Christmas Food - buying ahead?

moggins

benjacksmum wrote:

PS I have a Christmas Pud from last year which never got eaten (my fault for being ill :rolleyes: ). It has a Best Before date of June 2006 - will it still be OK for this Christmas or should I buy/make another one?

Ang xx

It will probably be okay but a bit dry, why don't you open it up and poke a few holes in with a skewer and feed it with brandy? Wrap it tightly in foil or clingfilm and leave it to absorb all that lovely alcohol.

starlite_2

Moggins- thats a fab suggestion, i had the same problem actually as we were too stuffed to eat it last year so it's at the back of the cupboard.
An air tight tin to store it in would surely be best?

Benjacksmum - that's really sad, I can imagine xmas wouldn't be the same for them without you, are you okay now?

BusyGirl

If you tend to buy frozen veg for xmas then beware...the supermarkets put the price up around the end of November. Last year I bought some frozen sprouts in Asda and noticed a member of staff putting identical bags of sprouts with the price printed on them that was 30p more!!! I had a moan to some poor bloke doing his shopping and I think he thought I was a nutter!

dlb

Oh is it just me but what about cheese wrapped in bacon yummmmmmmy, of cause still have to have pigs in blankets, just loads of cheese ones aswell!!

starlite_2

mmmmm we love chicken breas t wrapped in cheese and bacon, any time of year! it's fab diced up and bbq'd too.

clarew

wow-what big meals you all have! We (2adults,2kids) go for usual breakfast (boring i know), kids open presents and then lunch of turkey,chipolatas,bacon,roast tatties,veg,stuffing, followed by a pud either christmas pud/mince pie+cream or a unconventional one like banoffee pie. When i say lunch, this is usually around 2pm!! In the evening we just have drinks and a slice of xmas cake as we're still usually stuffed!!!

ps-can i also request the homemade banoffee pie recipe to be published-we cheated previously and got mr tesco's one.-would love to know how to make one.

jopsey

I was thinking about this last week .
This is my first MSE Christmas and I need a bit of advice
really would like a stress free Christmas this year ,
this might be a silly question but does anybody pepare there veg and potatoes and freeze them in advance if so how long before is ok ,and do they taste the same ?

We always cook the turkey Christmas eve and have the steaky bacon thats been wrapped around the turkey on butty's for supper ,mouth drooling at the thought

janeawej

We have to have honey roasr gammon on xmas eve there is a mutiny if it dosent appear! with parsley sauce jkt potaotes, carrots sprouts, favourite pudding for xmas day chocolate truffle torte, looks stunning tastes fab and easy to amke and can b frozen ! very easy and quick i have done it every xmas for about 10 yrs!

about 100g amaretti biscs crushed,
tbsp cocoa powder,
1pint double cream
1 lb good dark chocolate,
2 tbsp liquid glucose (in home baking isle in tesco but dont worry if u cant get it)
couple of tbsp of favoutite liquer!! or orange juice if non alcoholic,

8 inch loose base cake tin

sprinkle cocoa powder over base of tin
crush amerettis and sprinkle on cocoa powder
whip cream till just thickening
melt choc wiwth glucose
mix together cream and choc and liquer
pour into tin

leave to set
turn out (biscs and choc on top)

can be frozen in tin or wrapped and ffrozen feeds about 8 as very rich
keeps for 2-3 days in fridge:T :j

Sujamjen

We always go out for a meal Xmas Eve (lunchtime) and a LONG WALK, come home at about 5pm - this started when our children were very small. It meant that I didn't have to cook that day and the children (who were practically walking on the ceiling from excitement) were knackered and would go to sleep at a reasonable time! For the last 10 years or so we've had a new tradition and that is we each have a useless present- totally useless to us personally (that we open when we come back on Xmas Eve) BUT it must be something that can be swapped with someone else and they WILL find it useful. For example my 22 yr old daughter loathes anything to do with sewing (the Brown Owl at brownies used to get them to mend her hems, sew buttons on etc - I didn't find out for ages can you believe) so last year she got embrodiery silks. My Sis-in-law got milk chocalate (which she is allergic to) so they swopped. I got body lotion with fake tan stuff (I have a natural tan all year round) so Sis-in-law and I did swop etc etc. Everyone happy in th end It takes a bit of planning but the whole family works on it and of course you know everyones gift except the one you are going to get. Having read this through I've made it sound much more complicated than it is - sorry! It's fun anyway - Posh, very clever Son-inlaw got a England football shirt last year, his face was a picture! Other SIL (equally clever, buta footie fan through and through) was thrilled when he got it in the end though

jessicamb

jopsey wrote:

I was thinking about this last week .
This is my first MSE Christmas and I need a bit of advice
really would like a stress free Christmas this year ,
this might be a silly question but does anybody pepare there veg and potatoes and freeze them in advance if so how long before is ok ,and do they taste the same ?

We always cook the turkey Christmas eve and have the steaky bacon thats been wrapped around the turkey on butty's for supper ,mouth drooling at the thought

We peel all vegetables/prepare meat etc on Xmas Eve afternoon - pop in the fridge all ready to go on Xmas Day.