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Christmas Dinner (preparing in advance)
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8-9 kilos so approx 6 - 6.5 hours to cook on xmas day.
Go back to the cook book , far too long0 -
I don't cook turkey now - it doesn't agree with DH and he produces 'gas' for a few days that honestly smells like roasting turkey..... I don't let him near the stuff now if I can help it but he sometimes sneaks some in at the work Christmas lunch.
Before I gave up cooking turkey I often cooked it on Christmas Eve. It was great to do all the faffing with the carcass the day before Christmas, and I could never taste the difference between freshly roasted turkey and turkey cooked the day before, reheated in buttered greaseproof paper in the oven, or carefully in the microwave. Incidentally it wasn't reheated turkey that caused the DH trumping problem... :rotfl:0 -
Thanks for all the advice - I think I am going to sit and try and rethink the plans a little!0
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i think it will be a struggle. i struggle with a double oven. however , i think what i would do is either cook the beef the day before, or use the slow cooker for it.
i always find even tho i have a fan assisted oven the more i am cooking in both my ovens the longer things take to cook.
i would say ask a neighbour, but i'd imagine there cookers will also be in use. could ur mum cook the beef the day before ?0 -
Cook the roasties now, open freeze and then they go in for 20 minutes on the day?
If you have that many to feed, I'd cook the turkey well in advance, let it cool, then carve it into perfect little slices and wrap them in foil parcels to be reheated whilst the beef is resting in foil. After all, you'd have to be on rollerskates to get hot turkey on every single plate; even if you were to carve at the table, it would cool significantly between person 1 and person 10. I'd also do the carrots/sprouts in a steamer/rice cooker, having previously cooked and chilled in ice water, as they can be left to their own devices for ages, sling any frozen peas into the steamer water and any Aunt Bessies' Yorkshire puds (if applicable) into the empty oven whilst getting ready to go/making gravy.
About the only thing I don't think could be made in advance is mashed potato, if you have it at Christmas, as I don't care what they say, frozen/precooked/cook chill mash is horrid.I could dream to wide extremes, I could do or die: I could yawn and be withdrawn and watch the world go by.Yup you are officially Rock n Roll0 -
Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »Cook the roasties now, open freeze and then they go in for 20 minutes on the day?
I'd also do the carrots/sprouts in a steamer/rice cooker, having previously cooked and chilled in ice water, as they can be left to their own devices for ages, sling any frozen peas into the steamer water and any Aunt Bessies' Yorkshire puds (if applicable) into the empty oven whilst getting ready to go/making gravy.
I totally agree with cooking your roasties now and open freezing them. I cooked loads last week, along with yorkshire puddings. I tried the roast potatoes tonight as a trial run and I honestly could not tell the difference. I have an extremely fussy MIL who expects everything home cooked and they will pass her inspection :rotfl:
I also agree with the steamer for the veg, I'm cooking my veg Christmas eve. I've got stuffing already frozen as well, it all helps reduce the stress. Oh and I'm going to make my gravy and keep it hot in a flask this year. I've only got two rings working on my hob so have to plan ahead :eek:"Who’s that tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.
"Oh, it’s only me, the littlest Billy-goat Gruff and I’m going off to the hills to make myself fat"0 -
I used to cook 2 joints and more in a single oven by staying up late or getting up early and putting the oven on and the meat in then going back to bed LOL. I have a decent range cooker and a hostess trolley these days which really help at Christmas.
I would sit down and work out what is doable and if anyone moans get them to do it, simple!0 -
I will be cooking my meat after work christmas eve. from 6pm onwards. i prepare all the veg and ready in steamer. peel all the spuds and par boil the roasters. stuffing made. Than out to the pub. love christmas eve out.:):beer:Christmas morning put roasters in, boil potatoes, cook veg, stuffing in oven. warm turkey, make gravy. done easier the better. Personally i dont like christmas dinner/roast dinner would rather have a chips, cold meat and pickles:)0
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Last summer I bought a small table oven/grill for now once again single Son...He said it was so good I purchased another one the same for myself..Truely now an essential appliance in my Kitchen. Dianne0
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I cook my turkey on Christmas Eve, saving the juices from cooking. On Christmas day I slice the turkey, its much easier when its cold, then I put it in a large microwave bowl, cover it with the juices and put a lid on it and then zap it in the microwave. I then drain the juices off the turkey slices and use it for the gravy. I've been doing it this way for a few years now and never had any complaints, the juices make the turkey lovely and moist. I also prepare the veggies on Christmas Eve, it just makes it all a bit less stressful !!0
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