Look Ma, I've roasted a turkey

Originally published in New Woman

By Alex May

Do you remember when Christmas Day was so exciting that you couldn't sleep a wink on Christmas Eve?

Wouldn't you like to make Christmas that much fun again? Now, we're not playing silly buggers here but hosting Christmas celebrations at your own place can be fun. Cooking Christmas dinner for your nearest and dearest can be deeply rewarding. Why?

1. There' s nothing like pretending you are Nigella Lawson, even if it is only for one day.
2. Your parents will be on their very best bahvior because they are so glad they don't have to do it this year.
3. Grateful relatives should offer to the washing up - and if they don't, you're perfectly within your rights to guilt them into it.

SETTING THE SCENE

You want to wow people with your table. Keep the settings simple. Two plates - one for salad, one for hot food - on top of each other with cutlery in the centre looks good and doesn't take up much space. We've used cute white price tags from a stationery supplier as name tags and tied them around a candle. Some other ideas for table decorations are:

• glasses of sparklets in sand or rock salt,
• tea light candles on a long mirror down the centre of the table,
• garlands of fresh ivy from the garden,
• bowls of fresh water with frangipani or other summer flowers floating in them.

THE XMAS COOKING TIME PLAN

CHRISTMAS EVE:

AM: Go shopping. Be like a housewife and use a list, it's the best way to shop when you're busy. Check that you have a baking dish big enough for a turkey and then check the dish will actually fit in your oven. If you use a frozen turkey, start defrosting it in the fridge by this morning at the latest.

PM: Make turkey stuffing. CHop and peel all vegies for the salads and roastthen store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Set the table for the next day.

CHRISTMAS DAY

AM: Have drinks chilling - buckets of ice will be best to save on fridge space. Cook, roast, baste and prepare according to your chosen recipes and save all champagne drinking until lunch is served.

PM: Serve lunch then sit down and force relatives to clean up.

OTHER WAYS TO HOST CHRISTMAS

If you don't want a sit-down feast, how about:

OPEN ALL HOURS: Host an open house between 10.30am and 5pm for friends to drop in for a quick dose of Christmas cheer. Serve canapes and champers and invite friends to stay for 10 minutes or 10 hours. The idea is that guests can pop in as their Christmas schedule allows before they push off to their own family lunches.

CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST: Incite guests for burnch between 9am and 11am - serve orange juice, champers, pastries and fresh fruit platters. If you don't want to mess up your house, arrange to meet at a beach or nearby park.

SUNSET BAR: Host a late-night party starting at 9pm. Serve icy margaritas and some canapes. Don't go heavy on the food, though. Most people don't want to eat much after spending the day stuffing their face with turkey.

NO, YOU'RE NOT TOO OLD FOR PARTY GAMES
OK, so your biggest fear of Christmas at your own house is not being able to escape the relatives, but a few good party games will see you through. After all, Christmas is about half-arsed games you only play once a year. Try celebrity heads (the post-it note guessing game), backyard cricket, charades or attempt the newspaper Christmas crossword to keep busy.