What are you prepping on Christmas Eve?

[Alicia870]

Here's my list so far:

-make cauliflower cheese and keep in fridge overnight

• wrap pigs in blankets
• par boil potatoes, put in roasting tray covered in oil and pop in fridge
• coat mushrooms in breadcrumbs for starter

Anything else people do Christmas Eve to save cooking time and space on the day?

@Seeline do they cook ok from raw like that, or would it be better for me to cook them today, and then reheat tomorrow?

All my desserts are done. Potatoes parboiled last week and in freezer ready to roast from frozen. All my veg is now prepped and in bags in fridge. Portioned smoked salmon for starter, which I’ll plate up tomorrow late morning. Just about to lay table.....

Basically everything I realistically can. I've already made giblet stock, done the pigs in blankets, stuffed and dressed the turkey and prepped all the veg. I made and froze the red cabbage a few weeks ago, so that's defrosting now. I'm going to peel the potatoes and parboil them in a little while, and fry the lardons for the sprouts so I can drain off the bacon fat. That way I only have to pop in and out of the kitchen tomorrow while drinking champagne and not getting frazzled.

@raisins - I've only ever reheated.

So far today I have iced the cake and made the brandy butter and the cranberry sauce.

Next jobs are to assemble the pigs in blankets and make some lemon possets. This evening I will pee all the veg and make a pavlova (well the meringue part of it: I'll finish the rest tomorrow morning).

I'll also extend the table this evening, but can't lay it in advance as the cats will jump on it if no one is supervising them.

Nothing at all!

I've got a 6 week old (I'm still healing from episiotomy and anaemia from heavy blood loss), a 4 year old, a DH who's just been diagnosed with PTSD and I've got tonsillitis. For the first time ever I've ordered a freezer full of ready prepped food from Iceland. Frankly, even sticking that lot in the oven will be an achievement, let alone loading the dishwasher afterwards!

Happy lazy bum Christmas all

Also nothing, just me tomorrow, Chinese Takeaway on Boxing Day with Dd and she's helping with a buffet the day after, which is only for the two of us anyway!

Made my cranberry and port sauce yesterday.

Im making my trifle today. Im just waiting for the custard layer to cool before I whip the cream.

I've prepped all veg. Wrapped my pigs in blankets and made my Xmas meatloaf.

I'm waiting for the turkey to finish defrosting so I can butter and bacon it up etc.

Im interested in par boiling my spuds today.. can anyone tell me how is best to store them overnight. I don't have a Tupperware big enough. Will they be ok once par boiled in a Pyrex dish with lid in the fridge over night? I dont need to leave them in water?? I assume I can fluff them up?
Any tips on prepping the spuds today would be welcome.

Chocolate orange brownies
Mulled wine
Cauliflower cheese (a family first)
Red cabbage
Icing the Christmas cake
Peel potatoes
Prep carrot and swede
Prep sprouts
Make gravy base
Make stuffing
Pigs in blankets
Cranberry sauce
Bread sauce

Started in September haha

Last week I parboiled and froze parsnips and potatoes and made and froze stuffing.

Today I transferred the above to the fridge, prepared sprouts and carrots, made bread sauce, cooked celery in white sauce (family tradition), roasted 2 quorns and made vege gravy for them to rest in - otherwise they can be dry, prepared grapefruit for citrus cocktail starters, all during the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Now I'm knackered ....

I par boil potatoes for 10 minutes, drain and shake them and lay them on greaseproof paper on a tray. When they are cold I cover with cling film and store on a table in the garage (it’s cold!) with all the prepped veg. I also make the Yorkshires so they only need heating through for 5-10 minutes tomorrow.

Can you make up the Yorkies batter before hand & keep it in the fridge?

Yes you can. It’s basically a pancake batter, and pancakes are improved by keeping the batter overnight.

(Little too late now, heh, but at least you know for next year)

Ah thanks Ninkanink 😀

Did everyone's dinner go to plan? Mine was lovely in the end however I did find myself in a complete tizwoz for the last half an hour and it all seemed enormously stressful but I think I tried to be too ambitious with all my extras. It was hard work and I barely remember eating it 🙈

Ours went perfectly to plan. We kept it low-key, though.

Ours was delicious and reasonably low key.

Brining the turkey made it really tasty and moist.

24th didn’t quite go to plan as DH was busy with work stuff and DD. But I got most of it done - DH peeled sprouts on 25th and I assembled stuffing (without the apparently necessary milk! It was still tasty).

Mine went to plan and was stress-free. I think having ready-made gravy helped. And I warmed all the plates and dishes in the dishwasher so that also helped.

I made a rib of beef. Was also planning to make turkey too but once we saw the meat from the butcher there was no way we could fit them both in the oven. Everything was lovely! A timing plan helped. Would make more carrots and double roasties next year. Never enough leftover