Is there anyone on here who actually needs advice on cooking Christmas dinner?

Thanks Pamela. Will try and find it

I was reading about parboiling parsnips and coating in flour and parmesan cheese and roasting then. Sounds delicious!

I always like looking at new ideas and, in fact, picked up a couple from the papers today.

It's a shame if people become entrenched in the old ways of doing things.

momboys, there is a thread on here about pastry, I’m sure someone mentioned Mary Berry and orange rind.

I'm always happy to pick up any tips. I'm doing a veggie meal this Christmas. Two new Jamie Oliver recipes. Pistachio and cranberry nut roast and stuffed butternut squash. Always new things to learn.
I would like some suggestions re best pastry for mince pies. Previously liked pastry with some grated orange rind, egg and sugar in but will have to try and find the recipe. Any thoughts girls?

We have some friends who had 4 children and she says she can't cook! When they come to us for a meal, they reciprocate by taking us out for one. They spend a fortune every Christmas going out for their Christmas day dinner. Their 2 daughters can't cook either apparently.

DS's wife couldn't cook and neither could her mum, luckily for them both he is an excellent cook. My gran used to say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It didn't work in reverse for our DS as they're now divorced.

I know what you mean Pamela it's overkill at Christmas with so many celebrity cooks telling us how to do something we've been doing for years.

Yes I agree, but over the years I would ring my mum sadly as she’s passed away several years ago can no longer do this, She was a head cook in the wrens and would always come to my rescue if I wanted to know something, although I didn’t have to ask about Christmas dinner: if I want to know anything now I google it