What cooking corners do you cut at Christmas?

When we had large numbers for Christmas I made everything myself bar the pudding although even that I have made.
No we are much reduced in numbers and I am the only one who likes bread sauce and cranberry sauce so I buy ready made bread sauce from the chiller and a jar of cranberry sauce. I have bought mince pies instead of making them for the last few years as well.

I’m cutting all Christmas cooking corners this year. Taking a Xmas holiday to son and daughter in law’s in Canada, 😆 🇨🇦 🍁 🎄

I m catering for about 15 of us this Christmas…
I will cook a large ham on Christmas Eve, and some of that will be reheated to go towards dinner on Christmas Day. On the day I’m going to cook two turkey crowns rather than on giant bird, as we all prefer breast meat. I’m asking one lot of guests to bring a dessert, and my son is bringing an M&S Christmas pudding. I might make a trifle the day before. I’ll prep the veg the day before too. I won’t make a Christmas cake as few of us like it, but I have a nice carrot cake recipe I might make a couple of days before Christmas. It’ll be fine…

grandMattie

I used to make everything myself, except bread sauce. It’s revolting.
Now, not only am in my own but I go to DD’s whose family is vegetarian. No turkey, no chipolatas, no forcemeat balls , etc. Ok, so I just get on with it.

I adore bread sauce. The aroma of an onion soaking in boiled milk with a couple of bay leaves and pepper is, for me, the scent of Christmas.

JackyB

Here in Germany the concept of a roast turkey dinner is not necessarily connected with Christmas so I am not committed to a turkey "and all the trimmings" - even if a whole turkey was available anywhere.

The family have come to get used to it over the years though so I do a roast, but it can be beef or chicken or game. There's nothing simpler than a roast anyway. I serve as many sorts of vegetable as there are guests and that's where I cut corners: sweetcorn, haricot beans, peas, etc, all come out of the freezer and are done in the microwave with some butter and salt.

No one really has time or room for pudding so that is usually just ice cream. Germans don't understand hot puddings.

It's more about eating and chatting together than what the actual food is. So, while I pride myself on my cooking, and my daughters in law and my sister in law have complimented me, I prefer to put work into the choice of wine, decorations, games, ambiance and atmosphere rather than spend time cooking.

“germans don’t really understand hot puddings”.

Beg to differ on that one! My late MIL was German and her German SIL was a professional cook.

They would spend hours preparing mouth watering desserts like fruit tarts, strudels, poached fruit, gateaux and just about everything was served with cream.

We still have relatives living in Germany and are always staggered at the amount of food and alcohol they get through in a day.

…when our grandchildren were young (sorry)

Where I’m going to raise my game is the everyday meals from Sat. 19th. Not necessarily eating high on the hog but I’ll freeze some of our favourites, make sure there’s a decent cake at teatime etc.
When I was a child my mother was always icing the cake or making stuffed dates and meals were a bit humdrum. Prob guilty of the same thing myself when our grandchhh

I don't cook anything because, luckily, my daughter loves doing it

My best short cut is the discovery of frozen roast potatoes. And in recent years I cook the ham/turkey the day before and reheat. Makes for less time in kitchen....

grandMattie

I used to make everything myself, except bread sauce. It’s revolting.
Now, not only am in my own but I go to DD’s whose family is vegetarian. No turkey, no chipolatas, no forcemeat balls , etc. Ok, so I just get on with it.

GM - bread sauce is the best bit! I use freshly grated nutmeg instead of cloves and add plenty of butter and cream.

I think over the last 42 years I have not hosted for 10 or more 3 or 4 times . As DS and family this year going to her parents I am over the moon !
Always cooked everything from scratch but this year can't be assed. That said DH loves mince pies so will make a batch or two. Kellys turkey breast ordered , takes no time to cook and veg from local farm shop. This year I am going to the pub at lunch time , happy days !

I used to make and ice a Christmas cake but I only eat it so I gave up. I once made mince pies and they were awful. Both my mothers-in-law were excellent pastry cooks so they provided enough for their son. I don’t like them.
I used to make sauces and stuffing but as I no longer host Christmas I don’t need to bother. I cook as little as possible, though I am good at co-ordinating timings of meat, veg etc., with a little help from Aldi and M& S.

I used to make everything myself, except bread sauce. It’s revolting.
Now, not only am in my own but I go to DD’s whose family is vegetarian. No turkey, no chipolatas, no forcemeat balls , etc. Ok, so I just get on with it.

I prepare and cook everything from scratch.

Five of us for Christmas Dinner (6.30pm ish)

19 or 21 here on Boxing Day, for a Buffet lunch, mixture of hot and cold dishes.

A lot will be part prepare and frozen by the end of November, that way I can sit back and enjoy December and all its festivities.

I buy cranberry sauce

It's very easy to make, Primrose53

Frozen cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice.
Simmer until Cooked.
Keeps well in the fridge.

We like it with a glug of cherry brandy added as well 😉

Allira

Well, I'm very appreciative that someone else now does the cooking.
And Mum? Mum makes the gravy trifle.

Lucky you, my Mum doesn’t make anything at any time of year.She used to, of course but now says she’s a lady of leisure 😄
I still do all the cooking here tho DP tries his hand with an omelette now and again.

Here in Germany the concept of a roast turkey dinner is not necessarily connected with Christmas so I am not committed to a turkey "and all the trimmings" - even if a whole turkey was available anywhere.

The family have come to get used to it over the years though so I do a roast, but it can be beef or chicken or game. There's nothing simpler than a roast anyway. I serve as many sorts of vegetable as there are guests and that's where I cut corners: sweetcorn, haricot beans, peas, etc, all come out of the freezer and are done in the microwave with some butter and salt.

No one really has time or room for pudding so that is usually just ice cream. Germans don't understand hot puddings.

It's more about eating and chatting together than what the actual food is. So, while I pride myself on my cooking, and my daughters in law and my sister in law have complimented me, I prefer to put work into the choice of wine, decorations, games, ambiance and atmosphere rather than spend time cooking.

I see I missed my homemade red cabbage. I use a German recipe my late MIL told me, with the sliced red cabbage Use vinegar, bay leaves, brown sugar, a chopped red onion, salt and pepper and top with sliced cooking apples. Cook it gently and the apples just disintegrate into the cabbage. Last year I added a few dollops of cranberry sauce and it was very nice.

I buy cranberry sauce

It's very easy to make, Primrose53

Frozen cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice.
Simmer until Cooked.
Keeps well in the fridge.

Well, I'm very appreciative that someone else now does the cooking.
And Mum? Mum makes the gravy trifle.

None really. I like making mince pies and 🎄puddings, and I make stuffing and pigs in blankets - they don’t take long at all and I know what’s in them.
OTOH I keep the actual dinner pretty simple - not the array of different veg/side dishes that some people seem to do, not to mention mash as well as roast potatoes.
I no longer make or buy a cake - hardly anybody ever ate it!

I make everything from scratch except for cranberry sauce. I enjoy cooking and do a lot of it in advance. Bread sauce for instance can be made and frozen as can rum butter.

I haven't cooked Christmas lunch for 8 years as my son and I go to a restaurant on the day. But I used to buy Christmas pudding, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce (although I have sometimes made my own). I'd par boil potatoes and parsnips the day before and make the bread sauce. On Christmas morning I'd cook and mash swede and cook the sprouts which would both be microwaved along with the bread sauce just before serving. That meant I could get those pans washed. I always use veg water to make the gravy so I could also get on and do that. Turkey always cooked fresh on the day and left to rest whilst potatoes and parsnips get roasted. We've had some lovely Christmas lunches in restaurants but you really can't beat home cooked.

My sister cooks it and here it's Christmas dinner not lunch.

I miss bread sauce. Gf is no substitute.

I buy as much as possible.