First time hosting

[Turkeylurkey1]

It's my first time hosting my extended family for Christmas this year. Im super excited for it. There will be 6 adults and 4 children 6 and under. Please give me all your top tips for food and drink for the day. I want to get it right and be an amazing host. I can obviously cook a roast, but want to make it really special. Starters? Canapés? Nibbles? Evening cheese board? Etc. Very grateful for any tips and pointers. It will be a turkey roast. Tia

Starters / something cold that your sous chef can help you with. They sit down then whilst your sort out the main.

nominate a sous chef

nominate a team of 2 or 3 adults to clear up afterwards

nominate another adult in charge of drinks

honestly part of the of Christmas is joining in together as family so that’s all perfect if you can give everyone a role - a child can answer the door and take coats , an older child could be asked to mind younger ones

cook the turkey and wrap k towels to give you oven space

plan your pans and serving dishes before John Lewis closes on Christmas Eve

I wouldn’t normally but a throw away foil baking tray for the turkey

more stuffing and pigs than you could imagine needing for a party twice the size

This is amazing advice. I've already thought about the sous chef. And yes a cold starter and maybe table presents to keep everyone entertained before I bring everything together and start to serve.
Hadn't thought about a disposable tray for the turkey but it really makes sense and frees up my biggest tray for the obscene amount of roasties. Haha

If it’s like our family the entertainment comes from them all finally sitting down .. ah no can you swap seats as I’ll need the loo… no aunty meg need to stretch out her peg leg …no kids don’t sit on the seats reserved for the chefs with easy access to the kitchen … ill just go in the most inaccessible spot and the remember I need my tablets ….

Time yourself backwards from when you want to serve. That’s how I do it. I agree with foil trays. Less washing up at the end. Prepare your veg the night before if not already done from somewhere like M&S. I use a streamer for my veg to leave the hob as free as possible. We use the BBQ on low to keep things warm while others are finishing off in the oven or airfryer.

Set the table the night before. I’d not do a starter but I would have everything in hand to stop for a while, have a drink with my guests and serve canapés instead of a starter. Then break off to finish preparing the meal. I don’t have anyone specifically to do drinks here. You are given your first one and then it’s help yourself!

I warm my plates either in the microwave or a quick wash through the dishwasher.