Christmas help!

zcrat41

So, I'm doing my first ever Christmas lunch tomorrow and I'm really nervous - I have a few questions a few of you os'rs will hopefully know!


1) If I do my veg (carrots, brussells and delia's parmesan parsnips) & potatoes this morning is it too early? I was thinking of prepping them and leaving in cold water overnight before boiling tomorrow.
2) I made and froze Delia's bread sauce a few weeks ago. Will it defrost and reheat ok tomorrow or should I make a fresh one?
3) I have a bought xmas pud. Is it possible to do that in my slow cooker to save hob space?


I so want this to go well!


Thanks in advance!


ZC


PS - about 6 years ago you os'rs helped me cook my then new boyf a meal on a budget to impress him on a first date. We're now married with 2 kids and hosting the families for Christmas!

bexster1975

Good luck!

As far as I know, prepping today and keeping in water until tomorrow is fine. You know you can even cook them before tomorrow and blast them in the oven to heat up. No one ever notices the difference!

As for the bread sauce I have never defrosted any but I'm sure you can - no doubt someone here will have done it before!

No idea with christmas pud in slow cooker - again slower cooker aficionados abound here so I'm sure you will get an answer!

Try to remember it's meant to be a nice day! With two sets of parents in hand to help if needed, I'm sure you will do great

Merry Christmas

Bexster

ciderwithrosie_2

If your Christmas pudding's in a plastic bowl you can bung it in the microwave for a few mins instead of having to boil it for hours. Should have timings on the packaging.

Carrots, parsnips and sprouts will be fine prepped the day before. I would not put the sprouts in water though, just in a poly bag.

Potatoes I would do fresh, only because they can go grey if not fully submerged.

Bread sauce should be fine, I would check seasoning when you're reheating it though. If too runny you could always add a few more breadcrumbs or if too thick a dash of milk or cream.

Islandmaid

As above, it should be fine.

We,re prepping our sprouts and carrots today, they will be put in plastic bags in the fridge. The red cabbage was made weeks ago and will defrost slowly in the fridge overnight, ditto the gravy.

Have a lovely day, and don,t get stressed, your family will love it whatever happens - we have some really funny memories of my early 'dinner parties' - like leaving the giblets in a chicken, in a plastic bag - the small was awful, but MIL still laughs with me about it

Quackers1

If storing in water overnight, then add half a lemon to keep them fresh. Remove and add fresh water before cooking.

zcrat41

Thanks for the tips everyone. Very helpful. I shall get cracking this morning.
One more question. I'm making Delia's giblet stock this morning. Ingredients list says 900ml of water then in the text it says cover giblets with water then bring to boil. Then add rest of ingredients. Does that mean cover with water THEN add the 900 ml?

ancientofdays

No, just cover them in water, 900 should be plenty, if not just add a bit more. I don't really do quantities except for baking, don't worry it will be fine

zcrat41

Thanks ancient!

iammumtoone

Another vote for Christmas pudding done in the microwave.

Thanks for asking the question about the vegetables, I was going to ask the same thing. I normally do my on the day but am going out tomorrow morning so want to get as much done today as possible. Plan is once get we back, to have dinner ready within half hour.

Gigervamp

For the last few years, we've prepped the veg on xmas eve and it makes such a difference.

We're also cooking the ham, cranberry sauce and carrot and swede mash today.

I also used to cook the turkey in a low oven overnight, which meant that there was plenty of space in the oven for all the other things on the day.

This year though, as husband who is doing the cooking isn't very well, we've gone for simple rolled turketmeat with stuffing which we bought from Piper's Farm. It comes as two rolls, one dark, one light meat and also has the pigs in blankets and turkey stock for the gravy, so that should make things simpler.

As others have said, nuke the pudding in the microwave. I haven't steamed a christmas pudding for years.

12_month_challenge

Hi

I have all of mine prepared and in cold water already.
I don't add any salt or anything yet.

I have lots of potatoes and to stop the ones sticking out the water a little I have put a slice of dry white bread on top of them.

The bread soaks the water a little and then keeps the potatoes wet enough to stop them going brown.

My 94 year old nan's tip. (It works)

In the morning I just drain everything and use clean water

Good luck with it all
12MC
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