75 top tips for Christmas dinner

Stressed about preparing the perfect Christmas meal?

With the Big Day just around the corner, we asked you to share the your best tips, tricks and shortcuts in our #BessieXmasTips Twitter party.

The party was sponsored by Aunt Bessie’s. Aunt Bessie’s range helps mums create their perfect family Christmas dinner with ease, full of ‘roastiness’. From classic Yorkshire Puddings, to their indulgent dessert range, Aunt Bessie’s has everything you need to make sure your family dinners are full of festive fun. (Visit the Aunt Bessie’s Facebook page for more –and follow them on Twitter @AuntBessies.)

How to a beautiful Christmas table

Set my table the night before – saves time on the big day @maemaesmummy
Crackers – you can never have too many crackers. Buy cheap last minute in the sales @BlueBearWood
If you live near woods/park, collect acorns and pine cones, spray with metallic paint, make wreaths and table decs @Mummiafelice
Use some holly from the garden as a cheap but lovely decoration @maemaesmummy
Ask the kids to make place cards and/or their own crackers for the Christmas table – kids’ cracker jokes … funny! @shoe_smurf
For the adults I am filling crackers with miniature spirits so they can all have an after dinner drink @mumsgoneto
My mother in law always puts a Christmas stratchcard on each place setting @faithlucy
A glass jar, some salt for snow with a snowman decoration inside – perfect cheap centrepiece @Staceyyy86

Tips for cooking a delicious Christmas turkey

We cook a turkey crown upside down topped with lots of bacon, no need for salt and keeps the meat juicy @jomarise
Make sure you have enough time for the turkey to rest before carving. @missielizzieb
Slow cook the meat, keeps the oven free for everything else, meat lovely and moist too @LJB41
Remember to take the turkey out of the freezer in plenty of time to get it cooked. I forgot once, oops. @Julielong1957
I put butter in between the skin and the breast before cooking. Always juicy and never fails. @GlennHutton
Marinate your turkey two days ahead and then cook it overnight on Christmas Eve. No stress on the day. @MamasHaven
Put stuffing under the skin and around the turkey legs to make sure it cooks nicely and evenly @groundrootsjay
A lemon inside, cut slits in the meat, put slivers of garlic into them and a good sprinkle of black pepper @Over_A_Cuppa

Tasty and easy starters

Fave starter: smoked salmon with a fruit coulis, all easily done the day before … yum @maemaesmummy
Like to make special soup like artichoke, apple and leek soup. Don’t forget the crusty bread. @groundrootsjay
Gooey baked Camembert with cranberry sauce @caro_mad
Try to choose a starter that does not require using an oven. Most probably the oven is full with your turkey. @1953barbie
Love a goats cheese tartlet as an appetiser! @spritneybeers
We love the parsnips too. They make a great soup also @mumslittlepeeps
We’re fans of mini rosti. Perfect starter/party food stacked with black pudding and goats cheese @missielizzieb
Smoked salmon on rye bread and brie and cranberry puffed pastry parcels for the vegetarians @kibarthy

Ideas for Christmas sauces and gravy

A touch of brown sauce adds a little spice to gravy @cakesphotoslife
For turkey gravy, I always add a spoon of cranberry sauce, adds a nice sweetness @StarCatch3r
I always use the veg water too to add to the gravy. Don’t want to lose all that flavour @missielizzieb
Always the meat juice, OXO cube and a drop of whatever booze is handy! @missielizzieb
I add a tablespoon of grained mustard and a splash of red wine to gravy @Sydcat87
I love Marmite but my husband hates it and if in gravy he doesn’t know it is there! @Over_A_Cuppa
Add some English mustard and a knob of butter to make it glossy, really gives it a kick @sparky65
Add splash of port and orange peel to jar of cranberry sauce for special touch @groundrootsjay
A splash of brandy always goes down a treat in the gravy @roxycampbell
Coke in the gravy is lovely with roast ham @ali991
A small amount of ground white pepper, herbs of Provence add a certain something to Christmas gravy @Inverlery
If gravy is too fatty, add an ice cube – the fat will cling to it @Janbagnall
Add two tablespoons of double cream to bread sauce and sprinkle with plenty of grated nutmeg @Beth1979
Instead of cranberry sauce, make relish – uncooked cranberries, sugar, 1 apple, 2 oranges whizzed together in the Magimix @jhowze
Also if everyone is a fan, put some garlic and ginger into the gravy. So tasty! @GlennHutton

The perfect Christmas sides

I know it’s not healthy but goose fat for roast potatoes is a must @kellymarie6262
Make sure you have twice as many Yorkshire puddings as you expect to need – the kids love them! @ali991
Add orange juice and zest, butter and thyme to your roast carrots @TheLsMum
Hands up. I buy ready-made where I can and add flavour with goose fat (roasties) honey (carrots) and spend time with my family @Meandmymunchie
I swear by Aunt Bessie’s carrot and swede mash and my 3 year old loves it = happy mum @janbagnall
Peel a sour apple, push some cloves in it and cook with your red cabbage @caro_mad
Blanch the sprouts then fry with bacon and garlic @onslow15
I always cook my sprouts with chorizo – makes them taste great @GourmetMum
For crispy roasties shake when part boiled in semolina @Norris_Wife
Roast butternut squash is a great non-traditional addition to Christmas lunch @CatParrott
Aunt Bessie’s yorkshire puddings are much nicer than my home-made ones! @we3threeblog

Delicious Christmas desserts

Flame the pudding with brandy – looks awesome @maemaesmummy
Key lime pie for pudding! Something light and fresh to cleanse after all those carbs! @beardedsalmon
We are doing make your own ice-cream sundaes for dessert this year @caroljs
We always make pavlova for dessert @AModernMother
Don’t forget your silver coins in your Christmas puddings @Norris_Wife
A selection of bite-sized desserts to suit all tastes = no complaints @kellymarie6262
You don’t have to have Christmas pudding. Aunt Bessie’s Morello Cherry Pie is much nicer. @MrsBambi2
Love Christmas trifle. My mum makes an amazing one @mumslittlepeeps
For pudding I make apple crumble. I grate rhubarb on top and make a home-made chocolate sauce @SiobhannJ
Make a homemade sorbet with berries and almond oil @rachelmedhurst

Essential tips

Use foil dishes to cook things in as they can be thrown away after and less to wash up! @meisfairy
Stock up on foil, baking paper and other essentials that could get overlooked @AliceMegan93
Use the microwave to heat up plates if the oven is already full with other things @sarahlouiselo
A meat thermometer is a must! @Jessies_kitchen
Tell older kids ahead of time that they are in charge of clean-up – cuts down (slightly) on whinging! @MrsSheaWong
Ask family to bring crackers, wine, dessert to spread the cost @AnEssexWife
We prepare all veg and desserts a few days in advance an then freeze them to save time/effort! @Englishian
Cooking Xmas dinner? Make a plan and tick bits off as you go. @Foodie_Laura
Our kids love to pass round appetizers like mini waiters @jhowze

Keep your sanity

Best tip I can give is have a laugh and look out for those who may need support around Christmas @hooker1UK
Spread the meal over a few hours so time for everyone to chat and digest @mumslittlepeeps
We always do a toast to remember family members who have passed. Mainly my mum. We all like it. @mummyglitzer
Don’t forget to put your feet up and watch a Xmas movie @groundrootsjay
Try to relax, it’s just one meal after all, any disasters will become happy memories in future years. @RedRoseMummy

The Last Word

Don’t try anything new or challenging on Christmas Day. Stick with what you know, less stress. @peartsue61

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