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Christmas Lunch Hacks

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  • Well, here are my hacks.

    1. Prepare all the veg on Christmas Eve, even the potatoes.  Store potatoes and parsnips with a tablespoon of oil in a poly bag overnight.  Put a damp piece of kitchen roll over the other veg to stop them drying out and keep them in their own poly bags.
    2.  Dig the slow cooker out.  Set it going when you get up and put the Christmas Pud into it, and then leave it to get on with it.  It will be ready when you need it after lunch.  Or have it at tea-time instead.
    3.  Look for a copy of Delia Smith's Christmas book.  She has a timetable of what has to go on when for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the back of the book, which has been a godsend to me, and is worth the cost of the book on its own.
    Great thanks
  • Toonie
    Toonie Posts: 1,154 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Gers said:


    I'm also half German and your post brought me such pleasure.  Bunte Teller on Christmas Eve was always a joy, all those wee delicious biscuits and chocolates.  This will be the first year without my beloved German mother so it'll all be different but I shall ride the waves of glorious memories.

    It's my first year without my German Mum too, she passed away in January. But we do have lots of things of hers, including her Nutcracker collection (one of whom is 3 feet tall!). I shall be eating lebkuchen and drinking Asbach on Christmas Eve in her memory.
    Grocery budget in 2023 £2279.18/£2700

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    Saving for Christmas 2023 #15 £ 90/ £365
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 14,657 Ambassador
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    Toonie said:

    It's my first year without my German Mum too, she passed away in January. But we do have lots of things of hers, including her Nutcracker collection (one of whom is 3 feet tall!). I shall be eating lebkuchen and drinking Asbach on Christmas Eve in her memory.
    I love it that the Nutcracker is a person and not an object!!!  True love!!!  Hopefully he'll be toasting your mum with the Asback as well!

    OH is slightly German (g.grandfather from Hamburg) and the family has loved travelling in Germany & Austria at every opportunity.  My home town (far far away!) was populated by German and Eastern European immigrants so despite my own very British ancestry much of the festive food available was decidedly not.  I loved spending my pocket money on much more interesting treats in the various local delis than were available at home. 
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  • Toonie
    Toonie Posts: 1,154 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Brie said:
    Toonie said:

    It's my first year without my German Mum too, she passed away in January. But we do have lots of things of hers, including her Nutcracker collection (one of whom is 3 feet tall!). I shall be eating lebkuchen and drinking Asbach on Christmas Eve in her memory.
    I love it that the Nutcracker is a person and not an object!!!  True love!!!  Hopefully he'll be toasting your mum with the Asback as well!


    Haha! I hadn't even thought that one through, it was just the natural thing to type. As he's so big, my Mum actually kept him out all year and referred to him as Herman.
    Grocery budget in 2023 £2279.18/£2700

    Grocery budget in 2022 £2304.76/£2400
    Grocery budget in 2021 £2107.86/£2200
    Grocery budget in 2020 £2193.02/£2160

    Saving for Christmas 2023 #15 £ 90/ £365
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