The Christmas Catering Survival Guide: 5 seasonal tips to feed the family
Hosting Christmas at home is a magical time full of joy, togetherness… and repeatedly opening the fridge like it’s going to offer emotional support.
If you’re catering for family this festive season, here are five survival-tips that make everything run smoother — with less stress, fewer kitchen meltdowns, and more time actually sitting down with a mince pie.
1) Choose a menu you can realistically survive
Christmas confidence is thinking you can do: turkey + ham + three veg + two potato options + cauliflower cheese + stuffing + gravy + six starters + homemade bread.
Christmas reality is you eating a cold sprout out of the pan at 3:47pm.
Survival move: pick a “main character” dish and keep the rest as a strong supporting cast.
A calm, achievable setup:
One main (turkey / beef / gammon / nut roast — whatever your family actually likes)
Two sides you know you can nail (roasties + a roast veg tray is undefeated)
Two festive extras (pigs in blankets/ stuffing/ cauliflower cheese — choose your fighters)
Gravy/sauce (because it hides a multitude of sins and we love it for that)
One make-ahead dessert + one easy win (aka “opened, plated, admired”)
Nobody has ever said, “Christmas was ruined because there wasn’t parsnip purée.”
2) Write a plan.
You don’t need a spreadsheet. You need a list that stops you standing in the kitchen whispering, “What’s next?” like you’re in a festive thriller.
Your micro-plan should include:
What can be done the day before
What needs the oven, and when
What can sit for 20–30 minutes without everyone calling the fire brigade
A realistic Christmas timeline:
Day before: chop veg, make gravy, prep stuffing, set the table, locate the serving dishes (all 46 of them)
Morning: main goes on, potatoes get parboiled, trays get lined up
Last hour: roasties, sides warmed, gravy heated, carving begins, kitchen becomes a gentle warzone
Future-you will want to hug past-you.
3) Deploy nibbles early (they are your peace treaty)
If you don’t put out snacks, people will start “just checking” on dinner every six minutes and hovering like hungry seagulls.
Nibbles buy you time. Nibbles save lives.
Low-effort, high-impact options:
Cheese + crackers + grapes (the holy trinity)
Crisps + dips (no one is above this)
Olives/pickles in little bowls (instantly makes it feel like an Occasion)
Mini sausage rolls (shop-bought is fine; shop-bought is smart)
Spiced nuts (either homemade or “I took the lid off” — both valid)
Bonus: keeps kids, uncles, and general chaos occupied.
4) Treat your oven like it’s a VIP with a strict guest list
Your oven is not an endless magical portal. It is a box with feelings. If everything needs to go in at once, it will retaliate.
Survival move: don’t make the whole meal depend on the oven at the same time.
Do this instead:
Put one thing on the hob/slow cooker (red cabbage, carrots, mulled cider, gravy)
Choose sides that reheat well (dauphinoise, cauliflower cheese, stuffing balls)
Roast veg on one big tray rather than 900 tiny pans
Keep finished things warm by covering with foil and letting them rest peacefully
Also: if you have an air fryer, congratulations — it’s now part of the catering team. Pigs in blankets in there? Actual genius behaviour.
5) Use shortcuts with pride (they’re not cheating, they’re strategy)
Christmas is not the day to prove you can churn butter and forge your own bay leaves.
Let yourself have the easy wins:
Frozen roasties (some are genuinely brilliant)
Ready-made pastry (your blood pressure will thank you)
Gravy pots boosted with meat juices / stock / a little splash of something tasty
Pre-chopped veg if you’re feeding loads of people
A shop dessert made fancy with cream, berries, chocolate shavings or “a dramatic dusting of icing sugar”
The aim is a happy table, not a one-person kitchen marathon.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Indulge in Luxury with our Afternoon Tea Boxes for National Picnic Week ☕
There’s no better time to soak up the sunshine, fresh air, and fine food than National Picnic Week—and we’ve got the perfect treat to take your al fresco plans to the next level.
Re-introducing our Luxury Afternoon Tea Boxes, curated for those who crave a little elegance with their outdoor adventures. Whether you’re heading to the park, the garden, or even a sunny spot on your lunch break, these takeaway boxes are the ultimate upgrade to your traditional picnic spread.
🧁 What’s Inside?
Each handcrafted box includes a beautifully balanced selection of:
Scones with clotted cream & jam
Delicate finger sandwiches with classic fillings
Homemade caramelised onion sausage rolls
Brie and sundried tomato quiche
Antipasti skewers
Classic cakes including Victoria sponge
Whether you’re celebrating, relaxing, or just indulging, our afternoon tea boxes bring the luxury of the tearoom to the picnic blanket.
🌍 Eco-Friendly & Ready to Go
All our packaging is 100% biodegradable, so you can enjoy your tea guilt-free and leave nothing but crumbs behind.
🎉 Order Yours for National Picnic Week
Orders are now open for Summer—don’t miss out on the perfect excuse to treat yourself (and your picnic pals). Whether you’re planning something intimate or ordering for a group, we’ve got you covered. https://ilovecatering.co.uk/order/?id=1
Celebrating Local Flavour: Our Collaboration with Friars Farm
Last week, we had the pleasure of adding a delicious local touch to one of our corporate clients’ office breakfasts. Partnering with Friars Farm, a Northamptonshire-based producer known for its small-batch, artisan condiments, we supplied their signature ketchup and brown sauce to accompany the morning spread.
The result? A perfect blend of hearty breakfasts and homegrown flavour.
At I Love Catering, we believe food always tastes better when it tells a story—and Friars Farm has a fantastic one. Their sauces are made just a few miles from where our team is based, using traditional recipes and locally sourced ingredients. By serving their ketchup and brown sauce, we weren’t just providing a condiment; we were giving our customers a taste of the region.
The feedback was fantastic—everyone loved the rich, tangy ketchup and the bold, savoury depth of the brown sauce. It was a reminder that supporting local producers brings something special to the table, quite literally.
And if you’d like to try Friars Farm’s products yourself, you can! Their sauces are available:
Online via the Friars Farm website
At local stockists across Northamptonshire
At food festivals and markets around the county
We’re proud to support Northamptonshire’s food community and to work with passionate makers like Friars Farm. Whether it’s office breakfasts, corporate catering, or community events, partnerships like this help us deliver not just great food, but real connections to the local area.
Here’s to more collaborations, more flavour, and more local goodness!
In today’s fast-paced work environment, businesses are constantly looking for ways to boost employee productivity and overall efficiency. One often overlooked, yet highly effective solution is office catering. Providing employees with delicious, nutritious meals can lead to a more engaged and energised workforce.
A study by Peapod asked 1,000 full-time office employees and found that while 55% of respondents were “extremely” or “very happy” with their jobs, this dramatically increased to 66% when free food was provided by their company.
Here are five ways office catering can enhance productivity in your workplace.
Saves Time and Reduces Distractions
When employees need to leave the office to find lunch or spend time preparing their own meals, valuable work hours are lost. Office catering eliminates the need for long lunch breaks or last-minute food runs, allowing employees to stay focused on their tasks. With food readily available, teams can maximise their time and maintain workflow momentum.
Boosts Employee Morale and Engagement
A well-fed team is a happy team. Providing catered meals shows employees that their well-being is a priority, fostering a positive workplace culture. Employees who feel valued are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to their work. In turn, this leads to higher job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates.
Enhances Collaboration and Team Building
Shared meals create opportunities for employees to connect and build relationships outside of formal meetings. Office catering encourages informal conversations and networking, fostering a sense of community among colleagues. Stronger team connections lead to improved communication and collaboration, which are essential for productivity.
Promotes Healthy Eating and Increased Energy Levels
Nutritious meals contribute to better cognitive function, increased energy levels, and improved concentration. Providing employees with healthy catering options reduces the likelihood of afternoon energy crashes caused by unhealthy food choices. A well-balanced diet keeps employees alert, focused, and performing at their best throughout the day.
Reduces Workplace Stress and Improves Work-Life Balance
Finding time to plan and prepare meals can be stressful, especially for busy professionals. Office catering removes this burden, allowing employees to focus on their work without worrying about meal planning. When employees experience less stress related to food choices, they can maintain a healthier work-life balance and remain more productive.
Final Thoughts
Investing in office catering is a simple yet powerful way to boost productivity, morale, and overall workplace satisfaction. By providing convenient, nutritious meals, companies can create an environment where employees thrive. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your team’s performance, consider implementing office catering—it’s a win-win for both employees and employers!
What’s Your Favourite Sandwich Filling? Let’s Settle This Once and For All
Sandwiches are one of the most beloved food inventions of all time. Simple, versatile, and delicious, a sandwich can be anything from a quick snack to a gourmet experience. But when it comes to fillings, opinions run deep.
So let’s pose the big question: What’s your favourite sandwich filling?
The Classic Contenders
Some fillings are tried-and-true champions. They’ve stood the test of time and earned their place in lunchboxes, cafes, and picnics everywhere.
Tuna Mayo: Creamy, salty, and comfortingly familiar. Add a slice of cucumber for crunch, and it’s a lunchtime hero.
BLT: The ultimate trio. Crispy bacon, juicy tomato, and crisp lettuce, usually hugged by mayo and toasted bread. A serious fan favourite.
Egg and Cress: Soft boiled eggs mashed with mayo and a touch of mustard, topped with peppery cress. It’s light, protein-packed, and seriously underrated.
Ham and Cheese: The humble king of simplicity. Whether served cold or toasted to gooey perfection, it always hits the spot.
The New Classics
Chicken, Avocado & Pesto: A modern café classic. Creamy, herby, and fresh — this one feels just a little fancy.
Falafel & Hummus: A vegetarian dream. Add some pickled veg and chili sauce, and you’ve got a wrap-worthy combo bursting with bold, satisfying flavour.
Crisp Sandwich: Yes, just crisps in bread. It’s a nostalgic, crunchy, guilty pleasure.
Leftover Roast Dinner: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, maybe even a little gravy.
So… What’s Your Favourite?
Here’s the beauty of a sandwich: there’s no wrong answer. Your favourite might be a childhood staple, a travel discovery, or something you invented on a lazy Sunday. And it says more about you than you might think — are you a comfort-seeker, a flavour explorer, or a traditionalist?
Let us know your ultimate filling in the comments below. And if you’re feeling brave, share your most controversial sandwich creation. (We promise we won’t judge… much.)
Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bedford, Kettering, Daventry, Wellingborough and Surrounding Areas 
01908 046946 | 
info@ilovecatering.co.uk
