What do you usually prep on Xmas eve?

[LizMacD0nald]

I'm going to prep my beef joint and cook it tomorrow as my oven space is limited on Xmas day with the festive bird, potatoes, carrots and what not.
Wondering what else to prep tomorrow so it makes Christmas day easier.
Sorry if there is already thread like this, I couldn't see one.

I have my main Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so I do it all then. Christmas Day is just leftovers (loads and loads and reheated so no more cooking to do).

I do loads on Christmas eve:
Make my sausagemeat stuffing
Make flavoured butters for under the skin of the turkey and for putting on the veg
Peel and chop all veg and leave in water
Parboil potatoes and parsnips and coat in goose fat so they don't go brown.
Prepare turkey and put butter and seasoning under skin

On Christmas day it's literally just a case of popping things in and out of the oven at the right time

Everything. We have Xmas dinner on Xmas eve :)

@FangsForTheMemory

I have my main Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so I do it all then. Christmas Day is just leftovers (loads and loads and reheated so no more cooking to do).

Us too! Have a lovely chilled Xmas day like me !

Almost everything. I started today. But there are 12 of us, with the 8 guests staying for two nights. I do almost all the food cooking myself and nothing except pudding is bought in. I will enjoy Christmas much more if it is all prepared ahead as far as possible!!

I'm not hosting this year but when I am I:

Peel and chop all veg which then goes in pans or bowls in water
Cook turkey in oven
Cook stuffing in oven
Cook gammon in slow cooker
Prepare alternative dessert

I buy cranberry sauce and pigs in blankets ready made.

Don't lay the table until Christmas day as we have cats who are likely to walk across it and trash it overnight.

Nothing. I'm still trying to put away the food order which I will also be doing tomorrow.

Nothing. X

@popcorndiva mind blown! Will be trying this for sure!

Prep the gravy made from giblets. If I was having red cabbage I’d do that too. All other prep is Xmas Day with champagne or Baileys in hand and music on . I have many peelers and dish out jobs usually. No one gets to chop but me though.

I don't prep food as I don't do big difficult Xmas meals that take hours. My Xmas Eve prepping is hunting down the gifts from all over the house and getting them to an easy place for Santa to deliver. I'll planning to send DH out with the DCs to look at Xmas lights in the area whilst I get everything in place.

All veg prepped. Sauté the leeks in butter and loads of black pepper. Just reheat on Xmas day. Also make cauliflower cheese.
Make apple crumble, chocolate concrete so puddings all ready.
Lay table, move hostess trolley into the kitchen ready to switch on first thing Xmas day. Always work out what tableware I'm using and put that in trolley to warm.
Always do myself a timings schedule and work out turkey timings. Sounds a bit anal but makes me feel like I'm in control!

None, it's basically a roast dinner with posh stuffing / nicer roasted veg sides.

I do find it really odd that some have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve though

Ham tomorrow afternoon, veg & potato prep in the evening. If the turkey has defrosted by tomorrow lunchtime I will be cooking it in the afternoon, but it doesn't really matter if not. I can do it on the day as it's not massive.

I also need to remind adult dd (again) that the Christmas cake she made is not going to ice itself.

@WishingWell5

Off topic but how do you make parsnips so they don't burn on the edges???

The burnt bits are the best bits!

Very little. Just red cabbage, and DH will write an immaculate timetable for Christmas Day. I'll offer to chop the veg, he will probably say it's not worth it. Might wrap pigs in their blankets if they have not been bought ready made (I haven't checked.) I'll hopefully make some mince pies or spiced biscuits but if not, they can wait for another day.

We do ham a few days after Christmas once the roast is gone, so it's not one to worry about yet.

Prep myself, a good basting with a nice red

^

🍸🍸🍸🍷🍷🍷

I made a stollen at 4.15, assembly really as the dough was done. I also need to make the sausage meat stuffing for the bird, as effing usual DH has bought dozens of sausages and stuffing balls, despite me wanting to make stuffing and I told him.

I usually prep veg today but as DD came up a day earlier than planned, (with DH and son) I've all their presents to wrap up but DGS will come and find me.

I will be trying to remember to take everything that needs to defrost out of the freezer (in fact I think I'll go and do that now...), making mince pies, gravy and the bean dip for our starter, and peeling veg.

I love Christmas Eve prep - I think I got up early this morning out of prep excitement!

Today I need to:

• Make the morning buns for tomorrow. They do their second rise overnight in the fridge so just 30 mins to warm while the oven heats, pop them in, 30 minutes to fresh baked buns
• Red cabbage
• Sausage stuffing
• Marinate the gammon
• Make the gammon baste
• Slice up the mushrooms for sauteeing
• Cutting up carrots for roasting

Last night we did a quick 45 minutes of veg prep together including slicing up crudites, washing up the spinach for sautee, slicing the cabbage, and peeling a bunch of garlic so it is easier to grab a clove and go. I also pre-cooked breakfast bacon in the oven and baked Christmas cookies from dough I had made weeks ago and frozen.

DH is in charge of making the steaks + sauce tonight and the ham tomorrow. Will then just need to make the mashed potatoes fresh and roast the carrots. He'll also lend a hand today as my sous chef.

Unfortunately the tree isnt done and the table needs to be cleared and set but thats easy enough and the tree decorations can happen with a cocktail later!

@Ddot

Prep myself, a good basting with a nice red 🥳

@Ddot I think you maybe my twin!