Take the Pressure Off Mum during the festive season 2025 ( many updated prices )

Fast, easy & make-ahead family dishes before Christmas 

A partner/parent/older kid who helps pick up the slack for Mum during the festive season will feel the glow of giving.  These recipes take stress out of mealtimes in Nov/Dec --  and the dishes  are so rewarding for the novice cook.  Includes advice for Festive Season storecupboard recommendations

updated 2025; first posted 2017 

Imaginative touches like these might be few and far between in the weeks before the festive season but these simple, tasty, fun recipes will make up for it.

Note: most prices have been updated to 11/25; a few are a 1-2 years out of date; others longer.  Calculate accordingly

ALMOST INSTANT

Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup, classic & irresistible, vegan option

Peachy Fruit Sponge, ever-so-quick & tasty

Almost Instant Tomato Soup

Spinach & White Bean Soup, frugal but easy; half an hour from start to delicious finish, vegan

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

Simple Chicken Wings: easy, kid-friendly, link to other popular wing recipes

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

Cheat's Tortilla Espagnol, eggs, a trip to the chippie, Bob's your uncle and kids will be thrilled!!


PEPARE AHEAD

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

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

Bunless burgers with dark mushroom gravy: simple lower-fat North American classic

Spanish Roast Chicken: an unexpected glorious Mediterranean twist takes the chill off Arctic temperatures, make ahead

Tantalizing Make Your Own Pizzas, 3 Vegetarian Pizzas with carnivore options: Sausage & Grape, Mushroom & Cheese, plus Potato; dough made the day before

Chunky Lentil Soup 

EASY HEALTHY SOUPS

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

Chunky Lentil Soup with Meatballs, kids love the meatballs

Egg-Flower Pea Soup

Kids adore this vegetarian soup with vegan option; low-fat/cholesterol/salt 

German Potato and French Bean Soup: carnivore or vegetarian frankfurters make it a whole meal; vegan option