Spill the beans... on cooking Xmas dinner for the first time

mummyyummy_2

Spill the beans... on cooking Xmas dinner for the first time[IMGRIGHT]http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/spillthebeans2.gif[/IMGRIGHT]

Putting on an Xmas meal for the whole family is stressful for even the most seasoned of cooks, so give us tips on how to ease the pressure. Thanks to mummyyummy for starting this thread!

Back to the original post ...

cooking for 7, cooked lots of Sunday dinners but never done xmas-yet! Does anyone have any tips to make it as stress-free as poss....hoping to eat 3pm approx.. Ideally I would like to prepare as much as I can on xmas eve so its just a case of heating rather than cooking on xmas day so more time playing with the kids and their new toys....traditional turkey dinner :jnothing fancy (!)
thankyou :beer:

[threadbanner] box [/threadbanner]

Dizzy_Ditzy

make sure your turkey is well defrosted!!

Day before-

peel spuds, leave them in a pan of water and put the lid on

Prep veg- put them in plastic foodbags and put in the fridge. They'll be perfectly fine for the next day

You can quite happily just bung the turkey in the oven in the morning to cook, and then i keep it covered in foil and put it in the grill bit at the top to keep warm. You then have the oven free for the spuds and stuff then

Good luck!

mcja

remember its a mahoosive Sunday lunch. No need to go to OTT, despite the amount I pile on my plate every year you still can't eat more than you normally do just cos its Xmas lunch (!!!!!! did I really just type that!!)
7 people mean lot pairs hand to help..use them!

teacherandmum

just a few ideas

• set the table the night before.
• cook the turkey on xmas eve and then warm thick slices through in the microwave on xmas day
• make sure you've got trimmimgs sorted ie cranberry sauce , crackers, tablecloth and napkins etc
• prepare all veg the night before
• i used aunt bessies roast potatoes and parsnips last year (very tasty and easy!)
• use a steamer as you can cook more than one veg at a time
• what about gravy? bisto do a turkey one - could be easier than making your own.
• Plan out what veg you'll do and make sure that you have enough pans i.e. i'd persoanlly do mashed potatoes (1 pan) roast pots and parsnips (in the oven), cauli and brocolli cheese (warmed through in the oven with the roasties as made day before), carrots and then peas added at last minute (another pan), sprouts, cabbage and leeks (in the steamer), spiced red cabbage (frying pan on hob)
• you can cook the xmas pudding in the microwave
• want to have warm plates but no room in oven to warm them? fill the sink with very warm water, submerge plates, take out , dry and get ready to serve up
• stuffing can be put in the turkey to save space in the oven rather than cooking it separate

HTH

inneed

It really is just a big Sunday lunch. Make sure your starter is easy, and can be prepared in advance, and microwave your Christmas pud.
Just remember it's your Christmas too, and accept any help offered (especially the dreaded washing up!)

superskintmouse

the only thing that threw me last year was the fact that stuff on the hob still cooks even though the gas wsnt on. for example made bread sauce, turned the gas off came back two minutes later and it had burnt, the heat of the oven was enough to boil water on the hob!!

penelopedee_2

Delegation! Make sure somebody else is doing the greeting & meeting type bit and sorting out drinks. Get everyone to bring puddings/afters. Keep a box of chocs in the living room just in case you want a bit more time and think people are getting peckish.

It is only a roast dinner and your guests will want you to enjoy it too.

leithia29_2

I'd heavily recommend Jamie's Christmas DVD (amazon link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Christmas-DVD-Jamie-Oliver/dp/B000K2BUH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323296749&sr=8-1 ) its pretty old by now but I trot it out every year, the dvd goes through all the different parts of the meal in detail and it comes with a set of flash cards for each dish and an overarching schedule of timings for xmas eve and the day itself.

Good luck with your dinner! :beer:

Birdie85

Prepare everything the day before, make sure you've got enough pans and space in the oven/ on the hob for it all then make a timetable of what needs to be cooked when. If you're using anything in packets (stuffing mix, gravy granules, chestnuts, mustard etc if you use any of that) have it out ready on the kitchen counter so you know where it is and you definitely know that come Christmas morning you won't realise you're missing a vital ingredient! Christmas day you should be able to just take stuff out of the fridge first thing then pop in the oven when it's time.

Last year was our first Christmas lunch and it was mostly successful as we stuck to the timetable... but we'd forgotten to stick gravy on the plan and we only realised it was missing once we sat down to eat! Cue mad rush to whip some up! Won't be doing that this year!

It's also a lot easier to serve a cold starter or just not bother, the oven is full enough without having to cook another course in it!

littleminx_2

• i used aunt bessies roast potatoes and parsnips last year (very tasty and easy!)
• what about gravy? bisto do a turkey one - could be easier than making your own.:eek:

i would have a fit if my hubby did this for christmas dinner, lol. There's no substitute for homemade.

pinkteapot

I did it for the first time last year, cooking for 7 as well.



Some tips:

• Organisation is key. I (geek that I am) wrote a detailed list of what to do and when because with all the trimmings there are so many elements. It was literally: "11:47 Put potatoes in oven" etc.
• Masterchef is right about one thing - cooking in volume takes longer than cooking for two. Allow longer than usual for each step so you don't get stressed.
• I cooked wayyyyy too many potatoes. If you're doing lots of different veg, pigs in blankets, stuffing, turkey, people will not eat 6 roast potatoes each! I crammed too many in my roasting tins and they didn't crisp properly. Half were thrown away.

I dished everyone's up on plates, rather than have serving bowls, as our table was crowded. Again, it sounds sad, but before the day I gave everyone a list of what I was cooking and asked which things they liked/wanted. We have a few fussy eaters. I had a list on the wall of exactly what elements each plate was getting. That way hubby could help plate too without me shouting at him.

Also meant that (potatoes aside) we didn't have much wasted food.

The tip already mentioned is right - just because it's Christmas dinner, doesn't mean that people can eat more than they can at a good Sunday lunch.

I had three desserts - I'd made a lemon tart and a chocolate cake, and had bought a Christmas pud. In the morning I had put them all on serving platters and sliced them. I'd also put a load of red berries in a bowl and cream in a jug. After main, I just had to go and fetch all these things and it was easy for people to help themselves.

Someone said there'll be lots of hands to help - depends what you're like in the kitchen. I had everyone stay out and chat amongst themselves as I get stressed with too many people around.

I also set the table the day before. Gets you in the mood making it all festive.

I used placecards on the table so people had a seat to sit in - mine and my husband's family aren't that close so it saved that slightly awkward moment of people standing around trying to decide where to sit.

Reading that back it sounds like a really boring military operation, but the meal good fun. Ply your guests with alcohol before they eat - also helps.

I did use Bisto, and a jar of cranberry sauce. There's a limit to my homemade skills.

I didn't bother with starter but there was a platter of savoury nibbly bits out which people had before lunch. Appeteasers and that sort of thing.