Christmas lunch : Tis the season to avoid all the fuss and spend less!

With Christmas cheer brings many challenges. We show you some tips and hints to avoid the stress.

Christmas is typically one of the most stressful events of the year. The expense of buying gifts, the pressure of last minute shopping and the heightened expectations of family togetherness at Christmas day lunch can all combine to undermine our best intentions.

But while we cannot avoid the fuss associated with Christmas traditions, we can be better prepared. Here are some practical suggestions to help you reduce your stress and costs associated with feeding the family on Christmas Day.

Have a plan: Start with a list – just start with the basics to guide you through. Plan your menu and write a shopping list.

Shop around: Be a smart shopper and you’ll not only save money but stress. Make a few rounds of the specialty shops and supermarkets for ideas on food and to check specials. Don’t wait till Christmas Eve to shop, when the stores are generally hectic. Many pre-packed products can be bought now. Each time you do a normal shop buy a few Christmas items as well.

Consider doing your food shopping online: The store will deliver your groceries to your door. (Keep in mind that this option is more expensive than visiting the supermarket yourself.

Have a budget: And stick to it! Avoid last minute impulse spending. Shopping at discount places is a smart way to save on things like table decorations, household items and nibbles.

Keep it simple: And keep the food easy. Have lots of fresh fruit drinks or punch. Cakes and desserts can be prepared in large quantities ahead of time. So can dips and beverages. Outdoor barbecues always go down well.

Book in advance: If you plan to have lunch at a restaurant, try not to wait till the last minute, as some restaurants may be fully booked months in advance.

On the day: Preparing a meal for family and friends can be both enjoyable but stressful. Some tips for reducing the stress of Christmas cooking include:

• If you are cooking lunch at home, delegate tasks. You don’t need to do everything yourself
• KISS principle: You could always arrange for a buffet lunch, where everybody brings a platter, or a barbecue
• Write a Christmas Day timetable – e.g. 9am put the turkey in the oven, 10am set the table
• Make time for you: Remember, this is your Christmas as well. Allow time during or at the end of the cooking to chill out a little, get ready or have a drink

Christmas barbie:
Barbecues are the perfect way to celebrate Christmas, they are easy to do and take little preparation. Barbecues also mean the host doesn’t have to spend the whole time in the kitchen and allows them to be outside with family and friends. And with lots of sides and salads your food will be prepared in no time!

Celebrity Chef Justin North’s Top 5 Tips for Christmas lunch Stay relaxed, have fun and enjoy your cooking by being prepared and going back to classic simple dishes. An excellent side dish is potatoes sprinkled with salt, garlic and thyme, wrapped in foil and placed on the BBQ. Marinate steaks in aromatic rubs to enhance the flavour and tenderness of your favourite cut of meat. Keep fish succulent, moist and juicy by stuffing a whole fish with herbs and SAXA Sea Salt Flake Salt. Made up of a pinch of sugar, grated zest of a lime and lemon and SAXA Sea Salt Flakes, create your very own salt cured salmon or trout. Just cover the trout or salmon in a citrus salt mix, cover in cling wrap and leave in the fridge for a few hours to marinate. Large desserts in the middle of the table are a great way to entertain. And they can be prepared before Christmas Day. For a great trifle that packs a punch without using alcohol, try a splash of pineapple juice and ginger beer to soak your sponge.

 Try our quick ‘n easy Chocolate Yule Log recipe. Click here!