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Turkey tips and timings for Christmas dinner

Turkey tips and timings for Christmas dinner

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I always love writing this Christmas Eve round-up post every year– I’m sure I say pretty much the same thing every year, which is don’t panic! It’s just a big roast dinner, but it’s worth reminding you that it’s your Christmas too, so enlist everyone to help, and do as much as you can before the big day. Here, then, without further waffle, are all my top turkey tips and timings for Christmas dinner. If you’re catering for a couple of vegetarians or vegans, I suggest doubling up on the stuffing (it’s delicious on its own, but you could even squish up some veggie sausages and add them into the mix).

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The best side dishes to accompany your Christmas dinner

Get ahead sides for Christmas dinner

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I feel like there’s so much anxiety around Christmas dinner. I can’t be the only one who has stress dreams about levering a half-frozen turkey into a too-small oven, can I? I’m basically extremely lazy, so for me, anything that I can prep in advance is one more thing that won’t keep me away from a big glass of fizz and some pressie opening on Christmas morning. The good news is that practically everything can be at least partly prepared on Christmas Eve. Here are my top get ahead sides for Christmas dinner.

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Vegan apple, red onion and chestnut stuffing

Christmas countdown: vegan apple, red onion and chestnut stuffing

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This vegan apple, red onion and chestnut stuffing (or dressing, if you’re American, as it’s not actually going to be stuffed anywhere) is my favourite stuffing recipe in the whole world. I gave up eating pork this year, so just substituted in the ground mushrooms instead, and after extensive taste testing by my resident veggies/vegans, we can confirm that it tastes just as delicious. It’s naturally vegetarian, and so easy to make it vegan by substituting the butter. If you’d prefer the porky original, though, it’s just here. We love it cooked in a buttered tin, so you get a big, crispy topped spoonful with your turkey (or instead of your turkey), but if you’d rather make yours a bit more delicate, it’s lovely rolled into balls and roasted. It also makes fabulous sausage rolls if you’re entertaining. I know it seems like a lot of butter (or plant-based spread, if you’re vegan), but it’s all sucked up into the ingredients and isn’t at all greasy, I promise.

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Dark chocolate and cherry Christmas pudding

Dark chocolate and cherry Christmas pudding

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Morning all! If you’re a regular, you’ll know this weekend coming is one of my favourites of the year because it’s Stir-up Sunday! For me, it’s a weekend full of all the things I absolutely love: I’m never happier than when I’m pottering in the kitchen, but add in the fact that this recipe fills the whole house full of gorgeous, Christmassy orange and spice scents and it’s an absolute winner. If you fancy making your own Christmas puddings this year, I’ve added the ingredients list nice and early so you can make sure you have everything ready. Do remember that this is a two-step recipe as I steeping the fruit overnight – you could just start really early on Sunday but remember that steaming the pudding takes about five hours. This year, I’m embracing two of my absolute favourite flavours with a dark chocolate and cherry Christmas pudding. It’s not overwhelmingly chocolatey, but the chocolate just adds an extra depth and bittersweet flavour, and the cherries add a pop of colour and sweetness too.

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Christmas leftover pie

It’s Boxing Day, which means it’s time for Christmas leftover pie!

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Well hello there! I hope you had a cracking Christmas. Ours was slightly delayed as we were all horribly jet-lagged and didn’t wake up until nearly 10.30 (a first in this house, I can tell you). We had a pared back Christmas after our big Orlando holiday and do you know what? It was probably one of my favourites. Presents were kept to a minimum, dinner was simply roast turkey and sides - no fancy stuff - and we spent the evening watching films, stuffing chocolates and eating a block of cheese. Heaven. But now of course, it’s Boxing Day, which means it’s time for Christmas leftover pie, one of our favourite meals of the whole year, and the best way to use up all those delicious leftovers. My Dad loved Christmas leftover pie (known as Boxing Day pie in our house), so we’ll be raising a glass to him when we tuck in (can you believe it’s a year?).

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Turkey tips and timings: everything you need to know about cooking Christmas dinner

Turkey tips and timings: everything you need to know about cooking Christmas dinner

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As I write this, I’m aware that when you read it, we’ll be in Orlando enjoying Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, and as much as I’m very excited, I’m also remembering that we’ll probably be spending our Christmas Day feeling a bit jetlagged and maybe on a bit of a holiday comedown (I know, it’s hard to feel sorry for me). We decided to do something completely different in the run up to Christmas this year, mainly because my Dad died this time last year, and although we’ll be thinking about him, we didn’t want to be sitting around feeling sad at Christmas. I love writing this final round-up post every year– I’m sure I say pretty much the same thing every year, which is don’t panic! It’s just a big roast dinner, but it’s worth reminding you that it’s your Christmas too, so enlist everyone to help, and do as much as you can before the big day. Click here to see my post on the best stuffing recipe and everything else you need to accompany your Christmas dinner, and read on for turkey tips and timings.

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Festive Fixes by Gumtree. Pic: John Nguyen/PA Wire

Festive fixes by Gumtree

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You know me, I love a festive tip, and easy fixes - especially when it comes to Christmas dinner - are definitely my thing. You can imagine how delighted I was, then, when the lovely people at Gumtree asked me to come and host a special Festive Fixes by Gumtree pop up yesterday in London along with TV presenter Lucy Alexander, and finance expert Naomi from the award-winning Skint Dad website. We invited people in to our very own Christmassy space, furnished entirely with items bought from Gumtree. There were mince pies and glasses of fizz, and the chance for people to pop in from the cold and pick up loads of tips and tricks for hosting Christmas without spending a ton of money (Gumtree’s research found that the British public spend an extra £3.87 billion on everyday items forgotten over the Christmas period, which is quite shocking), and in a much more sustainable way than buying loads of stuff they’re not going to use throughout the year too.

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Setting the table for Christmas with M&S

Setting the table for Christmas

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You know me, I’m all about making a big splash for Christmas. I was going to say it’s the time for getting out all your best china, but I use all my favourite stuff every day (what’s the point of hiding it away in a drawer?!), so this post is more about setting the table for Christmas, and adding a sense of celebration to the most important meal of the year. So whether you’re cooking for a crowd, or it’s just you and your family for dinner, here are a few ideas for setting the table this Christmas (I’ve even found stylish crackers!).

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My top tips and recipes for Christmas dinner and beyond

My top tips and recipes for Christmas dinner and beyond

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I really enjoy writing this round-up post - traditionally my last one before Christmas. I probably say more or less the same thing every year (don’t panic! It’s just a big roast dinner), but as usual, remember that it’s your Christmas too. Grab a few willing helpers to make some Christmas cookies, or whip up some of my perfect frozen whipped cream hot chocolate and have a little prep-party on Christmas Eve (it’s amazing how much you can get done the night before). Need a little inspiration? Read on for my top tips and recipes for Christmas dinner and beyond: fresh ideas, old favourites and more!

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The Christmas pudding recipe 2017

The easy Christmas pudding recipe

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Stir-up Sunday is coming, people! I absolutely love this weekend as, for me, it properly signifies the start of Christmas. The kitchen is filled with the warming scents of orange and spice, and there’s lots of stirring and steaming: all my favourite things! If you fancy making your own Christmas puddings this year, I’ve added the ingredients list nice and early so you can make sure you have everything ready. Remember that, if you follow this recipe, you’ll actually need to start on the Saturday as I recommend steeping the fruit overnight - also, do remember that steaming the pudding takes about five hours, so don’t start everything too late or you’ll be steaming when you should be sleeping! So, seeing as I’ve called it an easy Christmas pudding recipe, I’ve kept it simple: no figs, no apricots, just a lot of cranberries and plenty of spice. Here’s how to do it:

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The perfect Christmas dinner

Planning the perfect Christmas dinner

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I’ve been writing about cooking Christmas dinner on this blog for ten years, can you believe that? When you’re thinking about cooking Christmas dinner (or indeed lunch) for everyone, it can seem a bit daunting, but I always say that it’s basically just a big roast dinner, and if you think about it like that, and make sure you’re really well prepared, it’s a piece of cake. The lovely team at Crisp ‘n Dry (remember I worked with them when they sponsored RNLI Fish Suppers?) have asked me to share my top tips and cook a little practice Christmas dinner - a ‘Crisp ‘n Dry run’ if you will - geddit?!), to show you that with a little love (and Crisp ‘n Dry), your ordinary Christmas dinner can really become the ultimate festive feast. Here are my top five tips for planning the perfect Christmas dinner.

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The HelloFresh Christmas Box

On test: the HelloFresh Christmas Box

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How do you feel about cooking the Christmas dinner? I absolutely love having Christmas at home and I’m never happier than when I’m in the kitchen (made even nicer now we’ve knocked the wall down to the dining room so everyone can chat and mingle together). We’ve gone out on Christmas Day before, but we all prefer to be at home so we can relax and have a drink (and also, eating out is expensive - I’ve had a couple of emails from local pubs and restaurants advertising Christmas lunch menus, and they’re all around the £60 - £75 per person mark). I do know, though, that even if you love to cook, Christmas dinner is a big undertaking: there’s all the planning and shopping, and you might already have lots to do with buying gifts, maybe getting ready to have relatives to stay. I was pretty interested, then, when recipe box company HelloFresh got in touch and asked if I’d like to try the HelloFresh Christmas Box. Here’s how I got on.

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My tips for a stress-free Christmas dinner

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I know I say it every year, but if you’re cooking the Christmas lunch/dinner this year, it’s really important to remember that it’s YOUR Christmas too. I’ve got loads of tips here to make it as stress free as possible, so grab a drink, have a read through, and get your plan in order. At the end of the day, it’s just a big roast dinner, and this guide will help you spend as much time as possible with the family, and as little as possible in the kitchen!

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Asda’s Extra Special Christmas

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Lovely Asda sent me a very festive hamper this weekend: not chocolates, or chutney, no, the best kind: MEAT!

Of course, not everyone wants to eat a traditional roast turkey at Christmas, and Asda’s Extra Special range has some stunning alternatives, including an Extra Special rack of venison, and a unique six bird roast, with British turkey, skinless duck fillet, chicken breast, wild pheasant, partridge and pigeon. The thought of these ‘bird within a bird’ roasts sometimes puts me off (how do you cut off the skin and inedible bits of each bird?) but Asda’s chefs have worked hard to create a dish with all the nice edible bits. It’s covered in a lattice of oak smoked streaky bacon and all you need to do is shove it in the oven. It serves 10 and costs £40 - in store now.

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