......to buy ready prepared food this Xmas?!

It’s your Christmas, you do what makes you happy. I don’t do cauliflower cheese, but pigs in blankets/ cranberry sauce, stuffing etc are all made days ahead and frozen, just lift out Christmas Eve, veg are done Christmas Eve and left in water / bags in fridge to steam on the day, try Jamie Oliver’s gravy, it’s very good, and can be frozen. One thing I do insist on is using tinfoil trays, as much as possible, I freeze things in them, lift out Christmas Eve, cook, then bin trays, even roast potatoes do fine in them. The pudding, I put in the slow cooker last thing Christmas Eve on low, it’s fine.

I will be cooking for 12 or so this year and will do it all from scratch. But that's my choice. If you want to do it that way, go ahead! As long as everyone is happy, that's all that matters! Anyone objects, tell them to do it!

It's your Christmas too so do whatever it takes to lighten the load. Is your family open to bringing something to contribute to the festive fare eg stuffing all done, even veg to be heated up, something for dessert. Worth a try. YANBU. Hope you manage to enjoy the day.

Any large meal the secret is write a list out a few days before, prep as much as you can the evening before, get up early and enjoy the cooking. My mob of 11 descended on me bonfire weekend, didn't tell me they were staying for lunch on Sunday until lunch the day before. I did do puds the evening before, the rest on the day, Lamb, 4 veg, potatoes, trifle and Blackberry & Apple crumble. For me cooking is a pleasure and a challenge, my reward, clean plates.

always

I worked with a senior chef for many years and he alwqays bought in ready prepared for his own xmas.

I am catering for 15 on Christmas Day this year. It’s usually between 10 and 20. I’ve already made and frozen cranberry sauce, stuffing and red cabbage. Turkey crown (quicker to carve) gravy and pigs in blankets will be courtesy of M&S. Aunt Besssie Yorkshire’s - I can’t stand the stress of worrying whether the homemade ones will rise or not. I’ll peel the potatoes and parsnips the night before, other veg will be bought ready peeled and cut. A platter of smoked salmon and prawns and another of melon and avocado with accompanying sauces made on Christmas Eve for starters. About three years ago we realised that nobody really liked Christmas pudding so I invested in tall glass sundae dishes. I buy lots of different ice creams, numerous chocolates and sprinkles and chocolate sauce as well as sophisticated fruit purées. Everyone has a glass and they concoct their own sundae. It’s great fun and no work for me!

Make it easy for yourself. It does get too much the older you get. Ten years ago I used to cook dinner for 15, which I thought was ok. With people moving away and passing away, it's down to 4, my one daughter, grandson, hubby and me. The turkey I cook, potatoes and beans. Everything else is frozen, so basically just has to be heated. In all honesty, that suits me.

My DiL is a great cook and always cooks everything from scratch - except on Christmas Day!
Buy in, feel NO guilt and enjoy yourself!

My daughter has hosted 16 of us for the past six or so years as they had a huge kitchen come diner which can accommodate everyone. We have all contributed to the feast but collectively decided that dughter and SIL should have a break and spend a proper Christmas morning with the children. We agreed we would all go out but the chosen venue proved outrageously expensive. Then daughter saw a Martin Lewis programme in which he said that in most restaurants the meal on Christmas Eve is virtually the same as The Day but half the price !! She investigated and it absolutely is so we are all going out for Christmas Eve Lunch and then congregating for tea at daughters on Christmas Day. I have always done lots from scratch but the past couple of years have bought ready mde pigs in blanket, brandy sauce, bread sauce and do not feel a jot guilty.

Starter - really? Don't bother! We have never had starters for Christmas lunch and nobody has ever complained. Anyway, if you are not keen on cooking, why can't your partner step into the breech?

Part of my Christmas is to have everything except the turkey crown and sprouts in the freezer or pantry by end of November. Leaves time to panic over presents and cards. We have always Aunt Bessie spuds since I got my first not freestanding oven years ago as it was too small for spuds as well. You would be unreasonable to try to do as you have done before with so many people turning up.

Big feasts are tiring to prepare. I once did one for family - about 10) and fell asleep in the afternoon upstairs on bed, and missed the socialising bit. That was decades ago before all the decent ready prepped food which is now available.

Don't forget there is a lot you can do the day before. Spud peeling, sprouts done, cheese sauce made etc. And rope the men in!

They can wash up afterwards too. If you haven't got a dishwasher, get some dishwasher powder and rubber gloves, to wash up in. Cuts the grease marvellously.

Have a lovely time and a little fizz to get you through.

Yes yes yes. Go for the easiest option. Drink lots of red as you cook. Do NOT feel guilty and remember to enjoy yourself.

I always cater for family at Christmas. This year there will be at least 11. I prepare potatoes and sprouts the day before. Veg for soup also prepared day before. Garlic is mixed with butter, so just to be spread on baguettes. Marie Rose sauce made and in fridge. Stuffing mixed and in fridge. Trifle base made day before and in fridge. Meringue for pavlova is also made prior to the day. Sausages wrapped in bacon and put on trays ready for oven, in fridge. Table is put in position and laid day before. Means on Christmas morning I only have to prepare and cook turkey and finish off and cook the rest. Desserts just need cream whipped and fruit on them. This way it doesn’t really matter whether 10 or 20 for Christmas dinner (think most I ever cooked for was 22).
So the answer is to prepare beforehand so you are not left rushing about on Christmas Day.

My daughter buys sliced meat, frozen roasties and stuffing balls, microwave veg etc. No stress for her, done in much less time and just as delicious.

PS And frozen sprouts are so much better than fresh ✅

Go for it, get everything in, including the cauliflower cheese!

I watched a good episode of The Pioneer Woman on the Cookery Channel yesterday (I sometimes find her a bit precious!). She did a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey etc, and she bought in, or pre-prepared, everything!

I particularly liked her jointed turkey, the whole raw turkey was cut into about six pieces, it went on one large oven tray and it cooked in 90 minutes with about 30+ mins relaxing time. Then cut into slices in the kitchen and put on a pretty serving plate. So easy.

Enjoy your day ?

I usually have 11.
TBH I love all the shopping for food, prepping it & cooking from scratch but if it us not your bag than nothing wrong with buying pre- prepared.
The main thing us everyone getting together.

No guilt feelings needed at all … having cooked many Christmas dinners in the past absolutely relish the fact that there are just 2 of us for Christmas Day - and we get to eat our favourite food with not a turkey in sight!

Flaxseed you are a star !! All these years of cooking Christmas dinner, fantastic, I hope everyone brings something to contribute to the food ? Buy turkey crowns from Aldi, they are excellent and do not take too long to cook. Buy all the veg ready prepared of you can and frozen roast spuds are fine !! Hope it goes well.

We learned over the years and the perfect solution was a non-stop buffet where we simply topped up each item as it disappeared or replaced it with something different. Mugs of home made soup (pre-prepared of course) was always favourite. People disappeared to the kitchen as and when the mood took them. Children were allowed personal choice when possible i.e. bangers & beans, hamburger, ice cream but they were usually too busy playing to be bothered eating. I'm so glad we tried this rather than the sit down formality which was much too restrictive. Never looked back. Interestingly, people started offering to bring a contribution platter. I'm smiling as I suddenly think maybe they didn't like what was on offer!! Things have changed now and I happily leave it all to the next generation. I continue to be included on the family guest list which presumably suggests I'm behaving myself. Hope so, as I do so love all the people concerned and the festive season in general. For me food will always be way down the list compared to congenial company. Worry not!

Well I admit I did not ready all the responses but I will chime in anyway.
The best part of any gathering is a happy attitude and being exhausted does not make a great hostess.
No need for guilt at all I think buying as much prepared as you need is perfectly OK!
There were parties in my house with sometimes 50 people here and they are literally a blur to me because I was so tired!
Now its' one of my favorite hosted events because it is much more scaled back, now we around 14-20 for a sit down dinner. And I have a grown daughter who is a chef and a son that also helps so now the prep is almost as fun as the party itself!
But at the end of the day you are hosting and that in itself makes you the hit of the party no matter what you serve or how it is prepared, I hope you enjoy your company as much as they love you

Please don't feel at all guilty.

You have done your bit and more over the years so I hope you find lots of good ideas here on how to take as much work out of the day as possible.

When we have a lot of people coming I now do as little as possible and my motto is "I shall commit shopping".

There are aways things we or our families like us to make so I save my efforts for those dishes.

Pre prep, buy as much as possible, get help and enjoy your self.

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