Christmas Dinner

Christmas Dinner

The key to cooking a Christmas dinner is getting the timings right. Our top tip is to set alarms on your phones for the different stages so you don't overcook anything!

Charlotte's score out of 5

Taste: Simplicity: Cost:

Ingredients

• Small whole chicken (to serve 4-5 people - or for you throughout the week!)
• Yorkshire puddings
• Stuffing balls (store-bought or, if homemade, a packet mix of stuffing)
• Pigs in blankets (store-bought or, if homemade, sausages and bacon)
• Cranberry sauce (optional)
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Broccoli
• Honey
• Olive oil and vegetable oil
• Salt, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, mixed herbs, and onion powder
• Potatoes (5-6 potatoes)
• Gravy granules

Method

Prep

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

Preparing vegetables

1. Peel and cut carrots and parsnips into batons.
2. Put them into a bowl with a splash of olive oil, a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of each: thyme, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets and wash thoroughly in a sieve.
4. Set aside in a pot of water to be cooked later.
5. Peel and half (or quarter) the potatoes, depending on the size and put them into a saucepan of water with a sprinkle of salt.

Optional - if you're making your own pigs in blankets and stuffing

1. Pigs in blankets: Wrap your sausages in bacon and set aside on a baking tray for later
2. Stuffing: If you're using box stuffing, follow the packet instructions and roll into balls. Place them on the same baking tray as the pigs in blankets.

Cooking Schedule

Chicken (2 hours)

1. Season the chicken by rubbing the skin with olive oil and a teaspoon of onion powder, garlic powder, mixed herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
2. Place on a baking tray
3. Put it in the oven to roast for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Roast Potatoes (1 hour)

1. Boil the potatoes for 10 minutes.
2. While the potatoes boil, put a thin layer of vegetable oil in a baking tray and put it in the oven to heat whilst the potatoes are boiling.
3. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add a lid and shake the potatoes to roughen the edges to fluff them up.
4. Now add the potatoes to the tray of hot oil, then roast for 45-55 minutes. Turn them halfway through - take care in this step as the oil is really hot and could splash.

Roasted Vegetables (45 minutes)

1. Put the carrots and parsnips that have been marinating onto a tray and roast them for 35-40 minutes.

Stuffing and Pigs in Blankets (25 minutes)

1. Place the prepared stuffing balls and pigs in blankets onto the tray of carrots and parsnips and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Broccoli (10 minutes)

1. Put the broccoli on the boil for 8-10 minutes and then drain

Yorkshire pudding and gravy (in the last 10 minutes)

1. Put your Yorkshire puddings on a tray and place it in the oven as per the packet instructions
2. Add gravy granules into a jug, add boiled water and stir regularly. (Use the instructions on the gravy pot for quantities.)

Now it's time to serve!

Remove everything from the oven and put it together on your plate. Top it all off with your gravy and sauces, and enjoy!