Where do you do your Christmas shop?
I get it all from M&S, I do a big pre-order for the whole spread in advance in November to make sure I have everything in. I spend at least £350.
What do you eat on the day itself?
We wake up and have a glass of Champagne, and I’ll lay on sausage or bacon sandwiches for breakfast. While the kids are playing with their presents, I start prepping. Michael will help me if I need him to, but I like to be in charge and serve dinner around 2pm. For starters, I lay out party food from M&S, the kids love the little samosas, pigs in blankets, mini quiches and chicken lollipops, it’s all handy for when people arrive. For Christmas lunch, I’ll do a leg of lamb as well as turkey, the kids love gammon, and we’ll do a beef joint! We’re that family that can’t decide on one meat, so we have to have them all. We have all the trimmings – parsnips, carrots, Brussels and potatoes covered in goose fat to make them crispy.
What about dessert?
I like a Christmas pudding, or a mince pie after lunch, whereas Michael likes a cheesecake – my sister-in-law makes a great butterscotch one. We’re not massive on sweets in our house, but we love cake, and you’ve got to have a chocolate log!
Post-dinner nibbles?
If anyone is peckish later, we’ll start making loaded sandwiches with the meats and stuffing layered in.
INSIDE DANIELLE’S FRIDGE
• Lamb joint
• Turkey
• Gammon joint
• Beef joint
• Carrots
• Parnsips
• Stuffing
• Pigs in blankets
• Brussels sprouts
• Goose fat
• Mint sauce
• Cranberry sauce
• Cheesecake
• Chocolate fudge cake
• Chocolate log
• Rose
• Baileys
• Champagne
• Red cabbage
• Mince pies
FAVOURITE SIDE DISH
RED CABBAGE
I absolutely love red cabbage, it’s such a strong, sweet flavour.
FOR LEFTOVERS
CURRY
The lamb tastes better the next day, so I throw all the extra pieces into a spicy curry and serve it with rice.
REFUSE TO EAT
BREAD SAUCE
I’ve never liked it, it has no place on a roast!