Christmas 2024 #4

[Nosymum]

Seen a tiktok of someone saying they used to leave beer out for Santa when younger but they'll get their kids to do Bailey's and their friend says they do milk.
What do/did you all do? We did a shandy for Santa

We never did it as children but we do glsss of milk, carrot and a cookie or biscuit because someone doesn’t like mince pies!

 

[Spanor511]

Always done milk. I wouldn’t like my wine going warm

 

[Happy Lady]

Hey lovely folk, please can anyone recommend a really, really good ready made gravy? I was going to buy the M&S stuff but then saw a couple of tik tokers saying it was really salty which has put me off a bit Any help muchly appreciated ❤

Just buy Bisto granules and add water. Keep stirring to avoid any lumps. Add more water if needed. They have a huge selection, beef, chicken, turkey, vegetable, onion, etc.

 

[Spanor511]

Just buy Bisto granules and add water. Keep stirring to avoid any lumps. Add more water if needed. They have a huge selection, beef, chicken, turkey, vegetable, onion, etc.

I agree with this. The Red Bisto is the best gravy out there, Aldi equivalent is great too. I’ve tried the M&S ready made gravy you put in the microwave, nothing on red bisto. Obviously people will make their own, but I have no time for such nonsense

 

[Jemimah]

Really excited for Christmas this year. Spent the 6 previous Christmas Days working 12-18 hour shifts and I quit that particular job a few months ago so this is the first Christmas in 6 years I can concentrate fully on my kids and family

 

[Happy Lady]

I absolutely love cooking Xmas lunch for the family. My suggestions to help things run smoothly.

Buy food on 23rd. You'll feel more relaxed knowing you have everything in.

Set the table the day before.

Get up an hour before others and prep meat and veg. M&S do great prepared veg that just needs heating in the oven.

If you want to have a starter, serve a cold one, ready made.

Ask someone to help you serve. You could always use tureens for veg and let guests help themselves.

Don't panic about washing up. Just fill the dishwasher and set it going. You can always empty it later and restock.

You don't have to have a hot Xmas pudding, supermarkets have some great desserts to serve straight from packets.

Hope this helps someone out there.

 

[Spanor511]

I absolutely love cooking Xmas lunch for the family. My suggestions to help things run smoothly.

Buy food on 23rd. You'll feel more relaxed knowing you have everything in.

Set the table the day before.

Get up an hour before others and prep meat and veg. M&S do great prepared veg that just needs heating in the oven.

If you want to have a starter, serve a cold one, ready made.

Ask someone to help you serve. You could always use tureens for veg and let guests help themselves.

Don't panic about washing up. Just fill the dishwasher and set it going. You can always empty it later and restock.

You don't have to have a hot Xmas pudding, supermarkets have some great desserts to serve straight from packets.

Hope this helps someone out there.

Love this. I’ve perfected easiness over the years. M&S pork, sage and onion stuffing in the trays is absolutely 10/10. Whack it in the oven in the tray it comes in and done. Outstanding.

 

[Dragon100]

Turkey crown booked for collection between 7-8 pm on 23rd we will also do he main shop then (this gives me time to get anything I've forgotten or couldn't get at M&S before work and put in the fridge -with a big note on my bag to remind me). My veggie lasagna will be cooked after the shop.

Christmas Eve I do as much prep as I can - cook turkey, pigs in blankets and stuffing balls. Prep most of the veg, freeze carrots and sprouts overnight, peel potatoes and leave overnight in water.

On the day I only have to peal parsnips and prep broccoli. Potatoes and parsnips need roasting, aforementioned veg needs steaming and frozen peas cooked in a, different pan. Turkey is carved and all precooked bits are heated in the microwave and kept warm in the oven while I make gravy.

I always set the table the night before I even put the plates on the table as our kitchen is tiny. Hubby washes up as I go along and we manage to clear space in the kitchen to bring the plates in to serve up.

I have vintage serving dishes and use them for everyone to help themselves - it means I don't have to keep asking who eats what, and everyone gets as much as they want - I have leftover veg but turn it into soup with lentils, veggie stock and a few spices to freeze for 2 or 3 work lunches. I make proper gravy and have a vintage gravy boat excess goes in to a pyrex jug to top up the small vintage jug.

As I get to the point of serving I put everyone to work, hubby helps me in the kitchen draining and filling dishes, passing stuff to plate up and piling up washing up out of the way. My brother transfers bowls and plates ect to the dining table and my Dad (I don't ask him to do anything specific) but diligently makes sure everyone's glass is topped up.

We don't have a starter and pudding is either Yule log, individual apple pie (think own brand Mr Kipling style) or mince pie with thick cream (optional). I used to make trifle and home made apple pie but struggle with fridge space and after the great fridge-alarnch of 2017( both desersts were lost) I go for options that don't need refrigeration!

Lastly my hubby washes up, my brother dries up and I wipe a clear space to plie up the clean stuff on and then sit down with a glass of wine - I will put everything away when I'm ready - I know my family members are perfectly capable of putting kichen stuff in cupboards - but I want to find it again!!

 

[Ziggzaggz]

I use the foil roasting pans, for the potatoes, parsnips, stuffing balls and pigs in blankets, no washing up then , Just put straight in the bin lol

 

[RobotLady]

I use the foil roasting pans, for the potatoes, parsnips, stuffing balls and pigs in blankets, no washing up then , Just put straight in the bin lol

Yeah us too.
Cauliflower cheese & Homemade stuffing with sausage meat, bacon lardons and caramelised red onions both already prepped and frozen in disposable baking dishes.
Will also roast parsnips and bigs in blankets in them too.
Straight in the bin when they’re empty.

 

[under the ivy]

I use the foil roasting pans, for the potatoes, parsnips, stuffing balls and pigs in blankets, no washing up then , Just put straight in the bin lol

This is an absolute game changer! Not cooking Christmas dinner this year but have done this in the past & when I normally do a Sunday roast.

Me & in-laws had the Aldi salted caramel Yule log last night - it was genuinely the size of a small child. So rich but yummy.

 

[CherryAcid]

Does anyone host Christmas Day and enjoy it? The cooking etc, not the day itself.
We are hosting for the first time, for 15 and I’m worried I’m going to mess up the dinner and never be allowed to host again

It doesn't bother me. I started cooking the dinner at my parents when my mum started getting ill and I never knew why she would get so stressed about it when I was growing up. It's only a roast dinner, I do the meat and pigs in blankets and stuffing xmas eve so all I need to do on the day is veg which is simple enough.
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I absolutely hate New Year. Don’t mind New Years Day, as we have a big family dinner and drinks just like Christmas, but I can’t stand waiting upto midnight on NYE etc so I don’t. It’s all quite depressing I think.

I have never been into New Years. I went out a few times in my early twenties but it was so overrated and people forcing themselves to have the "best night ever". New Years Day I love cos I take the tree down and do a big clean. I actually look forward to it each year.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Mary Berry precooks her roasties and then cooks them again on the day for extra crispiness:

 

[ElektraWintour]

Sainsburys delivery has arrived with a few substitutes that I can live with so no more food shopping needed

(Might go back to look at the Christmas clothes because now sainsburys have reduced )