A mother from Hertfordshire has shared her secret to a completely relaxed Christmas Day: having the entire festive dinner prepared, cooked, and frozen a full month in advance. Claire Gillies, 47, from Harpenden, says this clever strategy saves her a precious three hours in the kitchen on December 25th, allowing her to join in the family fun.
The 18-Year Tradition That Transformed Christmas
Claire has been honing this make-ahead method for an impressive 18 years. Her journey began out of frustration at missing the celebrations. "I used to be that mum stuck in the kitchen while everyone else was laughing and opening presents," she recalled. "I thought, this is ridiculous, I'm missing the fun part of Christmas." Her solution was simple but revolutionary: tackle one element of the feast each week throughout November, freezing it as she goes.
By the start of December, her chest freezer is stocked with everything except the fresh meat. "When you do one thing a week, it doesn't feel like hard work," Claire explained. This phased approach also makes the cost manageable, spreading a total spend of just £65.55 over six weeks. For a family of six, this provides a lavish dinner with plentiful leftovers for Boxing Day.
A Step-by-Step Guide to a Stress-Free Feast
Claire's process is meticulous. She begins shopping in November, prepping and cooking components weekly. Her advanced preparations include:
- Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, and parsnips are peeled, part-boiled, and frozen. On the day, they go straight into the oven from frozen.
- Trimmings: She makes her own sausage rolls, cranberry sauce, mincemeat, and even pigs in blankets stuffed with brie and cranberry.
- Gravy: Made from scratch using vegetable peelings weeks ahead to avoid messy splatters on Christmas Day.
- Desserts: Mince pies are assembled and frozen on trays, ready to bake if guests pop round unexpectedly.
"The only things I wash on the day are the oven tray. No pans, no mess, no piles of dishes, it's bliss," said Claire, who runs a family meal-plan business called Delicious and Real and works as a part-time teacher.
Reclaiming the Joy of Christmas Morning
The real benefit, Claire insists, is the priceless gift of time. Christmas Day now involves a proper breakfast, present-opening with her husband Rob, 51, daughter Evie, 18, and son Sam, 15, and a family dog walk. Upon returning, she simply defrosts the pre-prepared feast and cooks the fresh turkey and ham, purchased two weeks prior and frozen. The entire meal is ready in about an hour.
"Christmas should be about enjoying time together, not scrubbing pots and pans," Claire stated. "By getting it all done early, I can actually enjoy the day instead of stressing." Her method proves that with some forward planning, the cook can step out of the kitchen and into the heart of the festive celebrations.
