Brought to you by Bord Gáis Energy.
Christmas dinner is the best meal of the year.
Don’t even try to argue with me, it’s a fact. The stuffing, the cranberry sauce, the pigs in blankets, I could go on and on.
While Christmas dinner is without a doubt one of the tastiest meals of the year, it is also probably one of the hardest to prepare. There’s just so many elements to look after.
How long does it take to cook a turkey? Should you cook the roasties before or after the carrots?
If you’re breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about cooking your festive feast this year then fear not because we have constructed the ultimate Christmas dinner timeline to help keep you on track.
This guide will have your dinner ready at roughly 3pm depending on the size of your turkey.
Happy cooking!
9am
Wake up, put the Christmas tunes on and get the turkey out of the fridge. Pop some fizz into the empty fridge space and get yourself a Terry’s Chocolate Orange for breakfast.
9.45am
Turn the oven on to 180 degrees (gas mark 4). Unwrap a few presents and then swiftly send Snapchats of them to all your friends so they can be green with jealousy.
10am
It’s go-time! Cover your bird with foil and put it in the oven. Cook for 40 mins per kilo for the first 4kg then 45 minutes for every kg after. Prep your veg, have a glass of prosecco and demolish a box of Roses while watching The Muppet Christmas Carol.
12.45pm
Finish said bottle of prosecco and have a creep on social media to see what presents everyone got. Open another box of sweets.
1pm
Take the foil off the turkey and turn up the oven to 200 degrees (gas mark 6). Glaze the turkey and finish cooking in the oven. Now is probably a good time to actually pry yourself out of your Christmas pjs and put on some real clothes. Don’t worry you will be getting straight back into them after dinner.
1.25pm
Check that the turkey is cooked and take it out to rest. Put the stuffing, potatoes and veg in the oven. Make a few courtesy calls to relatives, set the table and start arguing with your family about the best way to cook the sprouts.
2.30pm
Check what vegetables in the oven are done. Boil the rest of the vegetables on the hob. Start making the gravy. Get mild anxiety that the dinner is all going to go tits up. Have another glass of prosecco.
2.50pm
Make sure the plates and all the vegetables are warm. Carve the turkey and start plating up. Silently watch everyone receive their plates to make sure that no one is horrified by your alternative roast parsnips.
3.00pm
Pull the crackers, put on a silly paper hat and eat to your heart’s content. Frequently mention throughout the meal what a stellar job you did preparing it all before asking each person individually if they are enjoying their dinner. Unbutton the top button of your jeans, desperately attempt to avoid any awkward conversation topics while your gran is at the table and get excited for dessert and the Harry Potter movie that is on later.
This article is brought to you by Bord Gáis Energy.
Bord Gáis Energy want to make your Christmas easier. As part of their 2016 Christmas campaign, they are giving customers who switch to Bord Gáis Energy a €100 switching gift back off their bill. That’s €100 you could spend on presents, decorations, or maybe even the January sales.
