How I Survive Christmas Cooking (Hint: It Has a Varoma)

Let's be honest, Christmas cooking can be a lot. There's the big dinner, family and friends popping in, the baking you promised you'd do, and there is no time...

This is the time of year my Thermomix really pulls its weight. It won't wrap the presents for you (I wish), but it does take a lot of the faff out of December. Here's how I use mine, and how you can too.

Get a head start

The best thing you can do for yourself is get some of the cooking done early. Pick an evening or two in December, put some music on and work through a few bits for the freezer. Because the Thermomix weighs, chops and cooks all in one bowl, you're not drowning in washing up afterwards either.

Gravy is a great one to start with. Make a big batch weeks ahead, freeze it, and on the day you just warm it through and stir in the juices from the roast. Bread sauce and cranberry sauce freeze really well too, and they only take a few minutes each.

I'd also do the stuffing and a batch of pastry. The Thermomix chops onions, herbs and breadcrumbs in seconds, and shortcrust takes under a minute, so you can have pastry sitting in the freezer ready to go.

On the big day

Once the turkey's in the oven, think of your Thermomix as an extra pair of hands. It frees up space on the hob and keeps things ticking over while you get on with everything else.

Pop the sprouts, carrots and parsnips in the Varoma on top to steam while something else cooks in the bowl underneath. Make your mash potato in the bowl too, with no lumps and no heavy pan to scrub. And because it stirs and heats at the same time, you can leave the custard or bread sauce to do its thing without worrying it'll catch on the bottom.

If you're cooking something new this year, you should try the Brussels Sprout Salad with Bacon and Cranberries. The guided recipes walk you through it step by step on the screen, which is a lifesaver when you've got five other things going on.

Homemade gifts

I love giving food as presents. It's personal, it's kinder on the purse, and honestly, people get far more excited about a jar of something homemade than another candle.

A spiced chutney like the Cranberry chutney or Caramelised Red Onion Chutney goes down a treat with the Christmas cheeseboard. Truffles and fudge are always popular, and flavoured salts or sugars look lovely in little jars. The Spiced Nuts with Cranberries with a handwritten label makes a really nice teacher or neighbour gift too, and it makes your home smell amazing!

Christmas baking

I always loved baking, but before my Thermomix it was a bit hit and miss, and Christmas recipes are the worst for it because you only make them once a year. Having the scales built in and the temperature spot on makes a huge difference.

Mince pie pastry comes out right every time (and you can make your own mincemeat if you're feeling keen). The Christmas cake gets weighed straight into the bowl and mixed without overworking it. Gingerbread with the kids is a must too, even if the decorating gets a bit messy.

Boxing Day and all those leftovers

By Boxing Day nobody wants to cook, and the fridge is rammed. This is where the Thermomix is brilliant. Leftover turkey turns into a creamy pie filling, a curry or a risotto with hardly any effort. The roast veg can be blitzed into soup, the extra potatoes and sprouts become bubble and squeak, and all those odd bits of cheese make a great sauce. Less waste, and dinner's sorted.

Fancy giving it a go?

If you've been thinking about getting a Thermomix, November is a really good month to do it. Right now you'll get a second mixing bowl for free, plus an extended warranty, also free.

That second bowl is a game changer at Christmas. You can make the gravy in one and the mash in the other without stopping to wash up in between. And the extended warranty means extra peace of mind for years to come. You'll also have your Thermomix in plenty of time to get ahead with all the festive prep.

This offer is only on until the end of November, so don't leave it too late.

I'm an independent Thermomix advisor covering the UK, Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. If you'd like to see the TM7 in action, have a chat about whether it's right for you, or grab this month's deal, just drop me a message. No pressure, I'm always happy to talk Thermomix!