The festive season is upon us! Before you know it, it will be time to add the finishing touches to your decorations and begin enjoying Christmas with your loved ones. As much as we love Christmas, all the cooking, entertaining and keeping the kids happy can leave us feeling a little frazzled.
Here at Spicers, we appreciate the importance of enjoying magical moments and not wasting precious time preparing prawn cocktails and boiling Brussel sprouts. So, to help spread some merry magic, we have come up with a few tips to help you have the most organised Christmas day ever…
Christmas Eve
Preparing your veggies
You can save lots of time and kitchen space by preparing your vegetables the afternoon before serving. For vegetables like Brussel sprouts, carrots and parsnips, you can use a blanching and refreshing technique by peeling, chopping and parboiling in advance. Just remember to keep them submerged in water over night to stop the vegetables browning. Then simply drain and reheat on the day, for scrumptious side dishes
Laying the table
This may seem like a quick fix job, but laying your table ready in advance can save a lot of unnecessary stress on the day. Why not get the little ones involved and encourage them to make personalised place cards for your guests? Make it extra special with festive table decorations and luxury crackers. Don’t forget to leave room for dishes and serving spoons!
Tackling the turkey
The turkey is the star of the Christmas lunch, but it can also take hours to prepare and cook. Cut your time in half by marinating and stuffing your turkey the night before. Simply cover and refrigerate before you’re ready to put it in the oven the following morning.
Get Christmas morning ready
If there are children in the house, it’s likely to be an early start as they rush to see what gifts are lingering under the tree. Lay out cups and utensils for the morning and have bags at the ready to clear up the dismantled wrapping paper as you go.
Christmas Day
Timing the meal
Now the delicious food is prepped, it’s all about timing – start with your turkey and work backwards. Write down a step-by-step to do list (this saves you from feeling overwhelmed!), based on the size of your turkey and follow the timings thoroughly.
Top tip – To check your turkey is impeccably cooked, probe a fork into the thigh. If the juices run clear, it’s ready to eat!
Keeping guests entertained
With lots of guests squeezed into one home, it can be he hard to ensure everyone is fully entertained. Preparing a festive playlist and a stack of traditional Christmas films to have on hand is great for filling in quiet lulls. Offering sparkling beverages and cold canapes such as smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis can also keep guests accommodated prior to the meal.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is the perfect excuse for a second feast! All those leftovers can be put together to make a delightful lunch. Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches are a household favourite!
What are your best time saving tips for Christmas? Let us know in the comments
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