Woman who cooks Christmas dinner early says it cost her $40 this year

By Holly Mei-Yu Stafford

Meet the savvy mom who has already cooked multiple dishes for Christmas TWO MONTHS before the big day - and only spent $40 on food for six.

Tahnee Beck, 34, loves being prepared for the festive season and usually starts on Boxing Day the previous year - hitting the shops to bag bargain presents and decor.

The mom-of-two is hosting six people on Dec. 25 and wanted to get ahead of the game.

She said in previous years she has been "preoccupied" in the kitchen on Christmas Day - getting the food ready.

This time she has already cooked her roast potatoes, red cabbage with apple and parsnips stashed them in her freezer - ready to pop in the oven on Christmas Day - to make the festivities as stress-free as possible.

Tahnee has prepared seven meals for Christmas Eve - as cooked waffles for the morning of the big day.

She started cooking on Nov. 14 and says the prep took her two hours in total.

Tahnee also cashes in on sales throughout the year and estimates she gets Christmas at around half the cost of last-minute buying - saving herself $5,000 in the last seven years.

Tahnee, a homemaker, from north Norfolk, said: "Christmas should be a relaxing time for all - including the host.

"I prepped everything last year and the dinner was a huge success.

"It doesn't take that long because I just make double portions of roast potatoes or extra waffles during the run-up to Christmas.

"I love Christmas - and a little prep helps me enjoy it even more.

"In the past I've been preoccupied with getting lunch ready and the day has passed me by.

"I'm now looking forward to a relaxed morning opening presents and not stressing about peeling potatoes."

Tahnee - who is mom to, son, nine, and daughter, 12- has gammon and red cabbage already prepared in her freezer for Christmas Eve.

She will serve it with a blood orange salad which she can quickly throw together on the day.

And she has variety of cookies that she will bake from frozen and a Yuel log stashed away for December 25.

Tahnee also has pre-prepared frozen red cabbage and apple as a side dish, which cost her $1.50.

She reckons this would cost $8.55 for the same quantity at supermarket prices near the time - a saving of $7.05 on one dish.

Last year, Tahnee got her recipes from a vintage 1977 pamphlet by Mary Berry, called 'Freezing for Christmas'.

The booklet contained recipes for the week beginning Christmas Eve to be prepared and frozen in advance.

Tahnee said it's opened her eyes to new dishes, such as mackerel pâté.

"I love all things vintage, so it was a lot of fun for me," she said.

"My husband grew up eating a lot of these dishes at Christmas, so it was nostalgic for him, however, the pineapple ice cream we had last year wasn't the best, so I'll be sticking to Yuel log for the children and fruit pavlova for the adults this year.

"For Boxing Day we'll have a bubble and squeak breakfast from leftover potatoes and vegetables with eggs.

"Followed by turkey bake and cheese sauce for lunch.

"It's not just a stress-free Christmas but also affordable and no-waste."

Tahnee starts prepping for Christmas on Boxing Day, hitting the shops to bag bargains on presents and decorations.

She cashes in on sales throughout the year and estimates she gets Christmas at around half the cost of last-minute buying - saving herself $5,000 in the last seven years.

Tahnee - who is married to her partner, aged 37, an engineer - said: "I just like to get all the work out the way so we can really enjoy Christmas.

"To anyone wanting to do the same this year, sit down and work out your menu and when you'll cook each dish during the run-up to Christmas.

"And don't forget to take it out of the freezer on Christmas Eve."