Tips for a stress free Christmas

Christmas is a time of coming together, sharing and generosity

But it can also be stressful, with the amount of pressure we can put on ourselves at this busy time of year.

The secret to a great Christmas is planning. A little bit of thought can go a long way to making sure you enjoy Christmas too

Follow these easy steps to your best Christmas ever

1 Write A List 

Knowing who’s coming , what’s on the menu, who’s bringing what - will ensure you’ve got everything covered.

If you write down where everything is coming from it will save you many unnecessary trips to the shops.

Getting your ideas down on paper also frees space in your mind – making you much more relaxed and focused.

2 Plan your Menu - Keep it simple

Don’t use high pressure times to be experimenting with new recipes. Create a menu that you’re comfortable with

We recommend having a menu that doesn’t require lots of items being served hot all at once. Include some recipes that can be prepared in advance – that way you can spend your time with your guests and not slaving in a hot kitchen.

3 Ice Ice Baby

I don’t think any of us have a big enough fridge to handle the demands of Christmas Day.

Knowing what’s on your menu is really going to help;

Do you need to store Seafood? A 5kg leg of ham? Turkey, Pavlova, Fruit platters, bubbles, beer, mineral water?

If you have a big crowd coming, it might be worth hiring a portable coolroom for the day.

If it’s just a small gathering - it’s a good idea to have large tubs and lots of ice on hand – at least to keep drinks out of your fridge.

4 Outsource

When you’re planning, have a think about your strengths, how much you want to do and what you can outsource.

That means saying yes when Auntie Jean offers to bring her famous pavlova, or if your best friend wants to create a centrepiece for your table.

It also means getting to know your local butcher and asking him to bone out your chicken or recommend a good cut of turkey. They may also stock good salt rubs and marinades.

Your fruit & veg shop will help you select the best seasonal produce for your salads, desserts and fruit platters - and most are happy to take pre-orders for easy pick up.

It’s very common in Europe to outsource – from cheese & charcuterie boards, to bread and wine to exquisite desserts.

If you can outsource to friends or quality local producers – that means more time for you to decorate the table or chill the Champagne – and enjoy yourself.

5 That's Rubbish

One very simple trick to alleviate stress when it's time for the clean up, is having a system in place for sorting rubbish. If you have an allocated place for food scraps, glass bottles, recycling etc. It will not only save time at the end, but it encourages everyone to pitch in and help!

And having lots of containers so people can take left overs, or for easy storage is handy too.

6 Don't forget the fun

There are many ways you can inject a bit of fun. Having playlists made and speakers charged can help set the tone. Bonbons with terrible jokes and cheap paper crowns are a must. And don't forget the fun party games we loved as kids - pass the parcel, lucky dips and any other nostalgic favourites.