Christmas lunch prep

DWhite

I’m looking to complete on my house next Friday (14th December). Not by choice that it’s so close to Christmas, it’s been ongoing since July! Considering there’s no chain it’s a ridiculous amount of time and I’m pushing very hard to be in by Christmas.
Anyway, my sister and my nephew (aged 7) wants to come to stay for Xmas and I’ll have my 10 year old daughter, partner and potentially his parents over for dinner on Xmas day.
As me getting the keys will be so close to Xmas I’m thinking about how to make Christmas easier for me. I’m a restaurant manager so this is my busiest time of year and time off won’t happen.
What can I pre make food wise and freeze that won’t lose quality when defrosted and re heated?
I’ve made the Xmas pudding already. Not bothered about cake, I’ll buy tins of sweets and panettone as I prefer that.
Meat wise I was thinking gammon/beef as I’m not a fan of turkey. I can cook that on the day, veg wise what can I pre prepare?
What about the trimmings? Stuffing, pigs in blankets etc?

caronc

Stuffing and pigs in blankets freeze really well and if you freeze in foil trays can be cooked straight from frozen.
Roast spuds freeze well - boil as usual coat in oil/fat and bake for half the time then freeze. You can freeze at the coating stage but I find you get better results with par roasting them. Ditto roast carrots and parsnips. Again use foil trays and cook straight from frozen.

If you don't mind beef well done it can be cooked, sliced and frozen in gravy. Though personally I prefer to make and freeze stock and then cook the meat and make the gravy on the day.
Gammon I always boil a day or so and just glaze and give a quick roast on the day. Bitter orange marmalade makes a great, quick glaze.
Mash freezes well as does bread sauce, cauli cheese and yorkshire puds.
Starter wise - most soups freeze well.

Sprouts IMHO don't freeze well, would your partner's parents peel and bring those or buy ready prepped if they can't. Similiarly they might be pleased to be asked to bring the starter.
Brandy/rum sauce (if you're having) freeze just fine or just buy ready made.
You've a lot on your plate with move/job so good luck:)

DWhite

Thank you! I don’t mind cooking on the day, I’m just looking to decide some stress by prepping in advance.
My sister is vegan and her some lactose intolerant so it’s already a challenge cooking for them!
I’m hoping to prep some bits that you mentioned and can cope with the rest.
Fingers crossed there’s no more delays and I get the keys next week!

VfM4meplse

DWhite wrote: »

I’m looking to complete on my house next Friday (14th December). Not by choice that it’s so close to Christmas, it’s been ongoing since July! Considering there’s no chain it’s a ridiculous amount of time and I’m pushing very hard to be in by Christmas.
Anyway, my sister and my nephew (aged 7) wants to come to stay for Xmas and I’ll have my 10 year old daughter, partner and potentially his parents over for dinner on Xmas day.
As me getting the keys will be so close to Xmas I’m thinking about how to make Christmas easier for me. I’m a restaurant manager so this is my busiest time of year and time off won’t happen.

Wow! I was you last year - ie completing on 14th December - but I didn't have to work and nor did I have everyone descend on me on Christmas Day, although that was the original plan!

I think you should make life easier for yourself by a) taking the guesswork out of it and b) enlisting a bit of labour from your houseguests! Ask your DS what she and your nephew would like to eat and encourage them to help in the prep of the vegan and lactose-free stuff. That leaves you with the roast element and to buy in everything else.

suki1964

As a restaurant manager take advantage of it

You have chefs in the kitchen, ask nicely and they will help out

I used to use the restaurant kitchen when I worked as a cook and got help - we all helped each other

Now I work in veg prep, all my veg is coming home with me peeled and chopped, ready to go in the oven, one of the guys wives is making all our desserts, another's mother is making the short bread, someone else is making the stuffing, Im making profiteroles and pavlovas

working in the catering business has to have its perks

Pollycat

suki1964 wrote: »

As a restaurant manager take advantage of it

You have chefs in the kitchen, ask nicely and they will help out

I used to use the restaurant kitchen when I worked as a cook and got help - we all helped each other

Now I work in veg prep, all my veg is coming home with me peeled and chopped, ready to go in the oven, one of the guys wives is making all our desserts, another's mother is making the short bread, someone else is making the stuffing, Im making profiteroles and pavlovas

working in the catering business has to have its perks

Aw. That's lovely. :T

Made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

trailingspouse

Why?? If you absolutely love Christmas and cooking for lots of people in a kitchen you're not familiar with is your idea of heaven on earth, then go for it. But personally I would be suggesting very assertively that your partner/relatives host it this year.



If you have to do it, then keep it simple - buy ready chopped veg, pre-prepared trimmings, frozen roasties, a cook-in-the-bag turkey crown, and ask someone else to buy the wine (it's the least they can do...). Oh, and of course they'll all do the washing up, won't they.

MandM90

Gosh! I'm sorry I don't have helpful pre-prep advice as moving and working in two weeks sounds hectic. I'd suggest being kind to yourself and a) seeing if someone else can host or b) asking everyone to chuck in £20 and getting a curry in (usually lots of vegan options...)!!!

suki1964

Pollycat wrote: »

Aw. That's lovely. :T

Made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Thats just how it is where I work, and the place before, like we are all family, helping each other as working in the business, its our busy time. We work all hours so others can have their parties and fun, so we pull together to get our Christmas as well

maman

Obviously I don't know all the background but I'm with those who say someone else should be offering to host this year. It seems very unfair to expect you to get the house straight, go to work and prepare for guests.

If no one offers then I'd just tell everyone that you'll do next year. This year I'd get a small joint and pre prepped veg and focus on your daughter and partner.

Don't be a martyr. It's only a day.

Wraithlady

Book a restaurant.