We may have 364 days to prepare for it, but Christmas rolls around quicker than any of us can say ‘it really does get earlier and earlier each year’.
Mariah Carey’s earworm anthem is back in the charts, the days are darker, and Eggnog Lattes are being ordered across the nation, so it’s officially time to start planning for the big day.
Ticking off each person on your festive shopping list is a task in itself – and to make it easier, we have gift guide suggestions for her, him, mums, teens, kids and tech and gaming lovers, but then there’s the meal to think about.
This is perhaps the most important feast you will have to whip up all year long and the pressure is truly on. You may have friends and family coming from across the country, all expecting to leave fully stuffed to the brim. But there are so many elements that can go wrong. Dry turkey, flavourless stuffing, soft roasties - it’s the stuff of any host’s nightmares. Carefully curated schedules need to be drawn up and not a single step can go wrong or, you can leave it to the experts.
Why make cooking the Christmas Day meal more difficult for yourself when you can simply invest in a bumper pack containing all the ingredients? These boxes include the elements measured out as well as a step-by-step guide that’s easy to follow – you really can’t go wrong.
Taking the stress, fuss and last-minute dash to the supermarket to secure the last (sad) turkey out of your festive feast, the likes of HelloFresh, Gousto and Made in Oldstead will help you nail the Yuletide extravaganza.
Pull out all the stops with turkey, the trimmings and a three-course selection - factoring in all the possible dietary requirements of course - with these ready-to-go boxes. Quality ingredients and farm-to-table meat ensure that each bite will be a veritable treat.
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Gousto Christmas
This recipe box service is getting creative this Christmas. You can personalise your banquet feast come December 25 with exciting twists on classic dishes including Honey Mustard Pigs In Blankets Brioche and Plum Glazed Roast Duck With Crushed Potatoes. On the menu too are Brussels Sprouts Cacio E Pepe with fresh Orecchiette, a one-hour Vegan Nut Roast, Pork & Leek Sausage Roll Wreath and Crispy Chicken & Cranberry Boa Buns with Sprout Slaw.
This is made for those who want to forgo the classic turkey-based meal and do something a little bit different and with the flavour-packed creations, it’s sure to be a festive extravaganza that your guests will be talking about for years to come. Best of all, they can all be prepped in as little as 10 minutes to suit the busy festive period.
Delivery from November 7. £2.99 a portion.
Buy now, Gousto
HelloFresh Christmas Box
HelloFresh has kept it classic this Christmas with an offering that includes either Butter Basted Turkey with Rosemary or Christmas Roast Beef – and of course, all the trimmings. The ingredients have been pre-portioned, and the instructions are foolproof to leave you with a mouth-wateringly delicious feast this festive season.
There are boxes designed for groups of four to 10 and there are three options; Beef & Sides, Turkey & Sides or Turkey, Sides & Cheese with dessert added as an extra - Millionaire’s Cheesecake Christmas Pudding and a Christmas Cheeseboard with Assorted Crackers and Chutney. No matter whether you select the turkey or beef, you will also receive the following; Honey and Thyme Root Veg, Pork and Cranberry Seasonal Stuffing Balls, Sprout and Bacon Gratin with Cheesy Crumb, Traditional Pigs in Blankets wrapped in Streaky Bacon, Slow Braised Red Cabbage Spiced with Apple and Cinnamon, Perfect Fluffy Roasties Seasoned with Rosemary all topped with Super Easy Festive Gravy.
Delivery on December 22. £16pp.
Buy now, HelloFresh
Made in Oldstead Christmas Day Beef Wellington Menu
British Michelin Star chef Tommy Banks has curated a Christmas in a box that will delight and surprise this festive season. It contains everything you need to serve up a show-stopping four-course meal.
The star of the show is Banks’ famous salt-aged Beef Wellington. The selection opens with a Butternut Squash, Hazelnut and Parsley Amuse Bouche before moving on to the Grazing Board Starter. Alongside the beef are the classic trimmings and to round off the meal, Chocolate Fondant Tart is paired with Toasted Hay Cream and a seasonal Damson Gel. A duck option is available too.
Free delivery on December 22. Price from £175-£550.
Buy now, Made in Oldstead
Parson’s Nose Christmas Box
The butchers at Parson’s Nose offer some of the finest British farmed free-range meat, fish, and cheese with delivery across the UK – in some locations, there’s even next-day delivery.
The Ultimate Christmas Box packs the whole song and dance into one handy package. For 4-6, 6-8 or 8-10 diners, it contains a turkey breast, vegetables, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce. The turkey is sourced from a small family-run producer in Berkshire where the short supply chain guarantees the quality, while the Christmas Pork Stuffing is created in-house.
Buy now £105.00, Parson’s Nose
Farmison & Co Christmas meats and hampers
You can count on the online meat retailer, Farmison & Co to step up for the main event, offering local and sustainable produce to enhance the Yuletide celebrations come December 25. The brand opts for ethical practices to rear the animals and ancient farming traditions where quality is at the forefront. For ease, you can also have it delivered straight to your door.
This year’s offering was developed by Farmison’s own Michelin-starred chef, Jeff Baker with options like the Rare Breed Slate Turkey, The Wild Venison Wellington, Bourbon & Molasses Cured Beef Brisket Joint, Muscovado & Bitter Orange Cured Ham and our personal favourite, the Easy Carve Turkey Breast with Chestnut, Apple and Cinnamon Stuffing. There are different weights to serve individuals as well as 6-10 people.
You can add all the trimmings too, from stuffing balls to pigs in blankets as well as show-stopping centrepieces that are pre-cooked and ready to serve.
For everything combined, look to the hampers.
From £25.
Buy now, Farmison & Co
Abel & Cole The Vegan Christmas Feast Recipe Box
Rather than trekking around your local supermarket picking up various different components of your upcoming vegan meal, why not order it in one bulk? Abel & Cole’s Vegan Christmas Feast Recipe Box offers an organic selection of ingredients for a spellbinding feast. Two ready-made winter root veg and cranberry Wellingtons from Lodge Farm Kitchen, ginger and cardamom carrots and garlic and rosemary roasties are just a few of the tempting dishes included.
Buy now £105.00, Abel & Cole
Macknade Complete Christmas Lunch
Simplify the task of whipping up a fantastic festive feast for six by leaving the hard part to Macknade. In its Complete Christmas Lunch, you will find a 5kg free-range turkey alongside pigs in blanket, parsnips, Desiree potatoes, brussels sprouts and carrots.
To add flavour to the food, you will leave your guest wanting more with the Shropshire Spice Bread Sauce mix, Potts Turkey Gravy with Madeira & Sage, Karimix Cranberry, Port & Orange Sauce and Shropshire Spice Co Roasted Chestnut Stuff. Delivery is available across the UK.
Buy now £120.00, Macknade
Côte at Home
Whether you are looking to take a traditional approach to the most pressure-inducing meal of the year with a classic turkey feast or you’re hoping to wow your guests with a Chateaubriand, the Côte at Home collection is worth your attention.
There are three decadent dinners on offer, all of which have been designed by Gordon Ramsay’s former Executive Chef, Steve Allen and are made up of fresh, quality and seasonal ingredients. Pigs in Blankets, Spiced Braised Red Cabbage and Truffle Gratin Dauphinois Potatoes are just some of the accoutrements to tickle the tastebuds.
Buy now, Côte at Home
