A Christmas menu without the stress
Five courses for Christmas, with a plan you half prepare the day before. And a main of their own for whoever doesn't eat meat.
Christmas dinner doesn’t have to mean a whole day in the kitchen. The secret is the order: what can you make ahead, and what has to happen at the last minute?
Start with the guests
Tell Umeli how many of you there are and who doesn’t eat what. Say: “A five-course Christmas menu for eight. My sister is vegetarian.” Umeli plans for everyone at the table and gives the vegetarian a main course of their own, not just the sides.
What can be done the day before?
- The pudding. A Christmas pudding is made to wait. Steam it ahead and simply reheat it on the day.
- The soup. Parsnip soup only gets better overnight. Stir in the cream when you warm it up.
- The croquettes. Shape them, crumb them and keep them in the fridge. Fry them while the guests arrive.
What has to be fresh?
The main course. The duck goes in the oven while you serve the soup, and rests while you clear the table.
One list
Put the menu on the week menu and Umeli puts the ingredients on one shopping list. Tick off what you already have; the rest comes with you to the store.
Happy holidays, and enjoy your meal.
Recipes from this story
-
Smoked Cheddar and Chilli Jam Croquettes
65 min
-
Classic Roasted Parsnip Soup
55 min
-
Classic Roast Duck with Orange Sauce
150 min
-
Mushroom and Chestnut Wellington with Thyme
75 min
-
Traditional Steamed Christmas Pudding
300 min
These recipes are in Umeli's library.