Countdown
Christmas always creeps up quicker than you think, so get organised and prep in advance. Here's a list of what to do and when to do it:
1 month to go: Order your turkey or goose
Decide which you want or, if cooking a whole bird is a bit daunting, to choose a beautiful free-range turkey joint. If you're after something different to roast this year, decide what other kind of meat to have and tell your butcher, so he'll have a nice piece set aside for you.
3 weeks to go: Body count
Find out who is coming, then plan the menu and assign everyone a job so they know well in advance what they're responsible for. Check your cupboards and make sure you've got everything you need - enough tableware, boards for carving and serving, and plenty of chairs.
2 weeks to go: Booze
Shopping online for your wine, spirits and mixers is a real time-saver. You don't want to be rushing out for last-minute prosecco or tonic - or worse, running out of it. Have a quick check to make sure you've got enough glasses to go round, too - prosecco in a china mug doesn't have quite the same charm!
Up to 1 week: Gravy & the rest
Jamie's best get-ahead gravy is another thing you can get done in advance. Finalise the rest of the menu, write your shopping list and place any last-minute orders. Remind everyone about their jobs so they've got no excuse to turn up empty‐handed.
2 days to go: Do the big food shop
Unless you've ordered everything in, there's no way around this. Make sure you have a list, take a deep breath and brave the supermarket.
1 day to go: Start cooking
If you're having goose, make it now, and get ahead by making your flavoured butter for this goose. You may as well get as many of the veg prepped as you can too. Provided you cover them with tin foil and have somewhere cool to store them (like a garage), you can reheat them to piping hot the next day.
The big day
Start your turkey and roast spuds. Have a checklist - it's easy to forget things. Make sure everyone is on track with their task, then leave them to get on with it. If you haven't already, put someone on drinks duty - getting glasses, opening wine and, most importantly, pouring you a glass of fizz. Have an amazing day!
