How have I got into my late 20s and never cooked a Christmas Dinner before?

[Acidrain]

I'm in my late 20s and always have been lucky that since leaving home at 16 I've always gone to my friends family or since meeting DH my MIL for Christmas Dinner.
I know it's a glorified Sunday lunch but I'm a little daunted by it all.
This year me, DH and DS3 have decided to have Christmas Dinner at home this year with everything going on in the world.
So hit me with your tips and recipes?
From things like honey glazed parsnips to making sure I'm not spending all Christmas day in the kitchen?
Buy a turkey crown and freeze it? Or get a fresh one a few days before?
DH will help put cooking and organising but for some reason I'm imagining burnt, dry turkey and hard roast potatoes with the expectation!!

[kowari]

I've never cooked one in my mid thirties. I've cooked a lamb roast before, but whenever we've had Christmas with just the two of us I've cooked curry.

[Lulu1919]

I was married before I cooked one !!!

[kezziethecat]

I'm in my mid 30s and have never cooked it! Looks like I will be avoiding it this year even if we have to stay home as we are having our kitchen extended and it's unlikely to be ready in time. Good luck!

[Lulu1919]

Ps if you can afford it buy as much ready done as you can !!!
Pre cook veg day before to a nearly ready point ....then cool in running cold water
Or even cook and freeze
Par boil potatoes the day before and rough them up ready
Aunt Bessie ..parsnips are lovely
Don't stress it
It's just a meal !!!

[sashh]

If it's your first then I'd suggest you do a dry run with a roast dinner.

Iceland sometimes have an offer which is meat, potatoes, veg, pigs in blankets and yorkshire puddings for about £10.

Now you might not want to do anything frozen but it's a good way to gauge what you will want to make and what is just the same frozen eg sprouts.

[whatswithtodaytoday]

Nearly 40 and have never cooked one, my partner does it as I'm crap at regular cooking, let alone something that involves multiple dishes and precise timing

In our late 20s we were still going home to our respective parents for Christmas!

[pinkksugarmouse]

🤔 Maybe you had better things to do. 😁

[goose1964]

When I was about 20 I spent Christmas with my boyfriend and his family at his sister's . She was about 10 years older than me and she'd never cooked a Christmas dinner before. Somehow I ended up cooking the dinner whilst she plied me with alchohol. We don't buy prepared veg dishes as they're usually too salty for me. I usually prep the veg on Christmas eve whilst watching films . We'll have carrots, parsnips and roasties, spouts and red cabbage with the meat. Starters is my domain, garlic and chilli prawns every year with red pepper soup for the prawn haters if they're here. It only takes minutes and are usually served with ,salad and breadsticks. DH cooks the mains apart from the red cabbage. We don't always get to pudding but if we do it's not Christmas pudding as we save that for our bigger family meal.

You can make cranberry sauce days in advance. It's much nicer than the bought stuff which can be overly sweet.

[Namealreadyinuse1]

I was in my 40s
Top Tips
Turkey Crown-remember to remove from fridge for an hour ish before going in the oven
Peel potatoes the day before
Foil trays
M&S for everything. Don't faff about
Go all out on decorating the table!!