Top 10 Christmas cooking cheats

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 12:02PM, 19 December 2011 by Sarah Sysum - Assistant editor, Easy Cook magazine

I love Christmas, even buying presents, which as we all know basically involves standing in a shop and having your ribs decimated by elbows. However one thing that sends me into a massive panic is the idea of having to cook everything from scratch. We all lead such busy lives these days that this year I decided I'd rather stay sane and use a few ready-made items. So after taste testing my way through over 200 products for Good Food and Easy Cook magazines here are my top tips...

Buy your mince pies - most cheap pies taste great when warmed through and a dusting of icing sugar works wonders. Do check the use-by date though; I've been caught out in the past with pies that expire on the 23rd.

Forget last minute cake making - even at this late stage there's still plenty of choice in the supermarkets. I've come to the conclusion you either buy something you wouldn't have a hope of being able to decorate yourself and own up or buy an un-iced cake, decorate with some cut out stars from ready-made rolled icing and pass it off as your own.

Buy party food - there's lots of great stuff out there, which most of us would never make ourselves. This year pork crackling straws, mini ham hock pies and tuna tataki all caught my eye. If I tried recreating any of these at home I'd be a nervous wreck. Heat, serve and enjoy the party.

Make a quick cranberry sauce - if you do have the time, it's lovely to make your own sauce but nobody is going to judge you if you don't. We found many jars of cranberry sauce were very sweet though so to counteract this heat a few frozen cranberries gently and cook until soft. Then add a jar of good, shop-bought cranberry sauce. Trust me, I've passed this off as my own on many occasions.

Use frozen veg - the quality of ready-prepared frozen veg has really improved in recent years. Apart from saving waste you save huge amounts of time. No longer do you have to prepare a mountain of sprouts or peel umpteen parsnips. The veg is fresher and sweeter too. My top pick? Frozen red cabbage with Bramley apple.

Buy a Christmas pud - given the fuss caused by 'that' hidden orange pudding last year I'm not sure anybody makes their own anymore. And it's too late now anyway, so buy the best you can find. From experience I've found those made with beef suet have the best flavour and always steam, never microwave (one shortcut I don't do).

OK so my secret's out now, Happy Christmas, who's for a 'homemade' mince pie?'

Do you agree with Sarah's quick cheats or are you a slave to tradition? Let us know your top tips for Christmas cheating below and check out our quick Christmas recipes collection for more ideas.

Comments

puffpie

21 December 2011, 6:53AM
puffpie

I know the other way of making cranberry sauce. But its not so quick as yours.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
DreamingAloud

21 December 2011, 9:57AM
DreamingAloud

Totally agree with all these suggestions - except the frozen veg. I don't think roasting some veggies is particularly difficult or time consuming, and I'd rather do that than, say, make my own stuffing.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Fatface

21 December 2011, 7:35PM
Fatface

I wouldn't say I was "a slave" to tradition, this is a choice. I make my own cakes and pudding (pretty much the same mixture but with additions), use the Unbelievably Easy Mince pies from this site (I had to make 2 batches *before* Christmas as my 'test panel' neighbours loved them so much they took 2 home each in addition to the ones they ate with a cuppa! As it is traditional in many Yorkshire homes to have stand pie (pork pie) for breakfast on Christmas morning, I make that too, it's much, much easier than you'd think. Of course I have the luxury of being at home all day with no children to care for. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful Christmas and Hannukah :)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
janetbudden

24 December 2011, 4:03AM
janetbudden

Why would a magazine devoted to good food advocate buying convenience food? Of course we still make our own cakes and puddings, of course we don't use frozen vegetables and if we did we wouldn't buy foodie magazines. My tip? Freeze your par-boiled potatoes and roast from frozen, always excellent.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason: