I’ve already prepared my Christmas meals for a ‘no stress’ holiday
‘Tis the season… in September?
Mom-of-two Tahnee Beck has already made multiple dishes for this year’s Christmas dinner in order to have a “no stress” day.
She began the prep on September 16 and has stashed much of it in the freezer.
“In the past, I’ve been preoccupied with getting lunch ready and the day has passed me by,” Beck, from England, told South West News Service.
“I’m now looking forward to a relaxed morning opening presents and not stressing about peeling potatoes,” she added.
This year, Beck, 33, will be hosting seven people at her house for the big day and wanted to make sure that she was ahead of her hospitality game.
So far, Beck has whipped up meatballs with sweet and sour sauce, an orange and melon salad, as well as pre-prepared some frozen red cabbage and apple, which cost her less than $2.
She believes this would cost £8.55 ($10.35) for the same quantity at supermarket prices closer to the holiday.
But that’s not the only thing she’s prepped. Beck has also stashed away a Christmas cake, mince pie filling and four kinds of cookies, ready to be devoured on December 25.
Beck gets her recipes from a vintage pamphlet from 1977 by Mary Berry, titled “Freezing for Christmas,” which instructs readers how to freeze their food in advance of the holiday.
“When I first saw the book a few years ago I thought it was amazing,” she told SWNS. “I’ve never thought of freezing everything for Christmas in advance.”
“This book is also nostalgic fun for some of my family who remember this book from the first time around,” she continued.
The mom also said that the book has introduced her to new foods that she never would have even thought to make, like mackerel pâté, and “buckling'” — which is a type of hot-smoked herring.
Her husband grew up eating many of these foods, she noted, so he really enjoys her food, in particular.
“My husband grew up eating a lot of these dishes at Christmas and the pineapple ice cream and black forest cake are his favorites,” Beck said.
But making meals isn’t the only thing she preps in advance for Christmas.
Starting on UK’s Boxing Day, which takes place on December 26 each year, Beck scoops up bargains for next year’s presents and decorations.
Beck estimates that she’s saved herself over $6,000 over the past seven years.
She even shares her tips, tricks and process on her Instagram page, @christmas.prepper, as well as her YouTube channel.
“I just like to get all the work out the way so we can really enjoy Christmas,” Beck told SWNS.
