Seven Christmas Dinner Hacks You’ll Need Tomorrow

The run up to Christmas often leaves households busier than ever with a stack of chores longer than Santa’s Christmas delivery list. Whether it’s polishing last year’s decorations or wrapping presents, often it feels like there’s not enough hours in the day.

To make your Christmas less stressful, Belle About Town has teamed up with Oven Pride to create some time saving Christmas dinner hacks for an easy, fuss-free day that will allow you to enjoy the most important job – revelling in family festivities.

1. No Roasting Rack? 
   Hack: If you’ve got a turkey to roast and no rack, create a bed of veggies using roughly-cut veg to elevate the bird in the oven. Simply chop up some onions, celery and carrots into large chunks, lay them on an oven tray and place the turkey on top. This method will serve as a makeshift roasting rack, and will also add extra flavour to the drippings from which you’ll make the gravy.

2. The taste of Christmas! 
   Hack: Infused spirits make great homemade Christmas gifts. Why not try infusing gin with clementines, fresh ginger and bay leaves along with a dash of sugar and leave to infuse for three days. Decant into sterilised bottles and add a festive bow to make this the perfect gift for a very merry Christmas!

3. Mull this over…
   Hack: Struggling for hob space? Make your mulled wine in a slow cooker rather than on the hob, it will free up space and keep the wine warm throughout the evening.

4. Finishing touches
   Hack: If you’re looking for the perfect way to add a festive twist to homemade sweet treats look no further. Blitzing candy canes in a food processor makes for the perfect holiday garnish when sprinkled lightly over cakes, biscuits or even hot chocolate.

5. It’s all gravy baby!
   Hack: Gravy issues? Not to worry, if you accidentally end up with lumpy, tasteless gravy, don’t panic! Just give it a quick whizz in a blender with a dash of soy sauce and you’ll have a smooth tasty gravy in no time. Also, if kitchen space gets a little tight, pre-warm a thermos with hot water and pour in the gravy to help keep it warm while you finish off the rest of the Christmas dinner.

6. Revive your Turkey
   Hack: Dry turkey can easily be revived with chicken stock, by simply carving the meat and placing in a baking dish. In a jug, mix chicken stock with melted butter and pour over the meat before leaving it to cook for approximately 10 minutes at 120 degrees, and then you’ll have a succulent turkey in no time!

7. Oven prep is key 
   Hack: A dirty oven with old burnt on grease could ruin your chances of cooking the perfect turkey. To help save time cleaning your oven, try using an oven cleaner such as Oven Pride to stop you from scrubbing for hours on end. All you have to do is place the racks in the plastic bag provided and add the 2 in 1 cleaning solution, pouring the remaining solution inside the oven. Leave this to get to work for 24 hours and rinse down with gloves and hot soapy water – then you’re good to get cooking!

• What are your Christmas dinner hacks? Join the debate on our Facebook page, or comment below. Happy Christmas!