With a little careful maneuvering, we can still celebrate in style.
Why planning is key
- Planning saves you money. You avoid the bewitching hour on Christmas Eve when it’s all buy, buy, buy (yet you still come home missing half of what you need!).
- It gives you a chance to watch out for bargains and stock up as they appear. Lots of foods can be frozen, so it’s often ok to buy a couple of weeks ahead if you spot something that’s good value.
- And you don’t blow the budget on those last minute ‘must haves’ that cost double the amount in the deli when the supermarket runs out of stock.
So what to cook for the big day?
We like to stay traditional at Christmas. Turkey is excellent value for what you get, and if you plan it right, you can prepare several delicious meals from one generously sized bird.It’s tempting to panic over the preparation, but Christmas dinner is really just a jazzed up roast. And what’s so complicated about that?
So don’t feel you should buy all the expensive stuff just because it's got red sparkly packaging on it for Christmas. With a nice tender bird, a selection of warm winter vegetables and the right stock and seasoning, you’re almost there with the perfect Christmas meal.
What should you be thinking about now?
- If you’re ordering a bird, do it now, and negotiate the best price where possible.
- Or consider a frozen one from Lidl or Aldi – they’re very reasonably priced.
- If you have a supermarket loyalty card, this is a good time to see what you can retrieve against your points.
- Keep your eyes peeled for festive season specials - they’re lining the supermarket shelves throughout December. Checking online before you go shopping can help you find out exactly what’s on offer.
- Try www.tesco.ie for half price offers, www.dunnesstores.ie for weekly December specials, www.aldi.ie for ‘Aldi Super 6’ fresh fruit and vegetable offers, www.lidl.ie for specials on wines and frozen food, www.superquinn.ie for fresh meat joints and 2 for 1s, and www.supervalu.ie for its special offers leaflet which you can download.
The glamorous roast
For the best way to prepare a sumptuous turkey and gravy roast, Marco Pierre White’s simple video and recipe here makes it just about as easy as it gets.For a glamorous roasted winter vegetable dish, include some varieties you may not always think of. Do you know how delicious roasted beetroot is? Or that throwing in some heads of garlic and including whole onions adds panache to a selection of potatoes, parsnips and carrots? And they’re all great value right now.
But don’t forget the seasonal Brussels sprouts - no Christmas would be complete without them!
Leftovers - ingredients for more slap up meals
With a little thought you may get two or three main meals for the family with leftovers from Christmas day.Try using some of our tasty recipes here - the chicken dishes can just as easily be made with turkey.
Brussels sprouts are ideal for a lovely, warming bubble and squeak. Enjoy it on its own, or team it up with turkey and add some cranberry on the side.
Time to be creative
It may be a shoestring job this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without the little extras that make Christmas so exciting.- Decorating the tree and house doesn’t have to cost the earth. The Two Euro shops have plenty of pretty trinkets, and shops like Ikea offer brilliant value on packs of decorations. Or make them at home by gathering pine cones and spraying them with gold or silver paint (available at any good hardware store).
- There’s no need to buy expensive flowers. Natural foliage comes free – so next time you take a walk, look out for red berries on trees common at this time of year. A few small cuttings in an attractive bowl make a lovely table centerpiece.
- Colourful Poinsettia plants are being sold for a few euro everywhere – wrap the pots in some decorative tissue paper or a layer of bright chintzy fabric.
- Flavoured tap water in a glass jug can be a great alternative to soft drinks or bottled water (not to mention easier on your pocket!). Add either freshly squeezed lemon (or lime), some sprigs of mint, slices of cucumber or small pieces of fruit. Or try your hand at making a traditional lemonade.
Close to the big day
- Don’t forget – start defrosting your turkey at least one day before the 25th, if not two.
- This means having a space large enough for it in the fridge, so you’ll be glad you’ve done ‘the big fridge clean out’ in the weeks before (you have, haven’t you?).
- Get your fresh vegetables two or three days in advance, removing any plastic and storing them in a cool place. If your schedule is going to be tight on Christmas Day, do the cleaning and chopping on Christmas Eve and keep them wrapped in kitchen paper in airtight containers in the fridge.
And remember - Christmas is a time for families to do things together, not for you to slave over a hot stove - alone! There are so many little jobs to cover that even the younger ones can join in.
Have a very merry Christmas, from all the team at www.knorrsoups.ie!