What things can we prepare on xmas eve for xmas day lunch?

[Holymoly321]

Want to have as little to do on xmas day as poss so wondering what we can prepare the day before. thanks

Red cabbage? In fact, I was thinking about making it today but wondered if that was too early.

Brandy butter.

Carrot and swede/turnip mash.
Can just be reheated or microwaved.
Parboil yer taters
Prepare sprouts

i'm using a jamie recipe from a copy of easy living in which you cook your goose the day before.

you could bake the ham

Cabbage can def be made now, I think it tastes better made a bit ahead.
Prepare parsnips too.
If you are making cranberry sauce then that can be done now.
Wrap sausages in bacon (unless you have bought them, very sensibly imo)

Potatoes can be peeled & chopped and left in cold water (or parboiled and left in the fridge)

Sprouts & all root veg can be prepared and put in the fridge in bags or tubs. Other greens too probably.

If you are going to roll up bits of bacon, they can also go back in the fridge in their little rolls / ditto chipolatas rolled in bacon.

what's on your menu?

but....preparing veg early encourages vitamin loss doesn't it? that's why i avoid it. how dull i sound sorry. but also i like escaping to the kitchen with the sherry and a sister or two!

Well we plan to have turkey with roast potatoes, roast parsnips and carrots and courgettes, stuffing, prawn cocktail to start and key lime pie for dessert. So can we parboil the potatoes on xmas eve ready to go straight into the oven on xmas day then? Can we prepare the parsnips and carrots the day before too? how do we keep them fresh for the next day?

I think it does, Clement. But for one day I don't worry too much. A few less vitmains to avoid spending all Xmas day in the kitchen sounds like a good deal to me!

I've never tried parboiling potatoes in advance, but I've left them in the fridge peeled and in cold (unsalted) water. And carrots and parsnips peeled and chopped and in plastic bags in the fridge. Not sure about courgettes - they might go a bit squashy if you try to do them in advance. Stuffing in theory you can make up and put in the fridge, but not sure that saves a lot of time TBH.

I just printed off this red cabbage recipe ready to make xmas eve.

It'll do for the next day too with cold meats.

Stuffing can be cooked the day ahead if you doing it not stuffed up the bird, just sprinkle it with water or stock the next day and reheat in the microwave or oven to keep it moist.

i cook my turkey the night before, slcoie it and wrap in foil.
Warm in th e ovennext day