SURVIVING CHRISTMAS 2017: PRE-FESTIVITIES FAMILY MEALS: take the pressure off mum

Fast, easy & make-ahead family meals before Christmas 

A partner/parent/older kid who helps pick up the slack during the festive season will feel the glow of giving.  These recipes help take some stress out of normal mealtimes --  and the dishes (note those with historical prices and calculate accordingly)  are delicious and appealling.  

updated 2025; first posted 2017

Imaginative touches like these might be few and far between in the weeks before Christmas but tasty, attractive and fun meals will compensate

Updated: Take the Pressure off Mum during the Festive System Nov/25

ALMOST INSTANT

Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup, classic & irresistible, vegan option

Peachy Fruit Sponge, ever-so-quick & tasty

Almost Instant Tomato Soup

Spinach & White Bean Soup, half an hour from start to delicious finish, vegan

Almost Instant Intense Tomato Soup, stunningly delicious & so easy, vegan

7-minute Pork/Chicken & Pineapple Noodles, if the body's demanding carbs, this is the way to go

Spanish Roast Chicken, takes the edge off Arctic temperatures, make ahead

Cheat's Tortilla Espagnol, eggs, a trip to the chippie and Bob's your uncle


PEPARE AHEAD

Spinach, Tomato & Peppers Tortilla

Creamy Tuna Casserole, kidults love the potato crisp topping; no one notices the wholemeal pasta


Chicken in Lime & Ginger, fabulous flavour through & through

'Chicken' Gougons, vegan delight; they won't miss the meat

Luxury Spinach, Tomato & Pepper Tortilla; eggs, Jim, but not as we know it

Bunless burgers with mushroom gravy, North American classic

Chunky Lentil Soup 

EASY HEALTHY SOUPS

Puchero'. a high-nutrition wallet-friendly peasant Spanish Stew

Big Beef or Chicken Soup, not quite a stew but equally filing

Chunky Lentil Soup with Meatballs, kids love the meatballs

Egg-Flower Pea Soup, kids adore this

German Potato and French Bean Soup, the frankfurters make it a whole meal, vegan option


SLOW COOKED

Slow Roasted Lamb Ribs

Slow Roasted Lamb Ribs, low-fat, easily turned into mixed grill with veg


Slow Roasted Low-sugar Pork/Beef Ribs, beautifully spiced


Lamb Shoulder, Mongolian Style; eaten by hand, wrapped in lettuce leaves

Sugar & Yeast Free Waffles

LOW SUGAR BREAKFASTS

Sugar-free Waffles 

Egg & Toast Hole In One

Double-dipped French Toast, frugal, crunchy; kids help make this



NOT SO UNHEALTHY TREATS

Apple Caramel Sauce, fresh fruit offsets the indulgence

Instant No-sugar Fruit Sorbet, delightful no-added sugar dairy free ice, vegan

Mango & Mint Sorbet but any other frozen fruit works beautifully

SO EASY, THE KIDS CAN MAKE THEM

Coconut Cherry Kisses, ambrosial low-sugar treats, effortless

Chocolate Daisy Sandwich Cookies, kids will love making & eating these  

Pfeffernusse, made & frozen ahead by kids; extremely popular Xmas 2016 


BREADS

15-min flatbread, can be used for pizza, vegan option

Cheese & Walnut Light Wholemeal Loaf 1 bowl wonder

                   ***

Storecupboard recommendations 

Cook in advance & freeze:

• stock/broth, preferably homemade (make ahead & freeze) or good granules, eg  Marigold 
• ham hock (frugal) OR salt beef (not-so-frugal): shred and bag in small portions
• cooking the new breed of supermarket rices, See Cooking rice the Chinese way and Easy-cook Longgrain.  (Cook in advance & freeze)
• sausages (freeze in pairs, either pre-poached or cooked)
• bacon (freeze in double slices)
• bread (freeze in pairs or rolls)

Store cupboard

• noodles (wheat or green pea starch)
• tins of tuna & sardines
• frozen peas and corn (or tinned corn)
• eggs
• raw onion ( yellow/purple and spring ) or fennel, carrots, celery, tomatoes, lettuce & peppers 
• potatoes
• flour, plain & wholemeal, wheat or (for those with digestive issues) spelt, sugar & fat for baking
• bagged pears, apples or plums for easy-peasy crumbles
• fat-free plain yoghurt
• jar of candied ginger in syrup or container of sugared ginger
• chocolate for baking i.e. cooking chocolate in bars plus Cocoa 

                Also see Nav Bar: How to...Christmas 2016/ Christmas 2015 AND
.                                      Nav Bar/Recipes/ Almost Instant & Slow Cooker 
                                                             



These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.