Unsecure chicken perches

[Willow]

12 for dinner tomorrow and hoping to do what I can today so I'm not too rushed tomorrow morning

 

I've made my red cabbage and cranberry sauce so far.

 

Planning to make up Mary berry's creamed celeraic today (never had celeraic before no idea if we'll like it)

 

Going to prepare carrots & sprouts soon.

 

I have bread to make into bread crumbs for stuffing, must get some slices in a low oven to dry out and get sage and onion cut up.

[Luvachicken]

Just finished all my veggies, including sprouts , for tomorrow and Boxing day.

I decided if I'm going to be chopping as might as well get it all over and done with.

Only 5 to cook for this year as our son is in Australia for his gap year

[Space Chick]

As its only OH and I for dinner, I will be doing everything tomorrow.

 

However, my FIL has recently had tumours removed from his mouth and is unable to eat solid food....every year he loves to have Stilton but can't eat it this year, so I have just made some Stilton and broccoli soup for him. I'm hoping he will be able to eat some tomorrow! My kitchen now stinks though

[Cinnamon]

I have boiled my Ham up,ready for glazing & baking tomorrow.

Got the Pigs in Blankets,Stuffing & Devils on Horseback out of the freezer.

And made a large batch of Parmesan & Rosemary cheese straws & tiny sausage rolls to take to my sisters house this evening,where we are all having a get together.

I might peel the carrots later,but then again I might paint my nails instead

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I have boiled the gammon, the 3 bird roast is in the oven as I type. The veggies are all prepared ( the parsnips and spuds have been par boiled) the pigs in blankets are prepared as are the stuffing balls. The gravy is defrosting as is the homemade cranberry sauce.

 

The terrine for our starter is cooling on the worktop.

 

Rather worryingly it all seems to be under control.............the chooks are all cleaned out and are munching their way through cabbage leaves ( trimmings from tonight's veggies).

[Olly]

Gammon is done - glazed and roasted as well. Just about to make the bread sauce, and I'm going to prep all the veggies tonight. I've cheated and bought the gravy and cranberry - tomorrow is going to be stress free!

[Willow]

Mary Berry's creamed celeraic was a bit of faffing about as the quantities I made needed to be blended up in batches but tastes wonderful never had it before as I'm not a huge root veg fan but will be making it again.

 

I'd bought a gammon to bake but when I picked up my turkey at Copas yesterday they were selling their large hams for 1/2 price so bought 5kg smoked ham . Used some for lunch today with a friends home made piccalilli and very nice so the gammon has gone into the freezer for another time.

 

I've oven dried bread for stuffing and cut up my onions for the stuffing, it's briefly stopped raiing so I'll go pick sage. Sage and onion always ends up being the favourite so I'm not going to do any fancy stuffings. I had half loaf onion bread on the bread board to use for stuffing but OH used it all for toast and marmalade SO next is wizz the bread in magimix and mix up with onion and sage and put aside for tomorrow.

 

I think I need to go check for the turkey giblets and make the stock for tomorrow's gravy next as well.

 

I don't think I have enough parsnips and sprouts but I can't face Waitrose today it will have to do

 

I'm enjoying pottering around preparing food. Officially I'm not working today but keeping an eye by email on a supplier that's doing some testing for me and just checking every so often he hasn't brought down my clients live site by accident (they did last time they tested and tried to cover up )

[The Dogmother]

I have more or less everything prepped, my legs are tired from standing all day but it's worth it.

[Eggasperated]

My sprouts are still on the plants in the garden - sure I'll get there in the end .

[Olly]

Well at least they'll be fresh!

 

All the veg are peeled, stuffing and gravy (bought) are ready, breadcrumbs made for bread sauce. Was tired but happy - then at midnight my sister announced 'oh, "Ooops, word censored!"ody reminded me to make the baklava'. I asked her for an alternative to Xmas pud, this was her choice and I'm fine with that - but she's sat on her rear most of the day, including a little nap this afternoon because she's so tired, and hasn't made the one thing I asked her to do. 'It only takes an hour' she announced airily. I feel like crying because this means tomorrow she'll be messing up the kitchen, it had better be made early because the turkey is going in at 9:30 and I only have one oven!

 

I'm now seething and can't sleep!

[The Dogmother]

I don't blame you Olly! I wonder if she's related to my sister.... luckily mine doesn't turn up here for christmas as I don't have a ('proper') telly or computer games

 

Spent most of yesterday getting everything ready and filling up the family goodie bags, so was exhausted. Today went fine, no-one died (infirm oldsters) and no-one got killed by my cooking or an intolerant relative

[Olly]

Well there was a fraught hour or two this morning while she made it, baked it (came out of the oven 5 mins after the turkey was supposed to go in) made the syrup to put on top, started it boiling .. and then sat down to eat her breakfast. Kitchen fills with smell of burnt sugar, 'oh my goodness, how did that happen?'.

 

I scrub saucepan while she makes more syrup ... anyway, the baklava was delicious, and we had a lovely lunch and it's been a great day.