Preparing Veg

[hammerman]

I need to get many things done well in advance this xmas. We have about 15 over on boxing day and i need to be organised.

How far in advance can i prepare (not cook) the veg and spuds ie peel, chop up etc. Could i, for example, do all the prepping on xmas day and leave the veg and spuds in salted water over night or is that too long.

Ta muchly

[jourdain2]

No problem prepping most veg. the day before, but I wouldn't put salt in the water and you need to ensure that the veg. are covered.. Parsnips don't like being left too long. If doing roast spuds and carrots you can even do the par-boiling the day before and keep them in a bowl in the fridge, now that wonderful cling-film has been invented.

[MargoTester]

That's what I do on Christmas eve for Christmas day, I don't salt the water. B sprouts should be put in a bag in the fridge, not in water.

[sherrardk]

I will peel my spuds and leave them in plain water on Christmas Eve, I will cook the carrots on Christmas Eve, douse them in cold water, drain them and zap the on Christmas Day. I've bought pre-peeled sprouts and I will sort out the broccoli on Christmas Eve and cook it Christmas Day.

[stuey]

As jourdain2 suggested, I'd parboil them, drain, and place in air-tight containers.

[Samuraisan]

You can prepare the sprouts, carrots and just put them in a ziplock in the fridge. I wouldn't do the potatoes until Xmas day though. You can peel the onions, make the stuffing, trifle, ( except for the whipped cream ) chocolate Yule Log, prepare the turkey for the oven all on Xmas eve. I usually make a delicious sweet potato and carrot bake which I totally prepare on Xmas eve, ready to just finish off in the oven on Xmas Day.

[MargoTester]

We like parsnips and carrots mashed together with a little butter and pepper, and that can be cooked the day before, them m'waved on the day.

[Elina]

Samuraisam ... Do you have the recipe for your " sweet potato & carrot bake " Also, how many will it feed?

[wired]

I have peeled the potatoes and left them immersed in water and milk the day before they're needed. For carrots and parsnips I use a recipe from bbc good food site, they.re peeled, par boiled and frozen up to a month before needed and then cooked from frozen in butter and honey. Quite delicious and all of the mess is out of the way too