Staying cool in the kitchen at Christmas
Christmas comes but once a year, and so do the unique stresses associated with being a festive host. There’s already a lot of pressure on parents and carers to ensure dependants enjoy themselves and offering to host Christmas dinner or another festive meal usually ratchets the anxiety levels up even further.
While it’s always tempting to show off a new home by inviting everyone round and making your first Christmas there a memorable one, hosting a big meal can be logistically challenging. That’s especially true if your kitchen appliances/worktops haven’t been fully tested before. It’s easy to miss an entire afternoon’s activities juggling multiple timings and courses, feeling more frazzled than festive. Add to that the risk of fractiousness if guests become hangry or bored, and it’s unsurprising that some families decide to order in a Chinese takeaway.
Nothing is quite as enjoyable or satisfying as a celebratory meal around the table, though, especially if your family is accustomed to such gatherings on Christmas Day or at New Year. These practical tips will reduce the pressures around cooking what’s almost always the biggest meal of the year...
Delegate responsibilities to guests.
Decent guests will be glad to help in some way, and assigning them roles in advance means you’re not obligated to do everything. Someone could be in charge of entertainment, while someone else ensures everyone has enough to drink. People could bring home-made or shop-bought contributions – a vegan option or a pot of soup for re-heating – or take turns helping with the plating, serving and clearing up after each course.
Mix pre-bought and homemade.
You don’t have to cook every element from scratch. Desserts are usually the least-eaten part of any Christmas dinner, after people overindulge with the main course, so don’t bother crafting a home-made pudding. Simplify serving by placing shop-bought starters/desserts and accessories (rolls, cream, berries) on the table so people can help themselves in whatever quantities they desire. A supermarket-bought cheeseboard also saves preparation time.
Pre-cook in advance of serving.
People expect a hot centrepiece for their meal, but they’ll be less concerned about piping hot parsnips. From disposable foil trays to insulated bags and low-temperature ovens, vegetables can be kept warm for ages (or cooked in advance and then quickly reheated). Similarly, turkey meat benefits from lengthy resting, so cook this first before filling the oven/air fryer with pigs in blankets, stuffing balls and roast potatoes while the meat rests.
Stagger the courses around dishwasher cycles.
Panicking about plates? Worried about washing three loads of cutlery and crockery while remaining a genial host? Clear the table after each course and run a quick dishwasher cycle to save time, elbow grease and missing out on a game of charades. This tip ensures spotless crockery and resurgent appetites before the next course is ready. And if the shortest dishwasher cycle is longer than your guests’ patience, there are always workarounds…
Serve snacks to avoid anyone becoming hungry.
Prepare or buy some modest snacks to serve between courses. This might include pigs in blankets between the starter and main, or miniature mince pies and a dram of whisky between the main and dessert. Chocolates, breadsticks with dips, caramelised nuts and vol-au-vents require minimal preparation/serving time, taking the edge off hunger pangs without dulling anyone’s appetite for the courses to follow.
If these tips successfully reduce your stress levels this festive period, remember to bookmark this page in 2025 for more helpful advice and information on living in (and buying) your next Cruden home…
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