How to Load the Ultimate Christmas Plate

It’s not just about piling up food on a plate; it’s about engineering a masterpiece. A sculpture Da Vinci himself would covet. The plate is your canvas, the roast your muse. And if you’re not taking this seriously, then step aside. This is a job for the plate professionals.

First, the foundation. You need to lay the groundwork with your carbs—roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Scatter the roasties strategically to maximise structural integrity. They’re like scaffolding for everything else to come. The mash should be smooth, buttery, and nestled in a crater ready to hold an ocean of gravy. Stuffing is the cement, filling in gaps, adding density, and ensuring every forkful has that hit of herby, salty satisfaction.

Next comes the meat. Turkey is obligatory, of course, but let’s not pretend it’s the main event. It’s a vessel for flavour—a sponge for gravy, cranberry sauce, and, ideally, a thick slice of glazed ham beside it to pick up the slack. Ham is the MVP, salty and rich, a counterpoint to the turkey’s often dry demeanour. Slice generously; this isn’t a time to skimp.

The veg is where things can go wrong for the untrained hand. Sprouts, controversial as they may be, bring bitterness and bite, best roasted until they’re almost caramelised and maybe even studded with pancetta or chestnuts for flair. Red cabbage is your sweet and tangy wildcard, balancing the plate. As for the carrots and parsnips, they should be roasted to within an inch of their lives.

Approach veg with caution. Sprouts, braised red cabbage, roasted carrots, and parsnips—each has a role to play. They can however be the ruin of a plate if not stacked properly. The juices can run riot over your creation. You want to make sure you’re serving them with a spoon with holes in it. So you leave the juice behind. You want them to be soft, caramelised, and begging to be dragged through gravy. 

Speaking of gravy, let’s talk sauce logistics. Gravy is the glue holding this plate together. You want it poured liberally, filling every available crevice, soaking into the mash and pooling under the meat. If there’s no gravy moat circling your plate, you’ve failed. Cranberry sauce is its sharp, sweet sidekick, dolloped near the turkey. It’s not the star, but it’s essential for those flavour contrasts. And if you’re not adding bread sauce to the mix, ask yourself: why do you hate joy?

Now for the extras. This is where the plate truly becomes yours. Yorkshire puddings? Not traditional for Christmas, but if they’re there, load them up. They can go on top. Soft, light and with a solid diameter they don’t need too much to keep them in place. They do however always make a plate look really impressive so if you’re going or the gram go for the pud.  Sausage stuffing balls? Absolutely. Pigs in blankets? Without question. These are like the sprinkles of a perfect dinner. You want these dotted around like edible ornaments, ready to surprise you mid-forkful. 

The plate itself is crucial. Don’t insult the feast with a dainty salad plate. You want something with heft. A piece of crockery large enough to support your ambitions. Don’t make the rookie mistake of stacking too high; this isn’t a game of Jenga. You need the wide base that builds upon itself. Not a tower of ‘how will she get her fork into that?’ Overload, and you risk losing gravy flow and structural integrity. Underload, and you’ll spend the meal looking enviously at your cousin’s masterpiece. Aim for balance—layers, not chaos. Ask the libras in your life if you must. They’re masters of this balancing act. 

Finally, the pièce de résistance: the croquette. This is your golden ticket, your crown jewel. The croquette is charismatic supporting actor who steals the scene. It’s your ace in the hole. It adds that je ne sais quoi. It adds an air of craftsmanship and integrity. The croquette is like the star atop the tree. It makes the whole thing come together.

When you’re done, take a step back and admire your handiwork. You’ve created something extraordinary. You've just made the best meal of your life, or at least your year. Look deep into the soul of that plat. Just you and your dinner, locked in festive bliss.

This is Christmas, the real deal. Christmas is all about the dinner. Not the tree, not the presents, not the family arguments over Monopoly. It’s the plate. Get it right, and you’ve won the day. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend the rest of the year haunted by missed opportunities. Choose wisely.