A stress free Christmas feast

Growing up, we always had the traditional Christmas cooked lunch, no matter whether it was 20°C or 40°C. But these days for me Christmas is all about fun with the kids, laughing with family and friends, and enjoying fresh, delicious food.

But when it comes to the Christmas feast, it doesn’t matter whether you are cooking for a few or a whole tribe, it can be extremely daunting. But I learnt it doesn’t need to be that hard or stressful.

As I see it, when it comes to planning and cooking for Christmas day, I can either spend weeks preparing and all of Christmas day in the kitchen (ignoring the children’s requests for batteries and assistance to assemble the latest gadget) or …

Relax with a glass of champagne, dodging the toy helicopter hovering above while my ankles get battered by the remote control car below.

Not a hard choice really!

The best Christmas lunch we have ever had, (and when I say best, I mean most delicious and most enjoyable) was last year.

For entree, we bought lots of cooked prawns, already peeled by our wonderful fishmonger Phil, and served them with a Mango and Avocado Salad. It took less than 10 minutes to throw together and was perfect served with champagne and my favourite Sauvignon Blanc from Shaw and Smith.

For the main fare, it was sliced ham off the bone and a couple of Juicy Roast Chickens. Served with a deliciously fresh Haloumi and Watermelon Salad and an Orange and Fennel Salad, both salads ooze summer and are ridiculously quick to prepare.

And for dessert an ice cream Christmas pudding.

So there you have it. A Christmas feast ready in moments.

We are all busy and want quick, healthy and delicious meals. Thoughts of planning the Christmas feast shouldn’t drag us down.

Christmas means relaxing in the sun, laughing with family and friends and sharing fresh, delicious food without the stress.

And my final thoughts on the Christmas feast, ‘what to do with the leftovers’? Surely I can’t be the only one who cooks way too much for Christmas day. Don’t serve up Christmas lunch again the next day. Transform those leftovers into fresh delicious meals that no one will guess are making an encore.

Some great ideas are: Quinoa salad (using leftover pumpkin) or Pork san choi bow (using leftover pork) or why not try delicious Vietnamese prawn rice paper rolls (using leftover prawns) or a very simple Barbecued chicken Pizza (using leftover chicken).

Do you have any leftover ideas? Please SHARE in the comments below.

Images: supplied.

16 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 24 Nov 2021
    12:44 pm
That Christms pudding looks awesome.
I will admit that I cook up a storm but I love it and then I just dont cook for a couple of weeks as we eat all the left overs.

- - ella12 said
  - 05 Jan 2016
    4:48 pm
Some gorgeous delightful food right there.

- - mom64736 said
  - 04 Jan 2016
    12:37 am
Honestly, I think Xmas will always be a stressful time of year. I do think serving simple foods makes it easier. I prefer to do cold cuts, seafood and one or two simple salad/veggies dishes.

- - linaianna said
  - 31 Dec 2015
    12:05 am
Great menu thanks for sharing

- - rovermum said
  - 21 Dec 2015
    10:41 am
We all contribute something of our choice or asking no matter whose house we’re visiting for Christmas. My sister provides the meat that Mum loves to cook, Mum always provides the ham and trifle, I always do the pav and provide the pudding. The host tends to add their own twist. We’re all happy. No stress. Just the way we like it. It’s more about the people, and less about the food, I say!

- - rachelvk said
  - 21 Dec 2015
    10:27 am
What a great menu! Very festive but so suited to an Aussie Christmas. I’m definitely adding an Ice Cream Christmas pudding to our Christmas menu.

- - mom134803 said
  - 20 Dec 2015
    1:17 pm
I love simple and easy as well. Often I do a roast, a salad and a cheese fruit platter. Left over roast meat I most of the time put in portions in the freezer, left over roast veggies go into a soup and left over cheese goes back into the fridge and will be eaten on sandwiches or snack. Left over fruit might go into a smoothie…if there’s left over

- - mum888 said
  - 20 Dec 2015
    12:29 pm
Someone always brings prawns around Xmas and it is simply the easiest and quickest to prepare. Even if you put a plate of them cooked and unpeeled and surrounded by variety of dipping sauces, it is only minutes to prepare and people can peel and dip as they eat. Just remember to have a bin or bags plates for shells and careful of any seafood allergies if there are any . It is a bit of a splurge but Xmas only happens once a year and it is worth the effort to have them at any table .

- - mom94125 said
  - 19 Dec 2015
    5:49 pm
i think that simple can be great. no need to spend a fortune on feeding people. I try not to stress about it and serve another round of drinks if you are delayed in the kitchen.

- - mom101628 said
  - 18 Dec 2015
    10:45 pm
The more preparation before the day, then the easier the day, no matter what fare is provided.

- - mom74640 said
  - 18 Dec 2015
    10:08 am
Like he

- - mom93821 said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    9:50 pm
Love the look of the ice cream Christmas pudding – I would love it.

- - mom90758 said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    3:02 pm
Your menu looks amazing!!!
If I have leftover turkey I generally make sandwiches the day after, with cranberry sauce and brie.
- mom93821 replied
  
  18 Dec 2015 , 6:29 am
  I love this sandwich too – the brie just lifts this sandwich.
- - mom165081 said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    1:45 pm
Ice cream puddings are delicious. Fantastic ideas! Thanks.

- - mom74640 said
  - 17 Dec 2015
    11:11 am
Like jd