Tips to make Xmas Dinner/food/catering easer please!?

[Lumpy]

I agree with VC approach except to make it more festive add a fried egg (nearly a turkey) on top.

[greenishfing]

I totally agree with the list of timings Absolutely essential or something gets forgotten. I cook for my husbands family on Christmas Day plus a couple of friends. I find Christmas Dinner less stressful than other meals as, by popular demand, we have a mountain of homemade Yorkshire puds for a starter (batter mixed the night before). Christmas Puds were made last month and the big one will be steamed on the day and served with Brandy cream (made in advance).

This only leaves the main course and with this only the timings can really cause a problem. This is where the list comes in. This year I think I will be making potatoes dauphinoise as they can be bunged in the oven, taste and look good, and are forgiving on timings.

I always supply plenty of wine and everyone seems to roll home happy.

[seasprout]

No cooking.

Well as I do all the gardening, cleaning, DIY, laundry, decorating, buying of Christmas presents for both our families, writing all the Christmas cards for both families, and today started putting together the half tonne of IKEA furniture for the bedroom.... HE can bloody well cook on Christmas day. I shall drink wine and just be awesome.

disclaimer: my man likes cooking.

[Greenleaves]

I just cant cook, correction I can but we would have veg at 3, spuds at 4 and meat when it is cooked. Not proud of it but I do wash and iron.

One thing I do cook is a parsnip recipe of my nans. Steam parsnips and mash, place mashed parsnips in an icing bag and pipe parsnips into swirls, allow to cool and glaze with honey.

These are made a week before the big day and baked from frozen.....love them

[Potstubsdustbins]

#15 Alison and I thought we from Nottingham were strange having pork pie for Christmas day brekkie.

It's been a tradition for years, so glad we are not alone............

[JanieB]

The main part of a Christmas dinner is a slightly more ornate Sunday roast. As such it shouldn't be a problem if you do Sunday roast.

As this is the first Christmas dinner I've done in over 10 years I should have started earlier but I can't as I'm still living in one room.

In the past I started in October. I wrote to do lists on lining paper and hung them on the kitchen door and worked my way through them. This time I don't have that luxury and I'm going to have to do the whole lot in (by my reckoning) 5 days. Instead of making my own pud, cake, sauces, mincemeat and pies, I'm going to have to buy readymade.

I have started lists, but I can't buy anything as I've nowhere to put anything.

[Bal]

This is a great thread. We have alternate Christmases with OH's family and mine. This year it's OH' family all coming to us. 23 of us altogether!! So all these tips are great. Luckily OH's sisters are brilliant in the kitchen and we do seem to muddle through. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Small pumpkin]

I find the best way to cope with the Christmas dinner preparation.......... Let some other sucker do it all

[Scarlet]

Well I don't make lists, if I did I wouldnt look at it leave everything to the last minute is my motto. Christmas puds are always made beforehand and so is the cake but we are generally to full to eat either and the kids prefer something chocolatety which I make the day before. I think the whole fun is lots of friends and family, lots of noise and laughs. Everyone chips in. Something always goes wrong but who cares? I prepare all veggies and I've often gutted the turkey on Christmas morning (sorry veggies) we don't eat till around 6 as my neighbours pop around for early drinks before their lunch and my brothers kids get to open their presents at home before travelling here from WALES. I do pigs in blankets as starters as they go with beer the rest just happens. Something is always forgotten but that's often the fun bit!

[vixylix]

It hurts my head just thinking about it!