Pre-preparing Crimbo dinner....

[fliptheswitch]

The stress has kicked in, and I'm starting to fret about Christmas dinner.

Now I know it's only a roast, with some extras, but I'm still panicking how I'm going to get everything ready at the same time.

I've got 9 adults, and 3 kids... and a bog-standard 'normal' oven and hob. Last year I had a range oven, so it was a doddle... but I'm now wondering how on earth I'm supposed to get it all done, and out at the same time??

I'm thinking Turkey in the oven, first thing in the morning... which will probably be 5am, if the kids have anything to do with it!

What, if anything, can I do the night before?

Ta.

[sherrardk]

I cook the veg the day before - cook it till its nearly done, put it in ice cold water, drain thoroughly. Next day just heat it up in the microwave. I'm going to mashed potatoes the day before too.

[craft1948]

I don't see what the panic is, as you say it's only a roast dinner but for more people. I've never pre-prepared anything and Xmas dinner was always fine...the most I've cooked for was 17.................

[sherrardk]

I'm not in a panic, just want to spend the time with the kids, not stuck in the kitchen (plus we don't normally have a roast Sunday lunch as I find it too much of a faff).

[craft1948]

fair enough sher..............I used to find that the men used to go into the living room to play with the kids games, and the ladies used to get p!ssed on wine in the kitchen and help me chop veg.

[gingejbee]

According to Raymond Blanc, turkey should be cooked early in the day and left to rest for hours, if necessary. Then you have the oven for all those other things and no timing issues. (Will the bird be cooked? for example).

[rowanwitch]

just make up the stuffing, and prepare all the veg don't worry about it losing its goodness for one day...

do the turkey early so it comes out of the oven about 45 mins before lunch...that gives you enough time to whack up the heat for roast tatties etc
If you haven't got enough hob rings beg borrow or steal a steamer if you haven't got one and do your veg in that leaving the hob top free to make pigs in blankets, and fry your stuffing in balls easier to dish up.

Pudding in the microwave... and try to stay calm... you've coped before
if theres a delay another round of sherry and a few bowls of crisps

and set the table straight after breakfast... or better still the night before more time to faff about with decorations and candles etc

[ummmm]

Invest in a hostess trolley....

[fliptheswitch]

Ah, brilliant. Thanks for all the excellent answers.
My eldest sister and her husband just always make me feel so pressured. I tell people to come for 2, with a view to having dinner at 3. Last year we didn't sit down until 4, and they were complaining.
I know they'd be stood at my side, questioning what I'm doing and when it's going to be ready. I think that's actually the bit that stresses me out the most!

Thanks again. It's much, much appreciated :-)

[vodkancoke]

We cook for 25 and we don't have to pre-cook anything!
Turkey can be rested for up to 2 hours so the stuffing,potatoes and parsnips can be cooking in the oven while it's resting with loads of foil round it and tea towels.Other veg can be boiling on the hob.

[fliptheswitch]

I don't get this. How come so many of you cook for so many, yet have no issues with cooking large amounts of roasties and parsnips?
Also, what about things like stuffing, pigs in blankets? When and where do you cook these? How many shelves are in your oven??

Or, is it I just cook too much?

[vodkancoke]

Flip...we are an Italian family and out table groans with the amount of food as you can imagine. We put potatoes in one huge foil tray, parsnips in another and stuffing in the third. Potatoes would normally be in for 45mins-1hr, Stuffind slightly longer and parsnips (if par-boiled) take around 30-40 mins. They can all be in the oven while the turkey is resting.

[vodkancoke]

We have a range cooker so yes we have 3 ovens but we only use 1!

[I.Don No]

flip..I hope you don't mind me referring to you as such...if the rellies are standing over you tell them they have 3 choices......1-bog off back home 2. bogg off out of the kitchen or 3. you bog off out of the kitchen and leave them to it!

Ah, just thought of a 4th......bop 'em on the noggin'

[fliptheswitch]

Vodka, see... it all comes down to the range oven :-)
Thanks for your advice. I'll be sure to check back on Christmas morning, when I'm starting to stress!

I.don... Hahaha! Very good advice there! :-))