Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration, but for many it becomes a stressful marathon of cooking and cleaning. Suzanne Mulholland, known as The Batch Lady, experienced this firsthand when she found herself in tears on Christmas Day, declaring she hated the festive season.
The Christmas Breakdown That Changed Everything
When her children were five and three years old, at that magical Santa-believing age, Mulholland spent most of Christmas Day trapped in the kitchen. I cooked and cleaned, and by the time we put the kids to bed and sat down, I burst into tears, declaring 'I hate Christmas!' she recalls. The experience left her feeling like staff on duty rather than part of the family celebration.
This emotional low point became the catalyst for developing a comprehensive plan to get everything done well in advance. I've since worked out a plan to get everything done well in advance so I can actually relax and enjoy myself she explains. Her system involves preparing and freezing numerous Christmas dishes weeks before the big day.
The Ultimate Make-Ahead Christmas Feast
Mulholland's approach covers every aspect of the traditional Christmas meal, with detailed instructions for preparing components ahead of time. Her turkey method involves preparing and stuffing the bird up to two days in advance. Covering the legs in foil will stop the meat from drying out she advises, recommending a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the breast reaches 75°C.
Her turkey timings are precise: for birds over 4kg, cook 20 minutes per kg plus 90 minutes; for smaller turkeys under 4kg, cook 20 minutes per kg plus 70 minutes. The preparation takes just 10-15 minutes and involves placing soft butter under the skin to keep the breast moist.
Gravy You Can Make in November
Recognising that gravy is such a faff to make on Christmas Day, Mulholland provides a simple make-ahead method using chicken wings, vegetables, and seasonings. The gravy cooks for one hour in the oven before being strained and frozen flat in labelled freezer bags. It serves 6-8 people and takes only 15 minutes of active preparation time.
For the popular pigs in blankets, she suggests wrapping chipolatas or cocktail sausages in streaky bacon, then freezing them ready to cook from frozen. They take just 5 minutes to prepare and 15-20 minutes to cook in a 180°C oven.
Vegetables and Sides Prepared Weeks Ahead
Mulholland's system includes preparing carrots, parsnips, and even Brussels sprouts well in advance. Making carrots and parsnips on Christmas Day is not on my agenda she states firmly. Her method involves boiling batons for 6-7 minutes, coating them in goose fat or olive oil, then flash-freezing before bagging.
Her shredded sprouts with pancetta convert even the most adamant sprout haters and can be frozen after cooking, then reheated on Christmas Day. Similarly, her mulled red cabbage with fennel seeds and apples can be cooked, cooled, and frozen weeks beforehand.
Desserts and Extras for the Perfect Finish
No Christmas meal would be complete without mince pies and cranberry sauce. Mulholland's mince pies use pre-rolled shortcrust pastry and take just 15 minutes to prepare before freezing. Her cranberry and port sauce, which she claims tops any store-bought version, combines frozen cranberries with orange juice, port, and apple.
For those wanting a lighter dessert alternative to Christmas pudding, she offers a refreshing cranberry and pomegranate sorbet that freezes beautifully and serves 4-6 people.
Bonus Recipes for the Festive Run-Up
Recognising that the entire December period can be overwhelming, Mulholland includes grab-and-cook freezer meals for busy nights. These include a coconut butternut squash curry, pulled white chicken chilli, and a comforting haddock and spinach bake.
People say: 'It's just one day!' But if you're the person organising party outfits, buying Secret Santa gifts and baking for the school fair you'll know that's not true she notes, understanding the broader pressures of the festive season.
All recipes are extracted from her book, The Batch Lady Saves Christmas, published by Ebury Press at £25. With her comprehensive system, Mulholland proves that with proper planning, everyone can enjoy a stress-free Christmas filled with delicious food and precious family time.
