Christmas Recipes to Make Now
Christmas preparations to make now to get-ahead of your festive planning
Christmas plans are well underway at Eversfield Organic, preparing the organic centrepieces that will make your feast extra special, ready to arrive on your doorsteps next month.
The key to a stress-free Christmas is planning. Whether that is ordering your organic roast in plenty or getting ahead with your festive cooking.
This Sunday marks the final Sunday before Advent, traditionally the day to mix your Christmas pudding ingredients and officially kick off Christmas preparations. This Victorian custom may have lost its popularity, perhaps with the introduction of more chocolatey dessert options, but we still think that a Christmas pudding can't be beaten.
Christmas Pudding isn’t the only recipe that you can think about now to get-ahead with your festive planning. We've got a few suggestions for you that can be made in advance and frozen before Christmas to help alleviate some of the last-minute pressure that can comes with hosting.
Make Ahead Christmas Recipes
Braised Red Cabbage
A warming and festive addition to your Christmas dinner, braised red cabbage partners perfectly with roasted meat. It's particularly tasty on Boxing Day when served with your Christmas ham and mustard.
Braised red cabbage freezes well. Make sure to let the cabbage cool completely and freeze in a freezer-safe container. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating gently on the hob.
Homemade Gravy
A rich gravy is an essential part of a festive feast, but making gravy can feel like one extra last minute chore on Christmas Day. Luckily you can make a flavourful gravy ahead of time and freeze until needed. Simply stir the defrosted gravy in with the juices in your roasting dish on Christmas Day to finish. Add a spoon of cranberry sauce to the finished gravy for a festive touch.
Sausage Rolls
For unexpected guests or planned parties, always have some treats in the freezer ready to cook. These tasty sausage rolls are easy to prepare, suitable for freezing, and can be baked directly from frozen for serving.
Stuffing Balls
The trimmings might just be the best part of any roast and a good stuffing is not to be missed. Prepare your stuffing now and freeze raw, it can then be defrosted overnight in the fridge and roasted alongside your favourite meat centrepiece.
This festive stuffing recipe includes seasonal chestnuts and bacon and works well with all roast meats.
Christmas Cookie Dough
Guarantee that the kids have gingerbread to decorate on Christmas Eve, without the fuss. Find your favourite ginger biscuit recipe and freeze the cut out dough shapes on a baking tray. The biscuits can then be cooked from frozen when you are ready to bake.
Freezer Tips
Remember these tips for freezer food safety to ensure that your make-ahead Christmas preparations go smoothly
Label Everything: Clearly label each container or bag with the contents and date of preparation. This stops the risk of playing freezer roulette in the future!
Store Correctly: Use containers and bags that are suitable for freezer use to avoid freezer burn and keep your meals fresh. Airtight seals are essential to protect your food from freezer odours and maintain its flavour.
Cool Before Freezing: Allow hot foods to cool to room temperature before placing them in the freezer. Rapid cooling helps preserve the texture and taste of the dish.
Portioning: Before freezing, divide your meals into smaller servings. This allows for more flexible meal planning and quicker thawing when you only need a portion.
Thaw Safely: Thaw food in the fridge overnight rather than at room temperature. This slow, controlled thawing helps maintain food safety.
Don't refreeze: If food has thawed or begun to thaw, do not refreeze it. Once food has defrosted, harmful bacteria can proliferate quickly, making it unsafe to eat.