Enjoy it! (Tips On How To Cook The Perfect Christmas Dinner)

Member Name: jacobite

Product:	Tips On How To Cook The Perfect Christmas Dinner
Date:	09/11/00 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: home cooked is best

Disadvantages: too many people worry

I have never not had a successful Christmas dinner and yet I would not consider myself a wonderful cook but the secret I have found is to enjoy doing it, don't make it a chore.

This year I'll be cooking for 14 people, and it doesn't phase me at all other than I only have 6 chairs!

I'm lucky because I have two cookers which equals 8 rings and 3 ovens. I find that a real bonus at such a busy time of the year when I am cooking lots of vegetable and not just baked beans for the family.

I always make sure the turkey is thawed right out by taking it out of the freezer about three days before I cook it. The night before Christmas...when all through the house...(sorry, I'm digressing) I stuff the turkey, put bacon strips on top, cover it in foil and place it in an oven of about 100c where it stays for about 10 or 12 hours. I turn the oven up the next day after basting it and leaving the foil open so the bird gets a good blasting and goes crispy. I have to be very careful taking it out of the baking tin as it is so tender it is liable to fall apart.

Also, the night before, I cook the pork so that just before everyone goes to bed they can have a pork sandwich and pickled onions...honestly, they really love it, as do they the pork dripping on bread next morning.

Apart from onions, carrots, swede and turnip I buy all frozen vegetables which taste lovely providing they are not overcooked. I put the potatoes in a big pan the night before and the other peelable veggies so the decks are cleared ready for the big day. I also get the breadcrumbs made up ready for the bread sauce.

Now another secret to a successful dinner is not to worry about...put on loud music from that new CD someone bought you, get out the wine or whisky and swig, cook, sing, dance, swig, cook, sing, dance.

Christmas is a time for family, friends and a lot of love and laughter. If your dinner does not go quite right, so what
? Laugh about it, it certainly isn't worth ruining Christmas over.

Summary: