Christmas Cooking Hacks: How To Make The Perfect Roast | HuffPost Life

Christmas Cooking Hacks: How To Make The Perfect Dinner

Natasha Preskey— The Huffington Post UK

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Christmas lunch means high expectations and, often, a very harassed cook. But whether you're a nervous Christmas cooking newbie or a seasoned seasonal chef, we have all the expert hacks you could ever need to make this your best-ever crimbo lunch.

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Christmas Dinner Leftover Recipe Ideas
Tired of Turkey? Try These Tasty Alternatives To Traditional Christmas Dinner

Here's a short selection of some of our favourite tips from our Christmas cooking playlist.

Turkey

Let's face it, on its own turkey can be white, stringy and just a bit dull. Don't worry - we won't let that happen. Add some sweetness to your bird by inserting two halved onions while roasting.

Roast potatoes

Everyone has their own theories on what makes the perfect roastie. Our advice? Don't salt the potatoes until halfway through their time in the oven. If you season them too soon, the salt will draw out all their water and make them more likely to stick to the tray.

Gravy

Add three chopped tomatoes to thicken your gravy and give it a gorgeous fresh taste.

Pork stuffing

Grate a Braeburn apple into your stuffing mix to add a sweetness and keep it light.

Mulled wine

Christmas afternoon wouldn't quite be the same without watching your grandma overindulge on the mulled wine. Include some stem ginger for a kick she'll love.

Cranberry sauce

To tell if your cranberries are fresh, drop them onto a hard surface. The higher the bounce, the fresher they are! Include a couple of star anise to give them an aniseed flavour. Make your sauce three or four days in advance and store it in the fridge to allow the flavours to develop.

25 Christmas Dinner Ideas

Christmas Tree Cheese Board (01 of25)

You can basically make this with any type of cheese or grapes. Don't forget that added rosemary for cuteness! Get the recipe from Cakescottage here.

Maple Brown Sugar Ham (02 of25)

The best part? You can make this in your crock pot. Get the recipe from Life in the Lofthouse here.

Mashed Potatoes With Horseradish And Garlic (03 of25)

A surprising, yet delicious combination. Get the recipe from Add A Pinch here.

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread(04 of25)

This adorable pull-apart bread is topped with fresh basil and rosemary. Get the recipe from Eclectic Recipes here.

Loaded Scalloped Potatoes (05 of25)

Hey look, more potatoes! These scalloped potatoes are made with cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt, so they're kind of healthy. Get the recipe from Melanie Makes here.

Homemade Dinner Rolls(06 of25)

This recipe will take you a total of three hours. But come on, you can't go wrong with homemade bread. Get the recipe from Roxana's Home Baking here.

Loaded Hasselback Potatoes (07 of25)

A carb-filled classic, these loaded potatoes can be topped with just about any ingredient. Get the recipe from Tablespoon here.

White Wine Mushroom Bruschetta (08 of25)

A little bit of Chardonnay and a little bit of mushroom and you have a flavourful take on bruschetta. Get the recipe from Amuse Your Bouche here.

Christmas Caprese Wreath Salad(09 of25)

How gorgeous is this edible wreath? Made with plum tomatoes and a pound of bocconcini, this appetizer looks way too good to eat. Get the recipe from TASTE here.

Boursin and Gruyère Spinach and Artichoke Gratin Dip(10 of25)

And this is how you take a simple artichoke dip and make it spectacular. Get the recipe from Serious Eats here.

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus (11 of25)

Just proof that when you wrap something in bacon, it automatically becomes delicious. Get the recipe from Paleoso here.

Glazed Kielbasa Bites (12 of25)

These bites are topped with pineapple slices and teriyaki sauce. Get the recipe from Real Housemoms here.

Roast Beef With Coffee Gravy (13 of25)

Yes, you read that right — coffee gravy.Get the recipe from Closet Cooking here.

Tandoori Turkey (14 of25)

If you want to make your turkey stand out this season, take the tandoori route. Get the recipe from Epicurious here.

Pear, Pomegranate and Spinach Salad(15 of25)

Another starter idea, this fresh salad combines fruit, cheese and tons of spinach. Get the recipe from Cooking Classy here.

Smoked Salmon Crostini(16 of25)

Another easy starter, this crostini is made with smoked salmon and Greek yogurt. Get the recipe from Tori Avey here.

Fried Pimiento Cheese Balls With Ranch Dipping Sauce(17 of25)

Three words: fried cheese balls. Get the recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen here.

Spinach Quiche (18 of25)

If your holiday dinner is actually a holiday lunch, treat your guests to a quiche. Get the recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon here.

Crispy Baked Onion Rings(19 of25)

Now, potatoes may get all the love at your holiday dinner, which is why you should consider changing things up this year with these baked onion rings. Get the recipe from Cooks With Cocktails here.

Ginger Braised Beef Roast(20 of25)

This beef recipe is made with soy sauce, honey and orange juice. Get the recipe from Rock Recipes here.

Roast Vegetable Mix (21 of25)

Vegetarians will love it and meat eaters will enjoy it as a side. Get the recipe from Jamie Oliver here.

English Muffin Bread Pizzas (22 of25)

If you have a few kids to please this season, they'll like these mini pizzas — you can always get them to add their own toppings. Get the recipe from Foodie With Family here.

Posh Piggies (23 of25)

For dipping purposes, try mayo or apricot jelly. Get the recipe from Recipes And Me here.

Jerk Turkey Skewer(24 of25)

Looking for another take on turkey? Try it with jerk seasoning. Get the recipe from Good To Know Recipes here.

Leftover Hambone Soup(25 of25)

Leftovers? No worries, make a soup out of it! Get the recipe from Damn Delicious here.

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