Christmas from Scratch!!

[mumclaire]

have just found out that for the first time we are hosting xmas - so have the opportunity to start things afresh and do things our way. We're having MIL and GrandMIL, my mum, grandma and my bro alongside pg me, dh and dd1(21mths). So question no. 1 - what traditions would you like to start/do...

Secondly, whilst I've got my rose tinted glasses on and am actually excited about it - what do I need to do? I like making lists and checking things off and I need to start stocking up now to make it easier to afford everything...

Message withdrawn

Everything must smell of tangerines
Mulled wine
Christmassy film on Christmas eve AND christmas afternoon
New PJs for the kids to unwrap on christmas eve
Pressies just before lunch (some suspension is very cool!) with too many nibbles and fizz
Father christmas fills stickings - everything individually wrapped in newspaper
Cards hung up onstring
Christmas tree (of course) with LOADS of lights
Full christmas lunch with christmas pud + brandy butter (plus another pud if anyone doesn't like it)
Crackers and appalling jokes
Everyone sleeps in the afternoon surrounded by ripped paper and overexcited children while the film is on.

Love it

Try and do as much prep of the dinner the day before. I usually do carrott and swede the week before and freeze it. Potatoes and parsnips peeled and put in a bowl of water, with a slice of bread on top (stops them going brown). Bread sauce made and frozen week before. The only thing I do on Christmas day is peel the sprouts and that's my tradition, I have to drink far to much sherry whilst I do it and sing Christmas songs with my mate!

Oh yes - music - you must have frank sinatra and anything similar playing for the whole of the festive period.

Perry Como.

maureen you can par-boil then freeze the spuds too

Choose traditions that will work as your DC get older - stockings in bed, big pressies before lunch, homemade crackers...

DH can tell if its been frozen apparently! Still, I have to admit, that I do the prepping and he does the cooking, so thats fine by me!

Get Delia's book - it's flawless!