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First time cooking for Christmas.

  • 22-11-2016 12:44pm
    #1
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭


    Hi guys.

    Ok well this year we have planned to stay at home for Christmas and have some ppl come to us for the big day. It'll be the first time ever for us to stay at home and our first time ever attempting the big one. The Christmas day dinner.

    So I am looking for tips and advice. Still trying to finalise numbers. But its looking like we'll only have 6-8 ppl including ourselves.

    Now I do have some obvious problems. We have 2 sons (7 & 4) so I want to spend some time with them on the day and not be cooking all day.

    Also my 2 darling angels (grrrr) don't eat potatoes, meat in slices or veg. They are the plainest eaters ever. So how do you deal with that???

    Hoping you'd can help. Thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    chuckles30
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭chuckles30


    I'd say the key to spending time with the kids is in the prep you do before hand & choosing dishes that can be prepped in advance. You can have your potatoes & veg (if using fresh) peeled and sliced from the day before - also remember that frozen veg is great and requires no prep. Stuffing can be made the day before, so you just have to pop it in the turkey on the morning. Soup (if you're doing it) can be made the day before & just reheated. Same goes for dessert - pudding is made in advance, brandy butter can be made in advance - sames goes for mince pies/christmas cake. We don't do trifle in our house, but again it can be made before the day.


  • #3
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    First piece of advice is prep, prep, prep.

    Prep what you can in advance! Leave as little as possible for the big day itself. If you're doing a starter try doing a cold starter so there's less cooking on the day.


  • #4
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Here's what I'm thinking for our menu.

    Starter:
    Veg soup OR melon and berries

    Main:
    Turkey
    Honey glazed Ham (or normal)
    Mash potatos
    Roast potatos
    Carrots
    Parsnips
    Green beans (instead of peas. Hubby loves them)
    Brussel sprouts (for me)
    Stuffing
    Gravy (not sure about cranberry sauce)

    Dessert:
    Trifle
    Homemade apple & BlackBerry tart/crumble
    (Hate Christmas cake)

    Others:
    Fizzy drinks
    Mince pies
    Box of hero's/roses

    I'm gonna ask they bring their own booze as we don't really drink.

    What do yous think???


  • #5
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    trixychic wrote: »
    I'm gonna ask they bring their own booze as we don't really drink.

    What do yous think???

    Yes if ye don't drink, just advise them its BYOB if they want a drink, it's the least they can do if you're hosting.

    The menu looks spot on, (defo go with glazed ham it's amazing)

    Alot of that veg can be prepped the night before so that will all help ease the pressure.


  • #6
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Loughc wrote: »
    Yes if ye don't drink, just advise them its BYOB if they want a drink, it's the least they can do if you're hosting.

    The menu looks spot on, (defo go with glazed ham it's amazing)

    Alot of that veg can be prepped the night before so that will all help ease the pressure.

    Thanks. I'm kind of excited. I love hosting stuff.

    Only thing left will be trying to decorate everywhere downstairs in the house... any ideas of cheap decor?? ;):)


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  • #7
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Dealz and Euro Giant, will have plenty of cheap decor bits and bobs. :)


  • #8
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Loughc wrote: »
    Dealz and Euro Giant, will have plenty of cheap decor bits and bobs. :)

    Thanks. Hope your Christmasesgo well.


  • #9
    spur
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 119 ✭✭spur


    I'm afraid I can't help with the plain eating situation.

    The first time I ever cooked Christmas dinner was for a bunch of my in-laws. Here's how I approached it.
    I decided what I was serving - starter, soup, turkey, ham, what veg, what potatoes and dessert. I worked out a shopping list from that. I worked out what could be done the day before - soup and stuffing were my main ones. I also had the house clean before Christmas eve and on Christmas eve made sure the kitchen was tidy and the dishwasher empty! I set the table early Christmas eve and I got out all the crockery I'd need and put it on one of the counter spaces - so that I had a kind of assembly line!

    I decided what time I'd serve dinner. Figured out how long turkey was going to take, allowing time for it to rest. I started with a plan and the times next to each task - with putting the turkey in being the first one. I had everything you could think of on that list, each with a time. Peeling veg, putting on potatoes for roasties, heating fat for roasties, taking out ice-cream, whipping cream, opening wine. You could definitely do veg the day before as well and if you wanted to you could peel the potatoes and put them into water. Dessert could definitely be well started the previous day - I'd always steam my puddings on Christmas eve and then it only needs a quick reheat on the day. I'd have something like trifle or tiramisu then - the only thing I'd do Christmas morning is put the cream on top of the trifle.

    As I worked I either washed what I used or put it into dishwasher. I'm not a tidy person normally but I have to have an organised space for something like Christmas dinner - and God help anyone that gets in my way........

    My OH thought it was hilarous and completely OTT - but it worked! I wrote on the page the time we served dinner and the weight of the turkey and put it away so that I'd have it again - and I have used it as the basis for other years.

    Best of luck with it. It is an easy dinner to cook - but you can only see that when you've done it once or twice!


  • #10
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    trixychic wrote: »
    Here's what I'm thinking for our menu.

    Starter:
    Veg soup OR melon and berries

    Main:
    Turkey
    Honey glazed Ham (or normal)
    Mash potatos
    Roast potatos
    Carrots
    Parsnips
    Green beans (instead of peas. Hubby loves them)
    Brussel sprouts (for me)
    Stuffing
    Gravy (not sure about cranberry sauce)

    Dessert:
    Trifle
    Homemade apple & BlackBerry tart/crumble
    (Hate Christmas cake)

    Others:
    Fizzy drinks
    Mince pies
    Box of hero's/roses

    I'm gonna ask they bring their own booze as we don't really drink.

    What do yous think???

    Menu sounds lovely. I've done it numerous times in the past and the most important thing is to prepare in advance. This will give you plenty of time on the day. Once you have the turkey in on time, everything else will flow after that.

    Don't worry about the kids, if they don't eat the dinner they will be busy eating other stuff. I used to just give the kids whatever we were having and tell them not to eat what they didn't want to. It's only one day so doesn't really matter if they eat rubbish all day. Or just have a load of cocktail sausages done the night before and heat them up, kids usually gobble them up, hot or cold actually.


  • #11
    Shoe Lover
    Closed Accounts Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Shoe Lover


    I did my first Christmas dinner last year & it was grand! You defo spend more time worrying about it then actually cooking it!

    I did as much as possible on Christmas Eve & will be doing the same this year so:

    Turkey & Ham were cooked on Christmas Eve, then just sliced up and put on to a baking tray with water over them, covered in tinfoil and let reheat by steaming them in the oven.

    Spuds & all the veg were peeled & sliced on Christmas eve. Spuds I left in water overnight, veg I put into sandwich bags in the fridge.

    For starters, I did prawn cocktail or melon which only took 20 mins on the day & my OH made the marie rose sauce.

    Pudding was made weeks in advance & just whipped up the cream after the main course.

    I did cheat a bit by asking my mam to do the sausage meat stuffing & she made the gravy on the day as well. I know how to do that now so will do it myself this year :D


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  • #12
    bennyc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭bennyc


    Few roast Parsnips and Carrotswhile your at it, the Jamie Oliver method I have been using for years, roast carrots Spuds and Parsnips, basically add spuds and carrots to a pot of boiling water, after 5 mmins add the parsnips, take off after another 5-7. drain , seperate the carrots and the parsnips, give the spuds and tumple in the collindar. bake in goosefat and add honey around ten mins to the end. There is a DVD somewhere that breaks the whole cooking down and has a timetable of everything you can do the day before, simple stuff like peeling all your veg and storing it in a covered pot of water out in the shed the day before as it is generally cold enough that time of year (not the parsnips though as they float).


  • #13
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    You could make stuffing balls now and freeze them, uncooked, on a tray, then transfer into a freezer bag - 25-30 minutes in hot oven with the roast potatoes (if you're doing them) while the turkey is resting and you're done.
    You could glaze and cook the ham on Christmas eve and slice and serve it cold, or heat it through if you have the time and oven space.
    Mince pies could be made or bought and frozen now, same for brandy butter.
    Your veg, except greens, can be prepped and even parboiled the day before.
    Re the kids, what do they like to eat? If you're doing soup anyway, would soup and bread and some nibbles like sausage rolls etc do them?
    My best tip is to appoint a commis chef - someone who will look after keeping the washing up under control, maybe lay the table, help with plating up (I find it easier just to fire everything into warmed serving dishes and help themselves, less waste too), make the gravy, make sure nothing burns or boils over etc. Share the stress!
    Above all, enjoy it.


  • #14
    SteJer
    Registered Users Posts: 259 ✭✭SteJer


    What's the difference between Christmas Day dinner and doing a roast dinner any other time of the year? It always amazes me how stressed people get over cooking Christmas dinner. I think all the chef shows about it don't help as people think it's a difficult task only an experienced chef can manage. A roast dinner is a roast dinner regardless of the meat being cooked.


  • #15
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    SteJer wrote: »
    What's the difference between Christmas Day dinner and doing a roast dinner any other time of the year? It always amazes me how stressed people get over cooking Christmas dinner. I think all the chef shows about it don't help as people think it's a difficult task only an experienced chef can manage. A roast dinner is a roast dinner regardless of the meat being cooked.

    Usually it's the quantity of people that increases at Christmas, we go from cooking for 2 to 6 at Christmas. The extra load and demands do add an extra level of pressure over a normal Sunday roast.

    But I do take your point and it's a good way of looking at it. It's only a roast dinner and they're very easy to manage.


  • #16
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Mother in law just informed me she has a Turkey ordered so I can have that one.

    But she wants a beef roast for her daughter's (22 & 23). Hmmm.

    I'm gonna do the kids some saus rolls or something nice like that.


  • #17
    Advbrd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Advbrd


    The one thing I cheat with is Lidl frozen roasties which are pre-coated in goose fat.
    As said before, do as much prep the day(s) before.
    Cooking a turkey is pretty easy, the oven does it all. I stuff it, cover it in rashers and pop it into a turkey bag. I tend not to follow the cooking time guides as with my oven, it leads to dried out turkey. I check it after a couple of hours to see how it is progressing. I prefer my turkey moist.


  • #18
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    dee_mc wrote: »
    You could make stuffing balls now and freeze them, uncooked, on a tray, then transfer into a freezer bag
    Mince pies could be made or bought and frozen now, same for brandy butter.

    I was thinking of just buying stuffing and mince pies. I don't eat either of them.
    dee_mc wrote: »
    Your veg, except greens, can be prepped and even parboiled the day before.

    Why not greens?? Like the green beans??


  • #19
    Advbrd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Advbrd


    trixychic wrote: »
    Mother in law just informed me she has a Turkey ordered so I can have that one.

    But she wants a beef roast for her daughter's (22 & 23). Hmmm.

    I'm gonna do the kids some saus rolls or something nice like that.

    Isn't that nice of her to be demanding a beef roast.


  • #20
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Advbrd wrote: »
    Cooking a turkey is pretty easy, the oven does it all. I stuff it, cover it in rashers and pop it into a turkey bag. I tend not to follow the cooking time guides as with my oven, it leads to dried out turkey. I check it after a couple of hours to see how it is progressing. I prefer my turkey moist.


    A Turkey bag!!! Fantastic. And I'll defo do the check the Turkey thing. I hate dry turkey.


  • #21
    Mrs cockett
    Registered Users Posts: 470 ✭✭Mrs cockett


    Anyone have ideas for a simple starter, rather than soup


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  • #22
    Advbrd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Advbrd


    trixychic wrote: »
    A Turkey bag!!! Fantastic. And I'll defo do the check the Turkey thing. I hate dry turkey.

    Yeah, they are great. It tends to be a bit paler to look at but 10 mins with the upper element on sorts that (bag removed). It does also cook a bit faster so again check to see if its cooked to your liking.


  • #23
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Mrs cockett wrote: »
    Anyone have ideas for a simple starter, rather than soup

    Prawn Cocktail?

    Mango?

    Light Salad?


  • #24
    Advbrd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Advbrd


    Mrs cockett wrote: »
    Anyone have ideas for a simple starter, rather than soup

    The world is your lobster.
    Prawn Cocktail.
    A simple melon based fruit cocktail with whatever fruit you want to add with a bit of mint to freshen the palate.
    Stuffed mushrooms, I like feta cheese with a bit of garlic and olive oil.
    A simple melon and parma ham salad with some nice fresh greens.
    As the world is your lobster, a nice simple lobster salad.
    It's time for lunch. After all this foodiness I am getting a bit peckish


  • #25
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    Mrs cockett wrote: »
    Anyone have ideas for a simple starter, rather than soup

    Pate on toast? You can buy some gorgeous ones readymade, very simple and delicious.


  • #26
    Advbrd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Advbrd


    pilly wrote: »
    Pate on toast? You can buy some gorgeous ones readymade, very simple and delicious.

    That's it, I'm off to lunch.


  • #27
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    trixychic wrote:
    Why not greens?? Like the green beans??


    You can prep them in advance but don't parboiled, or they'll end up overcooked. You can parboil root veg though to save a few minutes on the day.
    The most popular starter I ever did was a baked camambert (comes in a wooden box) with homemade mulled wine cranberry sauce, salad leaves and lots of crusty bread. Pretty much no prep involved and it tastes fantastic.


  • #28
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    trixychic wrote: »
    But she wants a beef roast for her daughter's (22 & 23). Hmmm.

    Guys is it sad that this is bugging me so much. I just don't want to do a beef on the day (again we don't eat it) and it feels like I already have enough to do.

    I know that the girls eat ham and Turkey. And they are adults. Shouldn't they just take what they want and eat it?? I don't know. Maybe it's just cause its the first yr.


  • #29
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    trixychic wrote: »
    Guys is it sad that this is bugging me so much. I just don't want to do a beef on the day (again we don't eat it) and it feels like I already have enough to do.

    I know that the girls eat ham and Turkey. And they are adults. Shouldn't they just take what they want and eat it?? I don't know. Maybe it's just cause its the first yr.

    No you're right to feel annoyed, I'm not cooking your dinner and that has annoyed me.


  • #30
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    trixychic wrote: »
    Guys is it sad that this is bugging me so much. I just don't want to do a beef on the day (again we don't eat it) and it feels like I already have enough to do.

    I know that the girls eat ham and Turkey. And they are adults. Shouldn't they just take what they want and eat it?? I don't know. Maybe it's just cause its the first yr.

    No, I'd be bloody well annoyed as well. It's not like it's a simple or cheap request either. Some people have the cheek.


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  • #31
    pilly
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,005 ✭✭✭pilly


    trixychic wrote: »
    Guys is it sad that this is bugging me so much. I just don't want to do a beef on the day (again we don't eat it) and it feels like I already have enough to do.

    I know that the girls eat ham and Turkey. And they are adults. Shouldn't they just take what they want and eat it?? I don't know. Maybe it's just cause its the first yr.

    I wonder did she want to cook it herself if she already had a turkey ordered? Some mothers just can't stand the Christmas dinner being done by someone else. :mad:


  • #32
    mapaca
    Registered Users Posts: 405 ✭✭mapaca


    trixychic wrote:
    Guys is it sad that this is bugging me so much. I just don't want to do a beef on the day (again we don't eat it) and it feels like I already have enough to do.

    I know that the girls eat ham and Turkey. And they are adults. Shouldn't they just take what they want and eat it?? I don't know. Maybe it's just cause its the first yr.

    Does she mean spiced beef maybe? Is this something they always do at home? Maybe talk to the two girls themselves and see what they want (or get your OH to ask). It would annoy me too, you have enough to be doing besides roasting an extra joint of meat!


  • #33
    sadie1502
    Registered Users Posts: 666 ✭✭✭sadie1502


    It's annoying me too that they want beef. Tell em scratch off the menu is a set menu tough. Jesus you'd know they never cook or entertain for anyone.


  • #34
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    Appeal to her human side: tell her you're getting stressed at the thought of it all, you want the day to be lovely for everyone, you're not confident about cooking beef as well as a full Christmas dinner, so if it's important to her to have beef for her girls could she cook it herself and bring it along, please and thanks.


  • #35
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    dee_mc wrote: »
    she cook it herself and bring it along, please and thanks.

    She's gonna do this. I dunno it's still annoying me. And she wants to bring dessert... but I'll be making a tart, trifle and chocolate cake. I don't know. I just want our first yr to be perfect.


  • #36
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    trixychic wrote: »
    She's gonna do this. I dunno it's still annoying me. And she wants to bring dessert... but I'll be making a tart, trifle and chocolate cake. I don't know. I just want our first yr to be perfect.

    So ask her to make the tart, the trifle or the chocolate cake? She won't be happy til she's doing something to help, and it'll take some of the pressure off you. Win win.


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  • #37
    SarahLil
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,971 ✭✭✭SarahLil


    Loving this thread taking on board all the tips as it's my first year too

    P.S trixychic I agree with dee_mc


  • #38
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,688 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    @ op my OHs daughter who joins us for Christmas each year has 29 food intolerances so we take plain eating to a new level.

    For a starter we do smoked salmon on brown bread which she cant have due to gluten so I make bread from rice, potato and tapioca flour in advance.

    Then for dinner, my OH loves turkey his kids love goose and all love ham, so we have both a turkey and a goose, I brine the turkey the day before, cook that in the morning (we eat late) then the goose, and do the veg and potatoes at the same time as the goose. The ham gets done the night before and is reheated along with the turkey

    For dessert, we do something pre made, and ice cream for the intolerant one.

    As we eat late it's very relaxed


  • #39
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Stheno wrote: »
    @ op my OHs daughter who joins us for Christmas each year has 29 food intolerances so we take plain eating to a new level.

    Now see that I get. Food intolerance or even if I know someone doesn't eat something. For example. My sis in law hates fruit and fish. Therefore I would never cook salmon and expect her to eat it or put something she dosent like in front of her. Grand. Or kids. I'll always accomodate the kids to the best of my abilities.

    But these 2 are grown ass womem who have eaten carvery both beef and Turkey/Ham and have had this food all their lives. I just don't get why she would be picky over this.

    I think I might let her do the trifle when she comes up. (Mine has no jelly and can be made fresh just before eating. It's lovely). That might keep her happy. Ha.


  • #40
    Spanish Eyes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,996 ✭✭✭✭Spanish Eyes


    Will just say this. With due apologies.

    If someone is coming for Christmas Dinner and they have preferences/intolerances/allergies, they bring their own. That's the ONLY way I know I won't kill them! And they understand completely, because I am upfront about it.

    Of course they can pick and choose from what I have cooked, but that's up to them. Everyone is happy all round really.

    Biggest time saver for me is just doing a cauli/broccolli, cheese made ahead, and a carrot/parsnip roast ready for the oven.

    After that, cook Turkey night before along with the ham. Next morning slice and prep like a hotel does, and reheat in the oven in a bain marie.

    It's just a dinner, but for more people!

    Plenty of grog is essential though, then people will just EAT for soakage! lol.

    For the non drinkers, well they do kitchen duties.


  • #41
    dee_mc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,186 ✭✭✭dee_mc


    Re the two girls and the beef, it sounds like a family tradition thing - is the mammy anxious to keep their Christmas tradition alive even though they're eating dinner in someone else's house?
    I wouldn't have a big issue with it to be honest as long as they weren't putting extra hassle on me or bringing in a food I was morally opposed to or something. There's a lot to be said for letting certain things slide for the sake of peace (and comfort and joy, for the day that's in it :D ).


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  • #42
    Spanish Eyes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,996 ✭✭✭✭Spanish Eyes


    dee_mc wrote: »
    Re the two girls and the beef, it sounds like a family tradition thing - is the mammy anxious to keep their Christmas tradition alive even though they're eating dinner in someone else's house?
    I wouldn't have a big issue with it to be honest as long as they weren't putting extra hassle on me or bringing in a food I was morally opposed to or something. There's a lot to be said for letting certain things slide for the sake of peace (and comfort and joy, for the day that's in it :D ).

    Indeed it is, and a good way to look at things too. Most people will eat beef.

    It's the intolerances and potential for killing people with allergies that worries me, so as I said, it's BYO there!


  • #43
    Stheno
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 51,688 Mod ✭✭✭✭Stheno


    trixychic wrote: »

    It's the intolerances and potential for killing people with allergies that worries me, so as I said, it's BYO there!

    You can't kill people with intolerances as opposed to allergies.

    One of the high points of Christmas dinner in our house the past few years is my OHs daughter getting food she wouldn't normally such as ice cream

    I can make it in advance so it's no hassle but it's too much hassle on a normal day.

    And it makes it more special.


  • #44
    Jude13
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,827 ✭✭✭Jude13


    I have allergies but never expect anyone to accomadate me, I eat what I can or eat before I go.


  • #45
    Whispered
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    The year we had my in laws here for dinner I was worried. My mother in law is a fantastic cook. I knew she'd find it hard to sit back and let someone else do the cooking and I knew I'd find it hard to sit back and let someone else do dinner in my house. In the end I sat down with a glass of wine and asked if she needed help to let me know. It ended up being a joint effort and a really lovely day. Took a lot of pressure off me on the day and she contributed as she wanted to :)

    This year it'll be just me and my husband and toddler. First year for us to be home alone and I'm planning on having the laziest, child-centric day possible. I'll be spending very little time cooking. My menu is

    Starter (may be eaten as brunch depending on toddlers schedule on the day): prawn cocktail for the two gentlemen and a beetroot, walnut, red onion, feta and pomegranate salad for me

    Main: turkey (cooked on the day in a turkey bag), honey glazed ham (cooked night before), sprouts, carrots (both prepped day before, roasted on the day), mash (travesty but I'm thinking of using the frozen mash from tesco. It's actually pretty delicious), roasties (frozen) and potato croquettes (also frozen), stuffing (ready made just pop tray into the oven) and gravy.

    Dessert: not decided yet but will be ready made as I cannot bake!

    Now in my defence I usually make everything from scratch. From pasta sauces to bread, we buy very little ready made. However, it's the one day I want to do the least amount of work possible so it'll be frozen and pre-made all the way.


  • #46
    trixychic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭trixychic


    Whispered wrote: »
    The year we had my in laws here for dinner I was worried. My mother in law is a fantastic cook. I knew she'd find it hard to sit back and let someone else do the cooking and I knew I'd find it hard to sit back and let someone else do dinner in my house. In the end I sat down with a glass of wine and asked if she needed help to let me know. It ended up being a joint effort and a really lovely day. Took a lot of pressure off me on the day and she contributed as she wanted to :)

    This year it'll be just me and my husband and toddler. First year for us to be home alone and I'm planning on having the laziest, child-centric day possible. I'll be spending very little time cooking. My menu is

    Starter (may be eaten as brunch depending on toddlers schedule on the day): prawn cocktail for the two gentlemen and a beetroot, walnut, red onion, feta and pomegranate salad for me

    Main: turkey (cooked on the day in a turkey bag), honey glazed ham (cooked night before), sprouts, carrots (both prepped day before, roasted on the day), mash (travesty but I'm thinking of using the frozen mash from tesco. It's actually pretty delicious), roasties (frozen) and potato croquettes (also frozen), stuffing (ready made just pop tray into the oven) and gravy.

    Dessert: not decided yet but will be ready made as I cannot bake!

    Now in my defence I usually make everything from scratch. From pasta sauces to bread, we buy very little ready made. However, it's the one day I want to do the least amount of work possible so it'll be frozen and pre-made all the way.

    It sounds fantastic!!!

    My mother-in-law is not my biggest fan but she'llbe driving the girls up. Gonna be interesting. But I'm in my home and I'll be comfy. She can feck off. Ha. Yay!!! Started planning today. Gonna go all out... On a pitiful budget. Yay.


  • #47
    Posy
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,640 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    Whispered wrote: »
    Now in my defence I usually make everything from scratch.
    Feck making things from scratch! Life's too short!

    I always get ready made marks and spencer creamy mash for Christmas- it's gorgeous and washing/peeling/chopping/boiling/mashing is such a pain for a dollop of spud that's sitting on the Christmas dinner plate obscured by 15 types of stuffing and mountains of other food! :pac:


  • #48
    PressRun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,196 ✭✭✭PressRun


    My dad usually likes cooking and does a good job of it, but I said I'd pitch in a bit this year. I'm going to make the dessert and a stuffing. Does anyone have any good stuffing recipes beyond the classic one?


  • #49
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,974 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    Our friends over in the cooking forum have started their Christmas Dinner 2016 thread. This thread is always great for tip, hints and recipes, you can check it out here;

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=101777295


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