Christmas Dinner Cheats to Try

Is it your turn to cook for the whole family this year? If so, we’re sure you’ll appreciate a few tips and tricks to ensure the preparations go as smoothly as possible. Without further ado, then, here’s some Christmas dinner cheats you’ll love. Read on…

Prep!

A stress-free Christmas Day is one that doesn’t equal you running around like a headless chicken (or should that be turkey?!). So, think about preparing as much as you can in advance, meaning you’ll only have to heat most of your dinner up on the day – and not have to cook it from scratch. Your gravy, for instance, can be made ahead. Then, simply freeze it, thawing it overnight on Christmas Eve and reheating before your lunch. You could even add the meat juices on Christmas Day for a final, tasty touch.

Buy What You Can

Save yourself time and effort by buying a pre-stuffed turkey. Put it in the oven while you’re doing everything else; just make sure before you purchase one that it’s ready to be cooked and it doesn’t require any extra attention. If you’d like to make a pre-stuffed turkey seem ‘homemade’, sprinkle it with rosemary.

As long as your Christmas meal is delicious, does it really matter if 100% of it is homemade?!

Brussels Sprouts: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em?

Yes, Brussels sprouts may well be Christmas in veg form, but if no-one likes them, why bother? Save yourself a row with the kids over dinner and just go without. They only end up in the bin, anyway. If you love them, though, you go for it!

Consider Timings

The Liverpool Echo has a great article on Christmas dinner cheats, including some advice on those all-important timings. In the piece, Michelin-starred chef Matt Worswick says Christmas should be about enjoying the company of family and friends and not ‘getting red faced and flustered in the kitchen’.

He says: “When I’m cooking Christmas dinner I always do as much preparation in advance as possible, that way I can enjoy a few drinks without worrying that something is going to burn. I’d always recommend getting the gravy, carrots, bread sauce and stuffing made the day before. That way you’re a few steps ahead on Christmas day.”

Tying in with our tip of prepping in advance, Tim agrees that doing as much as you can on Christmas Eve is the key to a successful dinner on December 25.

What about gluten-free dinner guests?

Don’t forget those with specific requests when it comes to food. Vegans, vegetarians or friends and family who are gluten-free should be a consideration, so make sure there’s an option or two for them and, again, prep as much as possible before the big day.  My Gluten-Free Guide has some sound advice for anyone catering for people with a gluten intolerance, for example.

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Until next time…