1st Time Cooking Christmas Dinner!!

[Lydiba]

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone has any advice on best practice and best recipes for cooking Christmas dinner for the first time?

I am very soon to move in with my partner and it will be both of our first christmas' away from home and I somewhat naively offered to cook dinner for us and 6 other family members, so 8 in total. I have never cooked a christmas dinner, but am not a complete novice either, the kitchen in our house is rather small too, so i don't have a lot of space for preparation and only one oven!

I want to cook a traditional Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings (having been a vegetarian for 20 of my 25 years i am not 100% of what 'all the trimmings' includes) so please do post any help or suggestions you may have, it would be most appreciated.

Thanks x

[onemagicalchristmas]

Use a cooking bag for your turkey! then you can make stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans , yams, and cranberry sauce. It is not hard just time consuming!

[PumpkinJack81]

I'm not sure what the traditional trimmings are in the UK, but here is an article about what to cook for Christmas dinner:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art15701.asp

The foods are divided into sections (Main Course, Sides, etc.) and there is a link to each recipe. Best of luck with your entertaining!

[noelglori]

A cooking bag for the turkey makes it soooooooo simple and worry free, plus all your juices are contained. I always use a cooking bag.

Also to be able to make some dishes that need to be in the oven and it's not possible when the turkey is in the oven, I use my Crock Pot. I put my green bean casserole in the crock pot and if I'm having another veggie like corn, I put it in my other crock pot. (I love my crock pots) I have put my mashed potatoes in the crock pot to keep them warm while I'm preparing the rest of the dinner.

Don't forget the Pumpkin Pie or if you are not into making pies, you can make Pumpkin Bars or
Pumpkin Roll. And the whipped topping for the pie topper.

[lalblue]

Hi
I'm from the UK
We have: Turkey, Stuffing, Roast potatoes, Brussell sprouts, pigs in blankets (sausage wrapped in bacon with a sage leaf) Winter mash & peas, I also love bread sauce.
Turkey crown is the easiest option, easy to carve and they are in all the supermarkets. They also don't look too much like a bird so easier for you to handle.
For your roast veg get a tin of goose fat, it makes amazing roast potatoes.Tescos have it in already for £2.99 and it lasts for 2 months in the fridge once opened so you can use it again.
Brussel sprouts are not everyones favorites but if you panfry bacon bits and poor over they are yummy. (you can do them on the hob)
I make winter mash with carrots, swede and a small potato, very yummy.
Hope that helps
Elaine

[Theresa Cunningham]

I use my own recipes & alot of them I've posted on "ALL RECIPES" it's a great site that uses a rating search for the easiest & best recipes to cook..click below for thier christmas page with everything you'll need to know..If you need anything let me know......http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holida...tmas/Main.aspx

[kiwithingee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L5jNReJrfo

[Lydiba]

Wow, thank you all for your responses! I have some really good i dea's about how i am going to go about making dinner now and fingers crossed all goes to plan

Thank to everyone who has responded, its nice of you to have taken time to do so.
x

[JollyElfDC]

Let us know how it turns out.