Clean the cutlery, perfect your roast potatoes and accept help washing up: how to host Christmas with two days to go

‘Use daggy old brushed potatoes – nothing waxy or they won’t fluff up.’ Prepping food in advance will ensure hosting Christmas lunch is as stress-free as possible. Photograph: 10’000 Hours/Getty Images

It’s two days till Christmas and you don’t have time for this seven-minute read but you really need a break by now. So pour yourself a comforting cup of something, find a quiet corner and rest your weary bones. (You well know by now the benefits of resting meat.)

I’m going to tell you a story. It’s about the inspiration for this series of pre-Christmas cooking tips and recipes for the less-than-confident cook.