After watching my mum toil away at the stove year after year, I can only imagine how stressful cooking a big feast can be (apparently it was a necessity to get a turkey big enough to feed the 5000, even though there were only 5 of us sitting down to eat - cue enough turkey soup to last until February). 

I simply refuse to slave over the cooker for 2 hours whilst I baste and stuff the turkey. I love my food but I hate preparing it. So, I’ve devised a quick plan for having a tasty Christmas dinner that keeps me out of the kitchen and allows me to entertain my guests and enjoy quality time with my family.

Get your shopping done early – do not leave your shopping until Christmas Eve! This is a sure fire way of raising the blood pressure. If you normally have a very busy Christmas period then you might want to order the shopping online. Have it delivered to your front door or collect it from your nearest store.

Plan ahead – there’s nothing worse than rushing about on Christmas day trying to get a turkey in the oven whilst preparing your starter and dessert at the same time. If you can prepare your starter the day before that’s one less meal to cook on the day. Here’s an easy starter recipe for Butternut Squash Soup;

Ingredients

- 1 butternut squash, diced

- 1 litres vegetable stock

- 1 tbsp chopped garlic, try ready Gourmet Garden Garlic

- 2 tbsp chopped ginger, try Gourmet Garden Ginger

- 4 tbsp cream, optional for serving

Method

1. Place all ingredients into a saucepan and cover with water.
2. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approx. 15 minutes or until soft and tender.
3. Blend until smooth. Serve with a swirl of cream if desired.

Fail to prepare? Then prepare to fail – prepare as much as you can before D-day, this will prevent any unnecessary meltdowns and food disasters. If you can peel your potatoes, chop your carrots and wrap your sausages in bacon the night before it saves a lot of time and ensures that you avoid any mistakes on the day.

Decorating the table – if you get time the night before or in the morning, make sure that you pay attention to your table spread. If your food fails to impress, at least your table will look pretty! And maybe that will distract your guests from any burnt bits of turkey. Quirky handcrafted decorations are all the rage now so get the kids involved in creating a centrepiece of holly, glittery ribbon and candles with paper streamers on the ceiling. Your guests will be impressed with the effort and homely look.

Get a good night’s sleep – After a night of preparation, you deserve a pat on the back, a relaxing soak and a good night’s kip! Most importantly you need to be well rested before a busy day of cooking and entertaining.