It’s Xmas Dinner. Timeplanner. Like a BOSS
Don’t Panic
We gotcha!
A Handy Time-Planner for tomorrow’s Christmas lunch. (Why not print and stick on the fridge)
Christmas Lunch Time-Plan
For a 2pm dinner and for a 5kg/11lb turkey
(adjust to suit)
8:15am
Take the turkey out of the fridge
to help bring it to room temperature.
10am
Preheat the oven to HIGH.
Place your turkey on a roasting tin with the vegetables.
Give it a big squeeze of lemon,
and add the squeezed out halves inside the turkey.
Cover completely with foil.
10.15am
In goes the turkey and you need to reduce the temperature to 180C/gas 4.
If you are doing Brussels – then rope someone in to peel and trim them. Don’t do the cross in the bottom thing – it makes them soggy.
However – we much prefer them pan fried with pancetta, a splash of wine and horsechestnuts. But you have enough to do…
Someone needs to set the table now.
You get let the children do it (and then sort it out a bit later if you’re a bit OCD like Claire)
10.30am
Make yourself all clean and gorgeous. Onesie Smonsie – go and put a frock on and be belle of the ball. 🙂
Midday:
Start to steam your Xmas Pudding and take the foil off the turkey so it can start getting brown and crispy. (Microwave is a handy get out clause if you forget and to be honest I bet most people can’t taste the difference)
12.30pm
A nice time to give your bird a big splash of white wine. (and the turkey. Lol) Will make the kitchen smell heavenly and your gravy will be gorgeous.
While we’re on the subject, appoint someone drink topper-upper, and other people table tidy-away-ers.
Including the dishwasher… be calm and non-negotiable about this. This is just what will happen. They can just man/child/Gran-up and deal with it.
12.35pm
Parboil the potatoes you peeled on Christmas eve, along with any parsnip/carrots (you did do that, right?).
Save half for mash if you’re having it.
Shake them about in the colander until they go fluffy. More fluff = More crispy bits.
Keep an eye.
If they go too soft, you won’t get a good roastie.
1pm
Out comes the turkey.
Oven whacked up to 200C / gas 6. Finish your gravy using a little cornflour dissolved in water first.
Stir over a low head until as thick as you prefer.
Stick your turkey platter/serving dish in the oven to warm (on in hot water in the sink)
1.15pm
Put the potatoes in to roast on a high shelf. Arrange your starter, if you’re having one, on platters.
Mash your mash with butter and cream. Or mayonnaise (yes it’s fabulous). I like mustard in there too.
1.30pm
Turn your potatoes over. Put the stuffing and any mash/similar goodies on the bottom shelf to warm through.
1.35pm
Set the sprouts cooking. Set a timer. Overcooked sprouts are disgusting.
Get someone to lay out the starter on the table.
Go and rearrange the table decorations and check the starter looks good.
Get someone to pour everyone a drink
Have a wee.
1.45pm
Sit down at the table and pull some crackers! (Quickly checking the potatoes, and putting the
sprouts to keep warm before you sit down).
2pm
Stir some butter into your warmed through mash, add all your little goodies (pine nuts, herbs, cranberry sauce, bread sauce, brandy butter)
All the gubbins.
Bring the whole lot to the table and let everyone serve themselves.
3:30pm-ish
Move on to the pudding, and pour yourself a large drink.
Make sure you don’t have to lift a finger from 3pm onwards
Have a WONDERFUL Xmas Day tomorrow!
Lots of Love
p.s. we look forward to welcoming lots of you to The Project in the New Year.
Lives about to be transformed.
That’s even more exciting than presents.
Skype Question line – for any question or comments. We ALWAYS answer
xxxx
The Project