first time cooking xmas dinner for 7 people, HELP!!?

Question

dont know if i have this wrong or not, but what is the cooking time for a 14 pound turkey? i thought it was around 20 mins for each pound?? also, i will be dishing the dinner up as i go along, but how do i keep everything hot? suppose, i could use microwave and blast each platefull for a minute, but will that take up too much time? dont want to put plates in oven to keep warm, as it might make the dinner dry. any suggestions please?

p.s i havnt got the dishes, to put on the table so they can help themselves, and even then, they can go cold too! need everything right, this is a special first xmas.

Answer 1

leave everything on the counter, buffet style and let people help themselves..... to dish everything up, takes too much time and a certain person may like potatoes with no gravy, and another potatoes with butter and gravy, and another may be repulsed by cranberry sauce, its best to let everyone dish up their own food, put the cold stuff out 1st, and follow with the hot food,
tip: you can make your mash potatoes ahead of time by putting a tiny bit of milk in the potatoes after draining, and adding 1 raw egg per lb of potatoes and mashing them up with the eggs, it holds them together, you can actually make them the night before and reheat them in the microwave!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND I MEAN MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Answer 2

Oh God - poor you. I don't envy you one bit. I think I'd cook the turkey on Xmas Eve so you only have to worry about the veg on Christmas Day. The turk can be sliced ready. If not, fortify yourself with a nice Sherry before you begin. It's roughly 20 mins a pound plus 20 mins whatever the weight of bird but I'd allow yourself a bit longer than that to make sure it's done - especially if you've stuffed it. Keep basting the bird with its juices as you go along and keep it covered in foil until the very end when you brown it off so it doesn't get too dry. I sometimes start it off on its front so the juice goes into the breast. Looks a bit flattened but it tastes fine. When done, it can come out of the oven and stand for a bit (get someone to slice it for you) while you mash your spuds and cook the veg which you can then keep in their own saucepans with the lids on while you do the gravy. Make sure your plates are hot when you actually serve up as that'll help keep everything warm and wear oven gloves. Don't get burnt in all the flurry. I'd also enlist another pair of hands to help you do that bit so you aren't flustered with all the fetching and carrying you'll have to do. Have you got a gravy separator to take the fat off the meat juices. If so, keep half in the fridge for toast and dripping on Boxing Day and use the other half of the juices (minus the fat) in the cooking tin for a gravy base. Oh yes - and get someone else to do the washing up afterwards. Happy Christmas.

Answer 3

I was told 20 minutes to the pound plus 20 minutes extra for luck, but to be honest, I always cook mine for longer on a gas mark 4. Why don't you cook the turkey the night before and basically just keep an eye on it. I know it's a problem keeping the food hot but why not put the plates in the oven WITHOUT the food on, until your are ready to dish up. Finally, piping hot gravy will help.

Good luck, I'm sure it will all go well.

Answer 4

My first x mas was cold and dry that was 5 years ago but now they are hot and tasty but what i would do is cook your turkey so maybe you need a meat thermometer bake til it reads 165 take it out wrap in foil cause you need to let it sit about a half hour to let the juices come back to the meat. Then have everything else prepared and make as much of it at a time while you carve your turkey and it should stay hot your best friend will be heavy duty Reynolds wrap to cover and keep hot til served

Answer 5

A 14lb unstuffed bird will take about 3-31/2 hours to cook. (stuffed will be about 3 3/4 to 4 1/2) Using a meat thermometer will give you the best, juiciest bird. It should also rest about 20 minutes before carving, so that will give you time to reheat any other dishes - The microwave will work fine for just reheating, and will save you a ton of time. In the interim, just keep your cooked dishes covered with foil or lids, to shorten the reheating time. (just don't put the foil in the microwave while reheating! lol!) Cover again immediately, to keep warm until serving. You'll do fine!
Happy Holidays!

Answer 6

Ok, have you ever made Thanksgiving dinner? Do the same meal. People love comfort food on xmas, and turkey is great!