My Christmas menu

For me, Christmas is all about family, food & fun times.  It is my favourite time of the year when I get to crank up the Christmas carols, act goofy and enjoy seeing my children's excited little faces when they wake up in the morning. 

I am from an Italian family and grew up having a hot Christmas lunch but lately we have moved to a cold lunch with lots of meats and salads.  This year I aim to have most things prepared ahead of time so I can sit back, relax and hang with my kids instead of spending all morning in the kitchen. 

You probably have your Christmas menu planned by now but I still thought I would share mine with you in case you needed some ideas. We keep it very simple and tasty.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

• Leg of ham.  This can be sliced up the day before and wrapped in a damp tea towel and kept in the fridge.

• Roast chickens with stuffing. I cook them on Christmas eve and carve them up and stored in airtight container.  Of course, you can buy them already cooked and make it even easier but you might want to order them in case they sell out. 

• Roast turkey. Cook the day before too & slice & keep in airtight container.

• A tray of lasagne.  I have to stay true to my heritage and my folks are visiting so it just feels right to have lasagne on Christmas day. I will make this earlier in the week and pop into the oven on Christmas day. 

• Garlic bread.  Make ahead (with baguette and garlic butter) and wrap in foil & keep in the fridge.  I will cook this with the lasagne on Christmas day. 

• Roast pumpkin salad. I'll roast the pumpkin the day before and keep in the fridge so on Christmas day, I can just throw the salad ingredients together. 

• Warm potato salad.  I will make this the day before and warm up in the microwave on Christmas day. 

• Salad stick platter (for the kids).  I'll chop up carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes etc and wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in an airtight container to keep them crunchy.

DESSERT

• Warm Christmas pudding with ice cream & custard. I have already made the pudding and it is sitting in my fridge just waiting to be devoured.

• Chocolate balls.  I have already made these and kept them in the freezer.

• Fruit cake. Make ahead and although it won't be eaten for dessert, we can nibble on it all day long.

So all I have to do on Christmas day is pop the lasagne & garlic bread into the oven, make the roast pumpkin salad & put the food on platters - DONE!!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas day and don't spend too much time in the kitchen.