us at home (DH and DD help), or when it was 12 of us in DM's house (I was always chief potato peeler on Christmas Eve). I have a dish of cauliflower cheese in the freezer that I can use. And I know lots of people who prep the spuds, parboil and toss in the fat before freezing as well.

We also make our own stuffing - it's really easy, for Christmas stuffing, DH makes it by cooking the sausage meat on 24th, and then just mixing all the ingredients together once the meat has cooled - he doesn't even cook the onions beforehand although we do that for every other stuffing during the year - crumbs, onion, sausage meat, some fresh or dried herbs, and some milk to combine it all.

I make stock from the turkey carcass on 26th every year, and freeze it. I usually also have some turkey on thanksgiving and another reason to make stock/gravy. So I usually have some stock, or even turkey gravy, already frozen. My gravy is made using Bisto powder (NOT granules), stock, slug of wine and any meat juices that are available.

Mince meat is devine made yourself, and you can change the ingredients and quantities to suit your families' tastes. This year, mine is soaking in some German fruit liqueur rather than brandy, and it's really nice. I tested it on Saturday using pre-rolled puff pastry, which was fine. I will make my own pastry if I get time, but I'm happy with shopbought if not.

I also use jus-roll puff pastry to make sausage rolls. Buy the sausage meat, grate in some cooking apple, add herbs, and some grainy mustard (and chilli powder/flakes if desired!)- squish with your hands to mix, lay onto pastry and fold that over the top. So simple but effective.

For other meals around the day:

Christmas morning breakfast:
Jus-rol or M&S pastries to throw in the oven
Part baked breads are also great to have on hand taking only minutes but allowing you to have fresh bread when needed
Buy freshly squeezed juice - with 2 toddlers, that's too annoying to do on the morning.
We usually have coffee, juice, pastries, and sometimes bacon sandwiches or some eggs. And I sometimes am organised enough to put together a bowl of chopped fresh fruit the night before.

Christmas Eve should be simple but delicious - we do a "platter" which involves throwing various M&S or deli offerings at the table, I peel and chop some carrots and peppers into sticks, but mostly its about opening and plating things (cooked and cured meats, ready to eat fish like cooked prawns and smoked salmon, paté, olives, dips, crackers and cheese etc) and allowing everyone to pick what they would like for themselves. As long as there are things that you know the toddlers will eat amongst that, they may also surprise you in what they will try if everyone else is eating them (it's how DD started eating, and loving!, olives in our house).

There are lots of curries or casseroles or pasta sauces that are great to make ahead and freeze, just needing to be reheated with freshly cooked rice/pasta/potatoes as necessary.

Or you could go part-way at least, while things are calm and quiet - buying the meat and chopping/marinating it before freezing; chopping and slowly cooking the onions and garlic base for starting many such meals before freezing; etc. Making a tomato sauce (with hidden veggies if necessary) that you can then use with any meat/fish you fancy when you thaw it.

Or things like flavoured butters - adding garlic, chopped herbs, lemon zest, chilli...whatever flavours you want (and however many types you want too) - again, can be frozen, just shape into a log and wrap in greaseproof paper.

I also like to make cookies, and generally bake some earlier in December so that I can freeze at least half the batch of dough - all I need to do is give them a few minutes to start thawing (as long as it's not too thick a log) and use a large chopper knife to slice off rounds to bake quickly for cups of tea etc.

If you see them though, the bags of pre-chopped carrots into batons or pre-peeled potatoes in vacuum bags can be great timesavers.

Buying turkey or chicken stock works well if you can get the liquid types (i.e. not the cubes), just taste the gravy before adding seasoning as you may not need any salt.

M&S mince pies are nice, or if you have a local bakery, try theirs and give them an order in advance!! (I love HM ones, but there is a good bakery near us who do something special that I can't work out but nom nom....). Lidl stollen and stollen bites are gorgeous, and won't break the bank.