Your time saving tips for Christmas lunch

[wrapmefestively]

I'm not a big roast dinner person so Christmas lunch isn't totally straightforward to me.

Any tips for ensuring that I get it prepared and served up for 13.00 on Christmas day (feeding 7 adults, 1 toddler and a baby)?

Obviously I can do the veg the night before, but what about the turkey. Can I pre-cook that and then rewarm it, or will that make it all dry?

[MariNativityPlay]

GDG, keep them in iced water (or outside on the step/patio/shed in a covered pan). Sprouts especially don't suffer from this at all.
I'd be inclined to bag prepared carrots with a little water and stick them in the fridge rather than leave them immersed.

[AMerryScot]

I put my prepared veggies in ziplock bags with some water and keep them in the fridge overnight.

[GoodKingWestCountryLass]

This year I have done the same as WWB. I tested the ready made gravey the other day and it is pretty good. You can get Colmons and Oxo ready made gravy in Tesco and Morrisons.

We are having a ready made Christmas and I don't care! Would much rather see my kids than be slaving over a hot stove all day

My SIL is a Stepford wife and she would make everything from scratch, theya re coming for dinner so I will have to hide the evidence. I told her we were having pate for starters and she said 'oh yes, cos you can prepare it in advance', hmmm, yeah like I am going to be making pate!!!! Prepared in advance alright

[AMerryScot]

I do make my own gravy. It's pretty easy to make when you use the giblets and I find that it gets you into the right mood for cooking everything else, as it's something you do early on Christmas Eve.

For Thanksgiving this year, I bought just a turkey breast, so no giblets. To make the gravy, I used a Colman's packet and it just wasn't the same.

[wrapmefestively]

Thanks for these tips. I didn't realise its better to keep pre-prepared veggies fresh by putting them in a little water then in the fridge. Have always left them in a pan of water on kitchen working surface before.

Will be trying the Pidge method of cooking and carving the turkey the night before and leaving it in gravy to keep it moist.

Also I am not too proud to buy some ready made stuff !

Hadn't thought about setting the table the night before - but its obvious really!!!!

[pixiefish]

I'm going to my mum's


A friend goes to M &S every year and buys everything ready to go- puts it in the oven at the times needed (working back from the serving time)
Less washing up and she gets a Christmas out of the kitchen