Help! First timer cooking Xmas dinner for 29

mardatha

Does anybody know how long choc-dipped marshmallows will keep? And how/where would you store them?

mogwai

chef002 wrote: »

I hope you live in a large house with table places for all those people.
I hope you have a range cooker. I hope that you have designated hands to help in the kitchen and two designated waiters. I hope you haven't taken on more than you can handle.

If you live in an ordinary 2/3 bedroom house and must feed that number of people, think buffet.

Thanks chef02, luckily I do have a range cooker otherwise I wouldn't be attempting this! And have a table for 12 so parents/parent inlaws can sit and have a nice dinner..my in laws and siblings are all very hands on so not worried about that side, it was just portions and timing that I was worried about, I dread having a hungry horde waiting for lamb that is half cooked or something

Mallymal I will try and get the majority done the day before, even the gravy which is a good idea so on the day it's just doing the lamb and final veggie roast, and putting out drinks and desserts

Feeling very excited about this now rather than apprehensive thank you all!

mogwai

mallymal wrote: »

good luck. ps........... room for one more? :rotfl:

Lol mallymal you are welcome! The more the merrier (that was the phrase that got me into this in the first place lol)

JJ.

I imagine it will be a riot of joy! I admire you for doing it. Do come back and tell us how it all went, I'd love to know. Merry Christmas xx

mogwai

I will, sure ill have a funny story or 2 to relate!

pinkduvetdiva

Good luck!

PS Can I come?

Chris25

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody know how long choc-dipped marshmallows will keep? And how/where would you store them?

resisting the urge to say - not long in this household - I think if kept in a tin or tupperware-type container, somewhere cool, they should keep at least until Christmas. I wouldn't store in the fridge though. Someone may come along that can give you a definite answer though.

mardatha

Thanks Chris - I want to make early to get it out of the way, but not too early lol

Mojisola

Chris25 wrote: »

I roughly work out a backwards timeline if I'm cooking for a lot of people. So if I know we're going to eat at 3pm, in my case, the turkey needs to be taken out of the oven at 2.35 to rest before carving. Then I can put in the pigs in blankets at 2.35 until 2.55. I list the time everything needs to go in & out of the oven and then turn it all around & re-list it but from the beginning to the end

I did Christmas dinners this big a couple of times - the list that Chris describes was essential and made sure nothing got forgotten.

It's much easier to have the meat cooked the day before and ready sliced - no veggies going cold while someone carves and serves up the meat.

Check that you have pans big enough to cook that amount of veggies at one time.

We used to have extra cutlery, crockery and glasses brought by other family members so that there was enough to go round.

One of the other family members used to cook the Christmas puddings at home and big them with her - that took the pressure off the number of rings needed while the veg was cooking.

mogwai

Just thinking back on last yrs xmas and remembering I never updated this post! Thanks to all that gVe advice, it was golden advice really helped on the day.

All went ok apart from a couple of minor mishaps where we had to stick the meat from legs of lamb back on the griddle to finish cooking and I forgot to salt the potatoes which meant I had to go over everyone's plate with a salt grinder (before it was handed out)! :rotfl:

Good times but won't be doing that this yr lol..maybe next yr. good luck to anyone doing something similar this year :T :rotfl: