How do I cook a Christmas lunch for 6 adults?!

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I have never hosted Christmas before in my family but my mum has been ill with flu and I don't think she will be up to cooking next week so I offered to cook on Xmas day.

I have no idea where to start! There will be me, husband, mum, dad, brother, nephew (16 yrs) and son but he is only 4 and eats minimal amounts!

Obv I will need a large turkey but I can't imagine how much veg, potatoes etc I will need for 6 adults! I am panicking slightly!

Can I steam the veg but roast the parsnips and potatoes do you reckon? How much time will I spend preparing all the food on xmas morning?

I cook a sunday lunch most weeks but its just for me, DH and son and we eat about 5pm so its quite relaxed but I am finding the pressure of having the lunch ready for 2pm (nephew off to his mums at 4) for my other family a bit daunting.

I am sure mum will appreciate not having to cook and wash up but I want to have a plan in place for the day so I don't have to keep asking her advice - I am 31 and need to do it myself!

Please help!

I'm sure I won't cover everything here but...

make a list of everything you want to eat (turkey, stuffing, roast pots, veg etc)
work out how long each one takes to cook
then make a timetable of when you need to start food cooking. Remember the turkey can rest for 15 mins at least (covered with foil) so you can use the oven for other bits

Sorry - am probably sounding patronising here, but I'll carry on just in case

I always peel potatoes the day before, place in a bowl of cold water, and change the water approx every 6 hours (but not during the night!!), same with veg. Do as much as you can on 24th Dec so you can enjoy Christmas Day. I always allow 5 roast potatoes per person (that's 5 cut up bits, not 5 whole potatoes) but maybe my family are particularly greedy. Veg I would look at what you would eat, weigh it, and multiply to give a rough guide. Steamed veg always a good idea.

I always do puddings that require bare minimum effort - a Christmas pud that was steamed the day before and only needs a quick zap in the microwave, and this year, at the request of DDs, chocolate brownies with snow (icing suger ) and ice cream.

HTH and hope it all goes well - I'm sure you'll do a lovely lunch.

sugAr

Something my mum always used to say was buy a largish turkey but do LOADS of veg. Everyone can fill up on the veg and you can still keep some turkey for butties later on.

If you can, par boil potatoes and parsnips and then put on tray and freeze, they cook very well from frozen. Also do the same with vegetables. You don't need a huge turkey for 6 a large chicken feeds 6, decide what size and then work back your timings from there. I have a godd recipe for gravy which you can make beforehand and then add vege water too. You will be fine, just needs a bit of forethought and if you cook a roast anyway you just need to start a bit earlier.

I'd echo peeling & chopping the veg the day before.

I would forget about turkey & do a nice big old rib of beef instead. Once you've calculated the cooking time you can just chuck it in the oven and forget about it. And it will taste much nicer.

Also would keep the veg simple: do parsnips, carrots & other root veg altogether in a roasting tin (maybe with some peeled shallots & cloves of garlic), and just steam some greens seperately.

Get some goose fat to roast your spuds in if you can - you will never look back.

Enlist helpful relatives to put it all on the plates & carve the meat.

Et voila! I'm sure it will be lovely.

oohh yes, I love goose fat. I'm going to have to do my vegetarian parents separate roast potatoes rather than revert to oil for mine . Nut roast already in the freezer!

Fivegomad...cheeky request for your gravy recipe - I always cop out and do bought and regret it every time..... pleeeeeaaasssseee

As it is your Christmas do it your way, don't try and replicate your Mums as you only add pressure on yourself!

I like Turkey but tbh the last few years we have done a large freerange organic chicken and a small ham instead. The Ham you can do a day or so before and take out of the fridge 30 mins before serving just to take the chill off it.

As for veg - it is the same as a Sunday roast just more portions.

Don't forget stuffing - do it seperately in balls. Also saugages and bacon if you like them? I cook the bird, and the start the potatoes. Take the bird out and use the space for stuffing and sausages for the last 25/30 mins of the spuds. That way the meat has rested but the potatoes etc are crispy and hot, ready at the last minute.

Another tip - put it all in big dishes, don't faff plating up, just plan what will go in which dish before and make sure they are all clean and ready to go

Good Luck - remember - it is just like Sunday Lunch.

This is NIgellas but works every time

15g ish of butter and a dribble of oil
1 onion finely sliced
pinch brown sugar
1 teaspoon flour
300ml of stock (chicken if doing chicken/turkey/pork or beef or lamb)
2 tablespoons Marsala but i use white wine if doing poultry or red wine if doing red meat.

melt butter and cook the onion at a low temp, when soft add sugar and alcohol and cook for a few minutes, cover with foil as near to bottom of pan as poss and cook on low heat for 10 mins. Add flour and cook, stirring for 2 mins. Stir in stock and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins. Then blitz it with a blender or sieve it. Put aside and then reheat when you need it and can add pan juices and veg water to get the amount you need.

Thanks so much all of you!

I couldn't get on here last night but am at work now and so glad you have all replied and given me some tips!

I definitely won't try and replicate my mum - I think that's the route I was going down but like you say its my house and cooking and I am sure they will just be grateful for a nice meal!

I am going to print this thread off and study it tonight!

Cheers everyone and Merry Christmas!!

Thank you fivegomad - I'm looking forward to trying it

Merry Christmas