If you’re the one in charge of Christmas dinner, there are countless things to remember. So why not make life a bit easier and do some prep beforehand?
According to Clare, who shares her tips on TikTok under the handle @deliciousandreal, this will give you more time to “sip champagne and eat canapés” instead of being the only family member slaving away in the kitchen.
“Why not get all the Christmas peeling and chopping out of the way now?” she suggests, explaining that it’s one of the most time-consuming parts of preparing the festive meal and results in numerous pans to clean afterwards. For her carrots and parsnips, she has peeled, chopped and parboiled them.
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“I then arranged them on a tray and froze them. Once frozen, I transferred them to freezer bags. On Christmas Day, you can cook them from frozen in hot oil.”
Clare likes to add a touch of “honey and herbs” to hers for a little extra flair – but you can use whatever you prefer. In the caption of her video, she also points out: “A little prep now means that you can spread the cost of Christmas dinner and save yourself time and effort over the festive period.”
She advises using 600g each of carrots and parsnips, 30g of butter, and three tablespoons of runny honey. She also provides a step-by-step guide on how to prepare the carrots and parsnips for a stress-free Christmas.
Clare shared her savvy prep tips for the festive feast, saying: “1. Put the carrots and parsnips into a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. 2. Boil for 6 minutes and then drain in a colander and leave to steam-dry for a few minutes. 3. Lay out in a single layer on a baking tray to dry out and cool completely. 4. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours, then put in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months.”
As for the big day, Clare advised: “1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Place the butter and honey on a large baking tray or in a roasting tin and heat in the oven for 5 minutes. 3. Tip the frozen veg into the tray and baste in the honey and butter. 4. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Roast for 30 minutes.”
This would not only simplify your Christmas cooking but also ensure you can dedicate more time to the turkey already sizzling away – just keep an eye out so it doesn’t char.