19 Dec HOW TO HAVE A STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS IN YOUR KITCHEN
How to Have a Stress-Free Christmas in Your Kitchen
We understand how Christmas can be a stressful time of year and that’s just when it comes to buying presents in time for the big day. When it comes to the kitchen and cooking it can be another level of stress. We don’t want you to have to deal with that level of stress again so we’ve put together these top tips on how to make the day as stress-free as possible.
Get the Right Kit
Make sure you have good saucepans, utensils, sharp knives and a decent size roasting tray. We know it sounds simple but you would be amazed as to how many people don’t have the basics.
Keep Tidy
You might have lots of work surfaces in your kitchen but you will still make lots of mess. Try to clear your work surfaces of any clutter in advance, which will help on the day. Also try to clear out your fridge so that you have plenty of room for when the products start to arrive for the Christmas meal.
Preparation
Do as much preparation in advance of the day – peel the vegetables, par boil your potatoes. Don’t be scared to do some shortcuts as well – we’re talking about using some shop-bought products – cranberry sauce, bread sauce, Christmas pudding and sausages wrapped in bacon. It will make your life easier.
Turkey Time
Firstly, don’t forget to check that your turkey fits in the roasting tray and that it all fits in the oven! We often tell people to think of the turkey as a large chicken, which seems to calm their nerves.
Always make sure your turkey is at room temperature before putting in the oven and a great tip we heard this week was to start cooking your turkey upside down to keep the breast moist and make sure the legs are pointing to the back of the oven as this tends to be the hottest part. Finally, don’t forget to rest your turkey before you start carving, this will allow the meat to relax and get more juicy and tender before you start to eat.
It’s All About the Vegetables
Roasting your potatoes is a traditional part of the day but when it comes to your other vegetables why not try cooking your parsnips in milk and pureeing the drained parsnips with ground almonds, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.
Braise your carrots in a pan with butter and honey or consider roasting your sprouts for a change.
The Importance of Gravy
This is the sauce that brings everything together on the day. We would advise making your gravy from scratch to give your meal that extra wow factor.
Have Fun
Don’t forget to have fun; at the end of the day, that is what Christmas is all about. Make sure you have someone to give you a helping hand in the kitchen or to clear up as you go along and keep hydrated, we mean the fizzy kind.
