'Simple' Christmas dinner veggies prep leaves more time for 'sipping champagne'
There are so many different things to remember if you're the designated Christmas dinner chef, so why not make things a little easier and do some prep before?
That way, according to Clare, who posts on TikTok as @deliciousandreal, you'll have more time to be "sipping champagne and eating canapés" – rather than being the only family member sweating in the kitchen.
"Why not get all the Christmas peeling and chopping out of the way now?" the savvy home chef explained, sharing it can be done sooner rather than later to make things easier for you on December 25.
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She continued: "It's one of the most time-consuming parts of Christmas dinner and leads to multiple pans to wash up afterwards. For my carrots and parsnips, I've peeled, chopped, and parboiled them.
"I then arranged them on a tray and froze. Once frozen, I transferred them to freezer bags. On Christmas Day, you can cook them from frozen in hot oil."
Clare said she likes to add some "honey and herbs" to hers for a little bit of pizazz to the festive dinner - but you can use whatever you like.
In the caption of the video, she also highlighted: "A little prep now means that you can spread the cost of Christmas dinner and save yourself time and effort over the festive period."
She explained you'll need 600g carrots and 600g parsnips, 30g of butter, and three tablespoons of runny honey. She also gave a blow-by-blow account about what you're supposed to do with the carrots and parsnips to ensure a hassle-free Christmas.
Clare wrote: "1. Put the carrots and parsnips into a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. 2. Boil for 6 minutes and then drain in a colander and leave to steam-dry for a few minutes. 3. Lay out in a single layer on a baking tray to dry out and cool completely. 4. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours, then put in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months."
When it's December 25, and you're ready to cook the carrots and parsnips, Clare said: "1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2. Place the butter and honey on a large baking tray or in a roasting tin and heat in the oven for 5 minutes. 3. Tip the frozen veg into the tray and baste in the honey and butter. 4. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Roast for 30 minutes."
It should make Christmas that little bit easier, and it'll give you more time to focus on the turkey that's cooking in the oven. Just sure you don't burn it...
