We all lead busy lives - and it's not always possible to make everything we eat from scratch; but I make an exception for Christmas.

Here is a list of what I always make myself.

Cranberry Sauce.
Apple Sauce.
Chestnut stuffing
Christmas Pudding.
Mince pies (including the mincemeat)*
Christmas Cake.

Most of these can be made in advance.

*Mince pies freeze fantastically well - come Christmas remove from freezer, brush with milk or beaten egg and they're ready for the oven.

I always make cranberry sauce. If people knew how easy it was, they would too!

And the difference in taste between home made and commercial must be tasted to be believed.

Yeah, and it tends to get used up quickly, unlike the bought stuff which ends up going mouldy in the back of the fridge.

In its simplest form it's just cranberries, water and sugar, and even that tastes great! And it's so easy to fancy it up a bit.

Like zesting and juicing an orange and adding that to the mix.

Most supermarkets have cranberries on offer before Christmas - 2 for 1 etc.

They freeze superbly - ready to be turned into a delicious cranberry suace.

Give it a try.

I have!

I'm put it charge of the roast potatos, does that count?

(I'm very impressed by the way Ignazio, you're racking up those brownie points!).

I love watching cookery shows, but I wish I could cook more myself

My talents lie elsewhere.

Ooh I think I might try making cranberry sauce, never even thought about that one tbh. My fav things to make at xmas are: chocolate orange roulade (too much hassle for the rest of the year), chocolate marble bread and my signature (ooh get me!) cranberry n sausagemeat and sage n onion pinwheel stuffing slices.

Will you send me a Christmas care package please?

I used to cook, but found it a little too tiresome to continue.
. :sleep:

I started a Christmassy food thread a while back: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...christmas+food

Maybe the mods can merge our threads so all our ideas, preferences and recipes are in the same place?

Have asked them to merge the threads.

We all know what they are!

The roasties are a very important part of Christmas dinner so yes you can join the Christmas Club.

Do you roast them in goose fat - lethal I know but once a year we can all indulge. If I have vegetarians round I make two lots; one with fat and one with oil.

I love cooking - find it therapeutic, though not everything turns out as it should.

Me too

I am hosting a big family xmas this year so after years of opting for M and S bought goodies I am digging out all my old recipes.

Chocolate log, Xmas cake, xmas pudding, mince pies (with home made mincemeat,stuffing mixtures, coleslaw for xmas tea. and dundee cake for New year.

I haven't made cranberry sauce before as in this house it only gets used on xmas day but I may give it a go. Maybe they will eat more of it if it is as good as you guys say.

Recipe anyone please?

Juice and zest of 1 large orange
350 gms cranberries
175 gms sugar
Small glass of port (optional)

Dissolve sugar in orange juice and port over a medium heat; add washed cranberries and orange zest, simmer for about 8 mins. until the fruit starts to pop and the liquid is reduced.

Remove from heat and cool. That's it.

Oh thanks , blimey that is as much work as lifting it off the shelf. I will definately make that. How long does it keep?

It keeps well in the fridge. I make what I think is enough for Christmas Day, Boxing day through to New Year - but it's so popular I usually have to make another lot before New Year.

I've already had the fruited spirits going for a month or so.

Gingered Brandy
Cherry Brandy
Bramble Brandy
Sloe Gin
Cherry Vodka.

Ther recipe said that he cherries from the cherry vodka had to be removed after a month, they made a very 'nice grown' up topping for luxury vanilla ice cream.

Mincemeat, cake and pudding will be made over half term.

Sounds great - don't know whether to invite myself round to twingle's or yours for Christmas.

I try to make as much as possible for Christmas, as OH does the xmas dinner
I make my mincemeat for the pies
light fruit cake
chocolate yule log
my own sweets, truffles, after dinner mints, coconut clusters, chocolate ginger, various chocolate dipped nuts and fruits, petit fours and sometimes liquers.
used to do the xmas pud but no one now wants that after a heavy dinner, so I usually do panna cotta with a fruit coulis.
traditional sherry trifle
various stuffings
sausage rolls
cheese straws (my fav) they don't normally last long as I eat them hot out of the oven,
cranberry sauce but for a xmas turkey I usually add a good pinch of mixed spices to it, gives it a sort of mulled wine flavour.
Theres lots more but I can't think of it all. we usually cater for about 16 for xmas eve, xmas day, then we take any leftovers to brother in laws and they do the boxing day food. Christmas is a real busy time for me but I love it.

We always make cranberry chutney and homemade pickled onions for boxing day

Goats cheese and cranberry parcels. Easy to mae and a scrummy nibble bit.

Home Made Mincemeat

I always use Delia's recipoe for my mincemeat, but it has to be put in a very low oven gas MK 1/2 (half). would I be able to do this in a slow cooker if it was left on low? Anyone tried it or have a recipe for mincmeat made in a slow cooker/crockpot?

My mum does everything from scratch although the older I have got the more I have helped out. I used to just do the cake but now I miss the cake wishing part and just do Mince pies on Christmas eve and help out with other bits on Christmas day. Usually, peeling, chopping, topping up drinksing etc.