If you’re having 19 people for Christmas…

[Florally]

How many bags / trays of roast potatoes would you do? 😅

I know it’s September, but just based off a debate with my DH when I was loosely weighing the possibilities of what we need / what we have (chairs etc) to make sure we’re okay to do this.

I was particularly concerned most about oven space and potatoes being a favourite (particularly of my children’s) I wanted to work out if this meal would work and there would be enough for everyone..

Meat we can do in advance, lots of veg I can just pivot to all doing on the hob… thinking maybe I can include microwave and air fryer for some things. But potatoes?! Feel like there has to be enough and they have to be amazing right? (Done in the oven!)

for reference, the 19 is 4 60 plus, 8 30’s and 40’s, 4 teens, 3 under 10’s and one other who basically eats nothing so i’m not counting them in the need for food.

I’ve regularly done Christmas dinner for 16, mostly older kids and adults. My advice is turkey takes less time than you think to cook providing you don’t cover it. Follow Nigellas timings in ‘How to Eat’. It can rest for 2 hours wrapped in foil and a big bath towel, preferably out of reach of the dog! Then put potatoes in well parboiled, do veg early and warm up in microwave, don’t go mad on variety of veg carrots sprouts and green beans, possibly red cabbage. Aunt Bessie’s yorkies, they cook in 4 minutes so can be done while getting serving bowls on the table.
Christmas pud ( if you do it) can be heated in a slow cooker for a virtually unlimited amount of time.
And it’s one day when everything goes in the dishwasher, whoever cooks does not clean up.

Can I ask on this… what size of turkey do you get for 19 & from where? I’ve got 17 this year . Last year had 12 and it was quite stressful as my steamer broke on the morning! I’ve got the hostess trolley & going to get a second slow cooker for this year but just now thinking if we will need 2 turkey crowns! Last year had a large crown from the butchers with plenty left so will probably go for that again . Also do you manage to heat 19 plates???

Ask a butcher now for a turkey for a large party like this or find a friend who can order one from a wholesalers, or get a relative to Cook one turkey for you and bring it with them. We cook the turkey every year for our children, grandchildren and bring it with us. That gives DILs oven space.

@mumontherun14I always get a crown from the butcher and they recommend a pound of meat per person, although there is always loads of meat left. So about a 17lb crown for you, although you could go down a few lbs.
I tend to put my dishes in the dishwasher and time it right so they are hot when it’s time to plate up. I plate up in batches, 6/8 at a time so the food is hot.