Plan for success

THIS week it’s all about the planning. A few hours planning now will mean you are rewarded at Christmas with a smooth stress-free day.

I am a big believer in sketching out a clear plan ahead of the big day, including your shopping list, food prep, make-ahead dishes and decorating theme.

Personally, I am more of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas, but a more modern and contemporary twist can be just as much fun. Whatever your theme, I can’t stress enough that planning is the key.

Plan your menu with your guests in mind and understand who you’re cooking for. Are there any vegetarians in the group? Does Steve have any favourite dishes? Will Mum bring her famous ham? These are all things to consider when planning out your dinner.

This week is not the time to start buying your fresh food items, but you should start to research all your recipes. Are you trying out a new dish this year? Give the recipe a trial run and see if it’s a hit with your friends and family.

Advance recipe testing is a great way to determine where you will purchase your ingredients. Creating a menu around one or two showstopping dishes is always a great place to start.

I love a nice big bone-in ham, pork or a beautiful turkey centrepiece. Seafood is also a crowd pleaser for a warm

Aussie Christmas.

Now, your sides should complement your main dishes. Rule of thumb is to think about two to three side dishes that will work well with the main protein selections.

Once your menu has been decided you now have a clear direction of what you need to shop for. Create your shopping list and set your budget.

Some of the big ticket protein items such as your ham, pork, turkey and seafood can be ordered ahead of time, which can help alleviate stress. Where possible I like to try to ensure everything is locally sourced.

I’ll admit I’m a bit of a showoff, so I prefer bone-in selections for the theatrics of carving at the table, but for those who are low on oven space, boneless is a great compromise.

Don’t get caught out ordering too large a leg or bird! Make note of your oven capacity and calculate in advance to make sure everything fits.

If you are low on oven space, the barbie can always be used to cook a turkey and glaze a ham. The barbecue with an oven hood can give you a greater roasting capacity.

Christmas for many can be a really stressful and busy time. Give yourself the present of a hassle-free Christmas by starting now!