SURVIVING CHRISTMAS 2017: MAINS PLUS TIPS FOR GETTING AHEAD

CHRISTMAS MAIN COURSES PLUS TIPS FOR BEING GOOD TO YOURSELF 

Classic Christmas Poinsetta

BRAND NEW CHRISTMAS MAIN COURSES FOR 2017

Frontier Turkey with Creamy Gravy & Buttermilk Biscuits, using frugal tasty cuts 

Luxury Steak, Potato & Onion Pie popular 67 recipe that's a cut above the rest

Vegetarian: Crepes stuffed with Ricotta, Sun-blush tomatoes & artichoke with White Wine Sauce a special meal for a special occasion 

Tips for getting ahead at the bottom of the page

LOW-FAT, HIGH FLAVOUR

Striped Turkey Meatloaf,  layered with peppers &  mushrooms

Guilt-Free Peking Duck, no deep-frying, easy, wallet-friendly

Meat Patties in Mushroom Gravy, surprise favourite with the older crowd

Glorious Asian Salmon, super simple & sensational; spicy & exciting

MAKE AHEAD

Lime & Ginger Chicken, marinade overnight & bake; flavour through & through

Spanish Roast Chicken, fuss-free, fast and fabulous with a colourful Med sauce

Tandoori Chicken, Beautiful spicing, low-fat & cholesterol, prep ahead 

SLOW COOKER

Pheasant with Brandy & Plums, stunning low-fat alternative to turkey or outstanding treat for guests 

Venison Casserole, Asian style, hearty & luxurious with wild meat

Spiced pheasant with Orange,  low-fat & cholesterol, rich with a hint of the souk 

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Marvellous Meatless Moussaka, so delicious conversation stops;  no-one misses the meat

Irresistible Nut Loaf

Coulibiac Rice & Veg Pie 

Nut Loaf, Irresistible
 A winner; forget every boring nutloaf you've every had

Vegetarian Coulibiac Pie, spectacular showstopper that carnivores will adore 

FRUGAL

Pork & Pineapple Noodles terrific combo of taste & textures; 7 mins, chicken opt 

Big Beef Soup

Big Chicken Soup

Not quite a stew, more than a soup 

Beef or Chunky Chicken
'Big' Soups,

much better than tinned




Stir-fry Cauliflower Veg with Pork or Chicken, low carb, low-fat, quick & easy

Stir-fry Vegetables and Beef, low carb, colourful, very tasty



AND FRUGAL RIBS FOR THE HEALTH CONSCIOUS

Lamb, low fat

Pork, low sugar and low fat

BE KIND TO YOURSELF - PLAN AHEAD

Prepare as much as possible ahead of time:

• Home made cranberry sauce can be made anytime now and frozen - it'll only last 4 days otherwise.  Defrost the night before and reheat gently; you may need to add a slurry of 1 tsp cornstarch thoroughly mixed with 1 tbsp cold water to thicken it up.  Check seasoning; it may need adjusting 

• Gravy can also be made ahead and frozen by using Vegetarian Gravy as a base.  Defrost the night before it's needed; remove however much you need for vegetarian guests.  After the turkey is cooked, add the turkey juices (minus the fat) and a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire to the rest of the gravy. Thicken or thin as required. The gravy will have lovely turkey flavours, be non-greasy and no one will know you've used a vegetarian base. (If you want it to be really special, make a stock of the giblets and use it to add more turkey flavour). 

• On Christmas Eve morning, make a lovely breakfast of prep-ahead no- knead soft rolls with hot chocolate & marshmallows for the kids and Irish coffee for adults.  You need to be in everyone's good books or they'll resent being asked to help (below)

• Make Christmas Eve day a vegetable prep day and get everyone involved: peel carrots, parsnips & potatoes, clean sprouts - quarter or shred as per your recipe.  Chop or quarter carrots & parsnips, oil & season and bag up. Bag up sprouts (no water).  Par-boil potatoes 8 mins and roughen the edges, cling film & refrigerate overnight.

• Set the table 

• Tidy 

REMEMBER: 

• FROZEN TURKEYS CAN TAKE AS LONG AS 2-3 DAYS TO DEFROST
• IF LEFT OUTSIDE TO THAW (IN A GARAGE??), PUT THE BIRD IN A TIGHTLY COVERED CONTAINER TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM FOXES, BIRDS OR THIEVES  

CHRISTMAS DAY

1. First thing after you get up, make a big jug of No-Added-Sugar Breakfast Smoothies (with oatmeal & nuts) to keep everyone going - especially Chef. Drink a small glass of this before you do anything else, even before coffee!  Dilute for kids. 
2. Don't bother with a big-deal breakfast; everyone will be too excited and soon you'll be bringing out cheese straws, sausage rolls, mince pies, etc.    After the present-opening, a small bowl of porridge or a bit of toast might be in order 
3. In the bottom of the roasting pan, put a layer of sliced onions and one inch/2cm water. Add a couple of chopped carrots and sticks of celery and  set the turkey on top.  Make a tent of tinfoil or buy a large roasting bag; remove bag for last 45 mins to brown skin
4. REST the turkey at least an hour after it has been cooked.  Cover it with tin foil and clean tea towels, or newspapers or even a blanket.  The turkey won't go cold but the juices will return to the body of the meat and leave the flesh succulent and tender.  Resting also gives you time to roast the potatoes, cook the veg etc.
5. Serve the gravy piping hot.
6. Carving a Turkey: check out Carving a Chicken; same principles, bigger bird - but leave skin on.  Use good Tongs and wear oven gloves  (they'll need soaking before washing.)
7. Don't throw away food.  Put it in the fridge after it's cooled; on Boxing Day sort out what can/needs to be frozen and what can go into the Boxing Day buffet.  
8. Leftover Christmas pud, mince pies & fruit & nuts can be mixed into softened ice cream and re-frozen or used to stuff baked apples
9. Turkey carcass makes great broth, bag & freeze it for later
10. Have on hand a large bottle of Rescue Remedy for tears, tantrums, arguments, anxieties or general sulks - whatever the age of the sufferer.
11. If there's room, set aside a room/space in the house for tears, tantrums, arguments...see No. 10 above
12. It's ok on Christmas Day to slump in front of the telly or play games after lunch but on Boxing Day fit in a good long walk - 45 mins to an hour.  

Have a read of this guide from the Daily Telegraph: Family Christmas without a breakdowns

BE KIND TO YOURSELF:  REDUCE KIDS' FIZZY DRINKS AND CUT MELTDOWNS 

Kids and sugary drinks don't do well and steering them toward flavoured waters will save a lot of angst & demanding behaviour.  Try these...

Half Organic Fruit Juice; Half carbonated water with mint leaves as decoration (no more than one a day) 

Flavoured waters From Jaime Oliver 

Everyday Super Food (Michael Joseph £18.20)

The Dish, The Times, 1 Nov 2105

The following combinations are steeped in a jug of water and ice, and refrigerated for at least three hours.

Cucumber, Apple & Mint Water

Add one finely sliced apple; strips of cucumber and a few fresh mint leaves.

Strawberry

Add half a dozen sliced strawberries

St Clements

Add Sliced oranges and lemons

Watermelon & Basil

Add a peeled, chopped wedge of watermelon, bashing the fruit to release flavours. Add a squeeze of lime.

See also:

How to...Wean your kids off sugary fizzy drinks without artificial sweeteners

                         For more main courses, go to Nav Bar/ Recipes I & Recipes II 

(Questions & comments, pls go the Comments box at the bottom of this page) 

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