Never cooked xmas dinner!

[SilverSparkle]

Well, its my first time cooking xmas dinner and i just wondered how you all cook your vegetables. Thanks

same as any other day really
do the prep in the morning - ie put everything in pans ready for when you need to switch on
peel spuds and carrots and put in pan of water in the morning
prep sprouts and also put in water
Then all you need to do is turn on

Broccoli gets steamed

Cabbage gets blanched then tossed in a flavoured butter (this year Jamies anchovy/chilli and Garlic)

Carrotts are baken in the Oven with a marmalade Glaze

Parsnips roasted in with the Taters with rosemary and Garlic.

Sprouts blanched then tossed with crispy Bacon and Chestnuts.

tell you what not to do....

last yr i put my turkey still wrapped in it packaging in the oven to get it off the work top and to fin its defrosting..... xmas morning i put on oven to preheat it then 20mins later think hmmmmmmmm funny smell - arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh - yes my lovely turkey now has a melted plastic look to it!!!!! I will not do that this year i tell ya!

Personally though ive gone for already done mash, boileys, mashed swede and already washed broc and cauli because its only the 4 of us and i dont want to miss the present action whilst peeling veg. I will put my beef joint in the slowcooker and set it to come on at 3am xmas morning using timer plug and will just turn the turkey on as we get up (removing packaging first). York pud mix made night before and stored in fridge with already made shop bought lazy beast pigs in blankets.
the end x

Thanks all for your replies!

Just one other question, some people put veg around their turkey/chicken in the tray....what veg is that and when would i put that in...i assume it adds flavour from themeat to the veg?? So lost!

On normal sunday dinners I roast carrots and parsnips around the meat. I would do roasties around there too but every obn eloves the roasties and I wouldn't be able to fit enough around there.

Oh no Nappy! I'll definately remember NOT to do that.

lol Nappy! That's the sort of thing I would do.
Silversparkle, please don't stress too much, don't forget it is one meal, it will be fine and taste yummy and everyone will be happy

Oh my! Boiled in a pan here I am afraid [slattern]

I will peel & parboil potatoes and parsnips tomorrow afternoon, then cool them off in cold running water and leave in a pan or bowl of water overnight. I'll also peel the carrots and prepare the sprouts.

Then on Christmas Day the potatoes and parsnips will go in to roast in their own tin (personally I don't go in for the 'roasting round the bird' approach). Sprouts will be boiled then drained and tossed in a wok with butter and chestnuts and possibly some bacony bits if I have enough left after making the bacon rolls. Carrots will be steamed then tossed in an orange & brown sugar glaze.

But to be honest, it's a roast dinner with knobs on. Nobody should be ungrateful enough to complain if your veg is just plain steamed / boiled same as any other day.

I have never ever cooked Christmas dinner and I am 40!

My mum always did it when I lived at home and cooking is dh's hobby (he is better at it than me anyway) so he has always done it.

if i peel and chop carrots and sprouts tomorrow should i put them in water overnight or fridge??

sorry another total newbie and really dont want to waste christmas day cooking and preparing!!

hi, i alway prep 1/2 days before , i even cook the turkey xmas eve daytime , in the evening it is cool enough to slice , i then put the slice into a roasting pan with a lid and enough meat juice to cover halfway. on xmas day i place this in the bottom of the oven , i then have two shelves free to cook the roasties,parsnips, sausages and stuffing. No having to strip the turkey down after dinner and the kitchen stays alot tidier too. By the time the roasties ect are cook the turkey is warmed right up and very moist too !

I am interested in this thread as I am cooking for 10 on xmas day. Just getting last bits of shopping. Haven't a clue what to buy in terms of veg. Thinking of carrots parsnips and sprouts. Bur maybe cabbage too.