christmas catering mumspiration-style

Christmas can be one of the most hectic times of the year for a family, so I have been thinking about ways in which we as mums can keep our sanity whilst still providing a fun-filled, special Christmas for our children and partners.

One easy time-saver is streamlining the catering for Christmas Day. Whether you're catering for 4 or 40, a wonderful luxury of living in this era of consumerism is that most courses can be pre-ordered and purchased, saving yourself time and a lot of effort (and often stress). Moreover, there are some absolutely beautiful products on the market that mean you do not have to compromise on taste and quality just because they are store bought rather than home-cooked.

So why don’t you buy yourself some more time with the family and order in this Christmas? Here are my picks for purchasing Christmas lunch items for 2009:

Seafood
What Australian Christmas lunch is complete without seafood? There is nothing like starting your Christmas Day feast standing around a table outside, clambering for a share in the cray and prawns (all bets are off – it’s every man for themselves).

If you’re not lucky enough to have a fisherman in the family, put an order in for South Australian crayfish and whole cooked prawns at Malvern’s Gulf Seafoods.

Ham

My pick for a ham this year - Saskia Beer’s The Black Pig range available through Lucia’s Fine Foods. Take your pick from Berkshire, Suckling or Champagne and enjoy some of the best local ham!


Turkey
These days you can buy a pre-stuffed, trussed turkey ready for roasting at just about any butcher or poultry shop. However, if you don't want to slave over a hot oven at all, order yourself a cooked, stuffed turkey from The Black Olive at Rose Park - just send hubby out Christmas eve to pick it up! Too easy. 

Pudding

Newcastle-based Pudding Lane offers award winning, home-made puddings, including a gluten free option. My favourite is the traditional Christmas pud, but if you’re more adventurous, why not try one of the chocolate varieties or the macadamia and brandy option? Purchase online from Puddings SA.

Cherries
Fresh cherries are one of the simple delights of Christmas, and you can pick your own in the Adelaide Hills. Why not download the Cherry Map from cherriessa.com.au and make a family outing of it? Otherwise see here for Shed Door sales.

One final tip – get your orders in by mid-December to avoid disappointment!