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Christmas

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Christmas dinner

13 replies

KrazyboutKillian · 15/12/2024 16:42

I have suddenly had my dinner guests increase to 10 ( in total ) and I’m feeling a bit over whelmed
what if anything can I precook , day before , and any tips for reheating and any other handy Xmas day tips , any ideas gratefully received
I will have help in taking food out etc and will do desserts from m &s
thanks ,

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 15/12/2024 16:53

If you are having turkey get a crown or rolled joint and let it rest for 90 mins. It's all the better for it and leaves the oven free for everything else. I triple wrap it in foil once it's out and then in multiple tea towels.

Have something done and out the way in a slow cooker like stuffing or gravy.

Yorkshire pudding can be done in advance and take only minutes to heat up.

Mash potato and mashed swede/carrots can be microwaved.

Have a full plan of what's where and when it's in and out and just adapt if you need to and take each step as it comes.

It's all easy really but dishing up is hell so have all hands on deck for that.

Beware of "cook's curse" - this for me is being unable to believe that the meal is good. It all just tastes a bit bland in the aftermath. Then when we have leftovers then next day I blown away by how fabulous it all is. I don't know why this happens. It's very cruel.

Oh and there's usually one thing that never makes it to the table. I often find the mashed swede in the microwave some hours later.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/12/2024 17:59

Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings both essential and there would be mutiny if these did not appear. Not shop bought though, never as good.

I bought an air fryer last year and it is a godsend Cook the roast potatoes till they're nearly done . Drain and put in the air fryer basket . Heat the oil, put he Yorkshires in and give them their 15 minutes and the potatoes the same in the airfryer.

Everything else is steamed or re heated in the microwave.

Parsnips go in the top oven to stay warm

SeaToSki · 15/12/2024 18:01

What is your current menu plan, how many ovens do you have and how many rings on your hob. Also do you have a warming drawer or tray or trolley?

MajorCarolDanvers · 15/12/2024 18:01

I cook the Turkey the day before. Prep all the veg and par boil the potatoes.

My mum provides the starters and my sister the deserts.

I cook for 10-14 every year.

pestoblush · 15/12/2024 18:05

I would do something’s like carrot and parsnip mash the day before (or the mashed turnip as stated above). You could have the spouts prepared too and pre made garlic potatoes as a crowd pleaser.
I would buy in potato croquettes etc as they are a good filler.

I would do things like make a flask of soup so it is good and hot and takes that last min pressure off.

peel the spuds the day before and leave in ice cold water overnight.

KrazyboutKillian · 15/12/2024 18:43

To answer some questions
I have an oven normal size and a small oven ( half size ) on top , 4 rings , a mwave and a slow cooker , no air fryer tho

) normally is only 2 of us so 10 feels a bit ahhhhh !
this was my very loose plan
boil , cool and freeze potatoes ready for cooking on day when turkey ( crown is out )

jamies gravy ( 2 litres) made mon and kept in fridge
same with carrot turnip mash and red cabbage
par boil sprouts ready for a quick stir fry with pancetta on the day

spring rolls starter cos it’s a mad tradition for us , and various desserts bought
does this sound like a plan or can anyone suggest other tips

thanks for suggestions so far , making notes

OP posts:
KrazyboutKillian · 15/12/2024 18:44

Oh and a plate heater plug In thingy too

OP posts:
Onetimeonly2024 · 15/12/2024 18:48

If you are doing starters, go with something like soup which you can make the day before and if you’ve got a bread maker you can do fresh bread with it with no effort. Or prawn cocktail so no cooking.
Make the mash in the morning and reheat in the microwave. Boil the spuds for the roast potatoes in the morning too and make the Yorkshire mix.
If you’ve not bought your Turkey yet get a crown from a decent butcher in a ready to cook bag - they are faff free.
Get micro veg from M&S but serve in a covered veg dish so it doesn’t look like you’ve “cheated”
Please don’t pre make and reheat the Yorkshires though - they are no where near as good and there is no need. Bung them in last thing while the turkey is resting.

SeaToSki · 15/12/2024 20:21

Your menu sounds very do able.

go and buy some disposable foil baking trays for the turkey, potatoes and sprouts..it makes clean up much easier and is only once a year

on xmas eve (or before)work out all of your serving dishes and serving spoons for each food item..dont forget that your quantities will be much bigger so you need bigger dishes or more than one per food item. Put a post it not on each dish of what you are putting in it (or your risk forgetting in the rush of serving and it also makes it easier for someone else to help you execute the plan)

you can half cook the sprouts in the pancetta the night before (in the disposable baking tray) and then just put the whole tray in the fridge overnight. You can finish it the next day. I always quarter my sprouts lengthways when roasting them so there are more edges to get covered in pork fat 🤣

doing the mash and red cabbage way in advance is a great idea, you can do it this week, and freeze them. Just take out of the freezer on xmas eve. If you freeze them in the dish you want to reheat them in (foil disposable one??). Then it saves on washing up

write out a list of all your timings working backwards from when you want to serve. Include allowance for the ovens warming up and the turkey to rest. Include every step, so taking the bacon covering off the turkey etc etc. then you wont forget a step in the flurry of it all

make sure you start the day with an empty dishwasher, lots of kitchen towel, washing up liquid, clean teatowels and bin bags

make sure you have enough cutlery, plates, napkins, chairs, glasses etc for everyone and dont forget if you use all the forks for the starter, you might not have enough for the main course..so put wash forks on your list of things to do between starter and main

make sure someone is a designated washer upper

and if you are anything like me, limit yourself to one glass of alcohol before the turkey is on the table!!

MsMartini · 15/12/2024 20:44

I make sage and onion stuffing and red cabbage in advance, and freeze.

I buy and freeze turkey gravy when reduced from Waitrose and M and S as I make horrible gravy 😀and then use the turkey juices to add to it and drizzle on top of the stuffing.

Prep veg (carrots, potatoes, parsnips/leeks) the day before and stand in cold water in covered pans. Freezer stuff out to defrost overnight or first thing on the day. We usually have frozen peas too.

Turkey goes in but not much else happens till it comes out to rest, then parboiled roasties in, everything else reheated or cooked in that 45/60 mins. Get others to lay the table etc at that point.

So basically once the turkey is in you can relax apart from perhaps turning it and then everything else happens in that last hour.

We do a working backwards list too and stick it up in the kitchen. And make sure the decks are clear.

Fushia123 · 15/12/2024 20:49

Our local butcher has a steamer oven and cooks the turkey breasts before you go to pick them up on Christmas Eve Eve. Rules are that it can only be reheated once. On Christmas Day we slice it, wrap it in foil and heat through in the oven. Always very moist and delicious. May be worth looking into your local butchers for the same thing.

Arran2024 · 15/12/2024 20:50

Get the dishes you are going to cook everything in sorted out in advance and check what will fit in your oven.

Be aware that things will take longer to cook as you have a full oven and keep opening the door.

I always clear an area of the kitchen and put all the food there and people come up and help themselves.

I have cooked for 18. Imo the numbers aren't particularly important - it is getting the timings right. Keep a list of when things go in and come out.

Do a ham in coke. It makes a nice addition to the turkey. You can cook it in advance.

Onlyvisiting · 15/12/2024 20:58

Any roasting veg can be prepped and par boiled the day before, roast them on the day. Have your pans and cooking times planned and ready.

Brasied red cabbage is great cooked ahead, keeps several days in the fridge.
Carrots keep prepped in water in the fridge for days. Just drop them in a steamer. Sliced green cabbage can at least be prepped the night before.
Def make the gravy ahead.
Most mashes reheat in the microwave easily.
If you are making stuffing make it ahead and have it ready to go in the oven (I like sausagemeat stuffing, but all stuffing is better cooked separately, not in the bird imo)
Make the Yorkshire puddings batter either early in the morning or the night before, its better rested anyway. As per the tips in the link below if you put it in the fridge then let it come to room temp before you cook it.
(This page has amazing tips...https://www.seriouseats.com/the-best-yorkshire-pudding-popover-recipe)

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