Making Christmas dinner for the first time - any tips?

Longwalker

Remember to soak the gammon if having it the night before and take the turkey out of the fridge, remove from wrapper and remove giblets before going to bed

In the morning, put the gammon on to boil and get the turkey in the oven

Prep the veg

Prepare the gammon for glazing and roasting

Turkey out gammon in to glaze

Par boil or nuke the spuds

Got to the pub for a couple of hours

Come home, put roasties , stuffing and pigs in blankets in, cook veg, carve both meats, make gravy

Drink wine

Serve, eat, fall sleep in front of the tv

All done and dusted for yet another year - SIMPLES

Its a big roast dinner, dont get stressed, dont be cooking more then you normally would, you wont eat it, there will be too much on the plate and you will feel bloated all day, plus there will be no room for pudding or chocolates

Just make sure the roasties are the best ever

mumf

As a career butcher of over 40 years ,here’s advice about cookingChristmas dinner. Top tip; make sure your oven is working! Believe me I’ve had complaints ( honestly) after Chrimbo about uncooked meat,when the problem is a busted cooker! Truth! And remember,it’s only a giant Sunday dinner of which most will be wasted. 😉

-taff

mumf said:

 And remember,it’s only a giant Sunday dinner of which most will be wasted. 😉

Hush your mouth! Leftovers feed us for at least a week

Wraithlady

Wasted? Not in our house!

Rosa_Damascena

Longwalker said:

Remember to soak the gammon if having it the night before and take the turkey out of the fridge, remove from wrapper and remove giblets before going to bed

In the morning, put the gammon on to boil and get the turkey in the oven

Prep the veg

Prepare the gammon for glazing and roasting

Turkey out gammon in to glaze

Par boil or nuke the spuds

Got to the pub for a couple of hours

Come home, put roasties , stuffing and pigs in blankets in, cook veg, carve both meats, make gravy

Drink wine

Serve, eat, fall sleep in front of the tv

All done and dusted for yet another year - SIMPLES

Its a big roast dinner, dont get stressed, dont be cooking more then you normally would, you wont eat it, there will be too much on the plate and you will feel bloated all day, plus there will be no room for pudding or chocolates

Just make sure the roasties are the best ever

That sounds like a lot of hard work! 

In my twenties I remember being all partied out by Christmas Day, so my routine was getting up late, cracking open the bubbles during Top of the Pops, lychees for starters, mince pie for main, mooching around and generally pleasing myself.

MrsCD

Totally agree, @-taff
Nothing wasted here either! 
Only buy the amount of meat and veg you will eat, or be ready to freeze the leftovers.
If you like Yorkshire pudding, make them ahead of time and freeze for a few weeks. They take a few minutes in the oven to crisp up again. I make mini puds.  Make stuffing balls a day or two ahead and keep in the fridge. Prep veg the day before and keep in plastic bags, with air squeezed out, in the fridge. Make your own pigs in blankets....use the sausages you like with bacon wrapped around. Again they can be done ahead of the big day, so it gives you more time to sit around with everyone asking if everything is ok! 😆  Preparation is the key.

Longwalker

Rosa_Damascena said:

Longwalker said:

Remember to soak the gammon if having it the night before and take the turkey out of the fridge, remove from wrapper and remove giblets before going to bed

In the morning, put the gammon on to boil and get the turkey in the oven

Prep the veg

Prepare the gammon for glazing and roasting

Turkey out gammon in to glaze

Par boil or nuke the spuds

Got to the pub for a couple of hours

Come home, put roasties , stuffing and pigs in blankets in, cook veg, carve both meats, make gravy

Drink wine

Serve, eat, fall sleep in front of the tv

All done and dusted for yet another year - SIMPLES

Its a big roast dinner, dont get stressed, dont be cooking more then you normally would, you wont eat it, there will be too much on the plate and you will feel bloated all day, plus there will be no room for pudding or chocolates

Just make sure the roasties are the best ever

That sounds like a lot of hard work! 

In my twenties I remember being all partied out by Christmas Day, so my routine was getting up late, cracking open the bubbles during Top of the Pops, lychees for starters, mince pie for main, mooching around and generally pleasing myself.

As I did in my 20's

But then families happen and they expect to be fed. I do a big cook on the one day, and then I cook no more for the rest of the week - left overs all the way

calleyw

The one and only tip is don't put pressure on your self to have a perfect christmas.  And if you want to buy ready made go for it.  its only once a year. 

weenancyinAmerica

My family gave up on the big Christmas dinner. Now we bring the fixings to make sandwiches with a variety of breads, sliced cheeses, and different meats, plus the condiments; Some of us bring salads and chips and one person brings a vegetable plate. My sister, whose house it is, makes pumpkin bread and desserts (usually the ones she has made the previous week and are leftover from her open house the previous Sunday.) Everybody brings their own drinks. So no more major cooking for anyone. 

Rosa_Damascena

weenancyinAmerica said:

My family gave up on the big Christmas dinner. Now we bring the fixings to make sandwiches with a variety of breads, sliced cheeses, and different meats, plus the condiments; Some of us bring salads and chips and one person brings a vegetable plate. My sister, whose house it is, makes pumpkin bread and desserts (usually the ones she has made the previous week and are leftover from her open house the previous Sunday.) Everybody brings their own drinks. So no more major cooking for anyone. 

Pot luck dinner - my favourite!