Making our lives easier on Christmas Day

[PrairieRose]

I decided a few years ago that I was the only one not having any fun on Christmas Day. This was due to the fact that while the family were all here I was stuck in the kitchen, slaving away. I would get so aggravated at the sounds of laughter coming from the living room and not being able to be in there in and take part in that. After all, isn't that the point of family get togethers? Sssooooo a dear friend of mine passed along her secret to her Christmas success She told me that since she always cooked the entire meal herself that she cooked it early (!). Wow, that was a novel idea. So I listened intently and took mental notes. Now I do the same. I make out my menu ahead of time, look at my entrees and sides and decide what can be cooked ahead and frozen. So in the past week I've been cooking Christmas dinner. My youngest dd suggested (after Thanksgiving) that we do something like brisket and beans for Christmas dinner since that would be much easier than repeating Thanksgiving dinner (even though everyone would prefer a repeat....lol). After a nano second of thought I agreed. But later got to thinking that she will be the only one who doesn't get turkey and dressing. Sssoooo I made the brisket already, sliced and frozen. I made a turkey breast already (we don't eat the dark meat of a turkey, even though I could buy a turkey for a little less than a turkey breast but there's less waste), it's sliced and frozen now. I made the dressing (stuffing-we don't stuff) last night, it's frozen now. I will throw the beans in the crockpot the night before. I may go ahead and peel and cut up my potatoes, just leaving in cold water over night in the fridge to boil for potato salad. I can boil the eggs for said potato salad the day before. I can cut up the onions and pickles ahead. I'll also make the jello salad ahead and maybe a relish dish as well. The day before I'll make my pumpkin pies, my pecan pie. I'll whip the cream the day of, still haven't figured out a way to keep it from going runny after a day or so, even with using powdered sugar and a little gelatin.

My point to all of this is this; I WANT to enjoy the day too! Don't you? Have you considered what you can do to insure that as well? Is it worth it to you to work a little ahead to have a more relaxing time to enjoy with your family? I mean if you only have to take a 'dish' to a relatives' house then it's no big deal. But for those of you that will be doing the bulk of the cooking, do you cook ahead?

[Mom23boys]

I agree with you. I would rather enjoy the day instead of cook all day. I usually cook everything before-hand as well, except the turkey. I bought a pre-cooked turkey this year though. Just heat and eat! :-)

[nuisance26]

~I don't host or prepare a special meal for X-mas, although, I try to make ahead and freeze when I'm giving a party. I also cut up all the veggies or whatever and make the desserts the day before. It's so nice to enjoy yourself as if you were a guest in your own home. The small amount of planning and prep pays off in a big way.~

[halloweenfreak]

my mil decided that instead of a great big sit down dinner (like you said, a repeat of thanksgiving) we would start doing an assortment of finger foods and bbq sandwiches. she puts the bbq in a big ole crock and the rest is chips and dips and veggie trays etc. much simpler to prepare and its not the same ole thing we had a month earlier.

[AmyBoz]

Dh will be making a turkey that day, but everything else will be made beforehand.

[northernmom2boys]

I decided a few years ago that I was the only one not having any fun on Christmas Day. This was due to the fact that while the family were all here I was stuck in the kitchen, slaving away. I would get so aggravated at the sounds of laughter coming from the living room and not being able to be in there in and take part in that. After all, isn't that the point of family get togethers? Sssooooo a dear friend of mine passed along her secret to her Christmas success She told me that since she always cooked the entire meal herself that she cooked it early (!). Wow, that was a novel idea. So I listened intently and took mental notes. Now I do the same. I make out my menu ahead of time, look at my entrees and sides and decide what can be cooked ahead and frozen. So in the past week I've been cooking Christmas dinner. My youngest dd suggested (after Thanksgiving) that we do something like brisket and beans for Christmas dinner since that would be much easier than repeating Thanksgiving dinner (even though everyone would prefer a repeat....lol). After a nano second of thought I agreed. But later got to thinking that she will be the only one who doesn't get turkey and dressing. Sssoooo I made the brisket already, sliced and frozen. I made a turkey breast already (we don't eat the dark meat of a turkey, even though I could buy a turkey for a little less than a turkey breast but there's less waste), it's sliced and frozen now. I made the dressing (stuffing-we don't stuff) last night, it's frozen now. I will throw the beans in the crockpot the night before. I may go ahead and peel and cut up my potatoes, just leaving in cold water over night in the fridge to boil for potato salad. I can boil the eggs for said potato salad the day before. I can cut up the onions and pickles ahead. I'll also make the jello salad ahead and maybe a relish dish as well. The day before I'll make my pumpkin pies, my pecan pie. I'll whip the cream the day of, still haven't figured out a way to keep it from going runny after a day or so, even with using powdered sugar and a little gelatin.

My point to all of this is this; I WANT to enjoy the day too! Don't you? Have you considered what you can do to insure that as well? Is it worth it to you to work a little ahead to have a more relaxing time to enjoy with your family? I mean if you only have to take a 'dish' to a relatives' house then it's no big deal. But for those of you that will be doing the bulk of the cooking, do you cook ahead?

Can I come to your hose for christmas pleasssseeee lol

[Squirt]

We sort of "group cook," and with my sisters and mother and assorted others around it is rather enjoyable. One of my brothers is also a chef. Somehow over the past 5 years or so, preparing food has become a part of the fun.

Helps that mom's kitchen opens into the great room and the living room, so people tend to hang out there or in the outskirts. I think it's fun to watch people make their favorite concoctions, or even to just make a cheese tray while sampling the wine someone brought along. I suppose that doesn't work at every house- I think we're lucky!

[Darlene]

Yep, plan ahead & then relax. If something does go wrong or you forgot something, ask yourself "Does it really matter?" Most of the time the answer is naaaaaa. Worrying & running around like a chicken with your head cut off ages you and besides you don't look very festive walking around with a puss face.
My motto: Don't worry, be Happy. Goes for everyday, not just Christmas & Thanksgiving.
Merry Christmas!

[mcphlips]

I am making a breakfast casserole for us early. Thankfully I will not have to make Christmas dinner this year. We are going to my cousin's house, so all I'll have to bring is some perrogies which will just need to boil when we get there. This will be a very easy Christmas.

[dcompton]

Well, it's just me, so even though I usually plan to make a really nice meal for the holiday, I nearly always look at it, think "nope, don't want to cook today" and end up doing something like hot dogs or peanut butter sandwiches. So I decided not to fight it this year. I'm going to do a convenience food splurge -- either some really nice deli ham, cheese and bread or maybe a Stouffer's lasagna. I guess I could turn on the oven if I really pushed myself! Who wants to work on a holiday? I'll probably also make a pot of soup next weekend to be eating over the holiday.

[justpeachy92]

I felt the same about not enjoying Christmas day and being able to get done and play with the kids cause I was in the kitchen cooking. Christmas here is just my household and mil comes over for a bit. I now cook our big meal on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas Day we eat left overs.

[PrairieRose]

Can I come to your hose for christmas pleasssseeee lol

Naturally you can....but you'll be expected to throw away your plate after you're done eating.....

[Dancing Lotus]

We do not cook for christmas day , we have our christmas dinner on christmas eve. For christmas day we eat leftovers and fingerfoods. Its everyone's day off on christmas day.

[Brat]

I make everything the day before except the mashed potatoes...those I get ready to cook but put in water...put everything in warm up trays or in crock pots the morning of Christmas....This way I just warm everything up and I can enjoy the family too...We don't even take it to the table anymore we do pot luck to fill plates in the kitchen and then go to where ever to eat....some set at the table some in other rooms...Kids always have there own table to set at...

[Becci]

The beauty of living in a warmer climate at chistmas is that we don't have to have a hot dinner for Christmas lunch. We have had it in the past and I rather enjoy it when there is a small group but when your catering for more than about 15 it can get very hectic, especially if you only have a small oven. This year we aren't even going to someones house.....we are going to a park! We all take along cold platters (salad, meat, quiche, etc). We bought most of our meat the other day. We like to take along a platter of cold roasted meats, so when we were at the supermarket the other day and most of the meat that we want was marked down me grabbed them. they are in the freezer and I will roast them up in the days before christmas, so on christmas morning I will only have to slice and platter them up. Still have to buy the ham. i haven't bought this yet because I know I will open it and most of it will get eaten before the day. So best to leave that till later hehe