Surviving Christmas Dinner: Tips Wanted

red_devil

Get a turkey crown, less waste, and go to a proper butcher.

Sharon87

I'd definitely say cook the meat Xmas eve and prepare as much veg you can the night before or early Xmas morning. Also if you make your own pigs in blankets prepare them the night before too. Biggest thing to worry about is oven space, plan what trays each thing goes in and put them into your oven asap to see if they fit, if not try and buy another tray that does fit.

Key thing is organisation and timing. Make a list of timings and pin it up, not just when things go in/out of oven, but things like 'get bowls out ready to serve' and 'make gravy'.

I would also get someone to help - only people you can trust in the kitchen though!

Westywoodpecker

YoungBaker wrote: »

Me and my wife are having Christmas dinner for her family for the first time this year. There will be 11 of us.

As we have never done it before and its our first christmas as a married couple in our new home - we are very new to this and need any tips :-) othet than having a bottle of wine handy!

Thanks

I'm really sorry, but is it just me that thinks a couples very first Christmas together should be just that, together?

Why are YOU catering for 11 members of family as a newly married couple?

Snow_Angel

I agree with what other people have already suggested regarding preparing & peeling veg the night before and putting in saucepans ready for the following day - get a few of the people round, bottle of wine, knife each and some Xmas cds on and make it a 'peeling party'!


Also, the following things can be prepared in advance and frozen (do it today!): gravy (if you're having roast dinner between now and xmas save chicken carcasses etc to make great stocks and get family members to save theirs for you too), bread sauce (easy peasy to make but so much better if you make it from scratch yourself), Yorkshire puddings (much cheaper than bought frozen ready-made and can be popped in oven from frozen on the day for just a few minute then they're lovely and crispy), pigs in blankets.


I used to cook regularly for 10-12 people (4 course dinners every day in a ski chalet) and I used to just remember you're only doing dinner for 2 but multiplying the amounts by 5 or 6 - that used to keep it more achievable mentally! Best of luck and let us know how you got on. More importantly have a great Christmas day.