The presents are wrapped, the turkey is in the fridge and the Christmas pudding is ready to be cooked. Now it’s time to think about setting the table and dressing it up with decorations. Getting organized and planning some final flourishes can make a big difference to your stress levels as you get ready to serve. We share 10 easy ways to impress your dinner guests.
Make a list of all the dishes you will serve on the big day. On Christmas Eve, get out all of your large serving platters and mark each one with a post-it note for what you will be serving on each plate. That way you won’t be looking for the gravy boat at dinner time.
2. Move forward
Look out for recipes that can be prepared a day or two in advance. You can blanch carrots and greens, peel and boil potatoes, make stuffing, wrap sausages in bacon and make all your Christmas Eve sauces. Or why not have a few things already prepared and stored in the freezer? We have recipes for Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes that can be made from frozen, giving you time to concentrate on setting the table. For more inspiration, try these 10 classic Christmas recipes you can make ahead.
3. Jazz up store-bought accompaniments
If you don’t have time to make all the dinnerware, store bought can still look beautiful. Pour sauces into beautiful serving bowls, sprinkle cranberry sauce with a little orange peel and stir some melted butter, a few thyme leaves and a little grated nutmeg into the bread sauce. Wrap finished filling balls in half a slice of bacon and skewer with a rosemary stick.
With your oven full and hob space limited, it’s a good idea to choose a cold starter, which can be prepared in advance. A sharing plate of seafood, cold cuts, pâté or a terrine are all great options – try pot prawns, crab cups or ham terrine. Place them on a large wooden board in the middle of the table and let everyone tuck in.
5. Borrow an extra table and cover with a cloth
If you are hosting a large family gathering but your dining table only seats four, create space by borrowing extra tables of the same height. Once the tables are covered with a tablecloth and dressed for dinner, your guests will never know you had to do a patch job.
6. Create homemade envelopes
Creating homemade place settings is a great way to welcome your guests to the table and adds a personal touch. Get the kids to make our cute name cookies or try place name cookies with coconut and cinnamon.