Christmas Dinner (preparing in advance)

cooking-mama

my local Tesco sells star anise,they have all their normal own brand herbs n spices,but also on a different shelf area they have "extra special"own brand stuff,star anise in with the fancier stuff....quite a large tesco tho.
http://www.tesco.com/superstore/xpi/6/xpi60412016.htm

shwartz(sp?) do a ground anise in a box,dunno if thats the same tho

Shortie

Hi everyone

A mini update from me on teh prep-ahead Chrimbo dinner

In the freezer now are stuuffing and blackberry pies to shove in the over on the day. Oh and I have gravy stock in the freezer now

The part roasted potatoes and parsnips went down a treat on the test run last weekend, so will be making some either this weekend or early next week for the freezer too.

We're having a test run of the roulade this weekend too, dribble, dribble..

ragz_2

Shortie wrote: »

And, for the first time ever, I've decided to use disposable roasting dishes... okay I hate waste but it means there will be no soaking roasting tins to stare at. Plus out kitchen/dining room (they're in the same room) will look less cluttered, much more quickly in prep to sit down and eat without having to stare at the dirty old tins!

:T:j

Me too, decided that's the way to go this year! Where'd you get yours and what sizes can you get?

ragz_2

Update on mine -

Freezer now has
- one batch of potatoes
- two batches of stuffing balls
- parsnips
- one batch of yorkies
- lots of mincemeat

knithappens

i got some woopsied swede and carrots today going to make mash with them, do i just Freeze like everything else and how do i cook it on the day?

ragz_2

knithappens wrote: »

i got some woopsied swede and carrots today going to make mash with them, do i just Freeze like everything else and how do i cook it on the day?

I'd chop up and par boil/blanche first if I were you, not sure you can freeze them fresh. Then you can carry on cooking from frozen on the day.

If you wanted to be super organised you could probably make the whole thing up and freeze, then defrost on xmas eve and reheat in the M/W xmas day - but not sure how good this would taste.

mollythewestie

I have starting prepping my Christmas dinner this week:

-Made a large bag of breadcrumbs for the freezer for the stuffing, which I will make on Christmas Eve. (Top tip: I always keep a bag of breadcrumbs in the freezer for crunchy toppings, making meatballs/burgers etc. and find it very handy!)

- Co-Op had bags of Sprouts for 50p yesterday, so I have blanched them and froze them. I have never done this before so will be interested to see how they turn out - its only me that eats them anyway!

I may have a go at Jamies gravy too, I suppose if it goes wrong I can use emergency backup Bisto!

Shortie

ragz wrote: »

Me too, decided that's the way to go this year! Where'd you get yours and what sizes can you get?

I had problems finding disposable tins in the end, I was really surprised!

I bought 30cm by 30 cm foil tins from the 99 Stores near me, 3 in a pack and I bought 2 packs, The only other ones I found, also in teh 99p Sotres were huuuuuge and I didn't think they'd fit my oven

Oh spotted Asda's normal roasting tins for £1 and suggested I get them instead to throw away but as I said to him, I won't want to throw them away and then I'm back to square one with dirty dishes looking at my accussingly while I munch Chrimbo dinner :rotfl:

zippychick

I don't think i will bother. I bought chicken gravy instead of beef and my Mum didnt like the chicken. So i would hate to go to all that fuss only for her to use bisto. Let me know how it tastes!

Shortie

Tonight's plan is to boil and part bake the roasties and parsnips for the freezer.

Then to reward myself for being organised, I might treat myself to making marmalade tomorrow. There's nothing to do in the garden right now and I need to do something to keep me out of mischief!