Christmas Dinner 911!
Amy Albert
You might not even need this info. (We hope you don’t.) But on December 24 and 25, there’s an awful lot riding on dinner. So, just in case, here’s our best advice for what to do when…
The prime rib is in the oven, but the oven has stopped working.
Don’t panic. Just slice the prime rib into double chops (two bones each) and sear the double chops on the stove in a hot skillet. For serving, slice the double chops into single chops, so you’ll have one crusty side and one pink, cut side.
There aren’t enough drippings from the beef roast for the Yorkshire pudding.
Substitute an equal amount of butter for the fat and drippings–the pudding will still be delicious.
SEE MORE: 10 Last-Minute Christmas Dinners (Ready in Under an Hour)
The glaze on the ham is burning.
Cover the ham with foil and turn the oven down, if needed. Or, if it’s already burned, scrape the glaze off and apply some more.
The meat thermometer is nowhere to be found.
Cut into the roast to check for color.
The cake is cracking as the buche de Noel is being rolled up.
Buche de Noel is supposed to have a certain naturalistic imperfection. You’ll be frosting the outside of the cake, then decorating the surface with the tines of a fork and garnishing it with meringue mushrooms. Those three steps will help cover up any cracks.
SEE MORE: 13 Extreme Gingerbread Houses
The buche de Noel filling is oozing out of the roll.
Put the cake in the fridge or freezer so the filling firms up, and serve the cake cold.
The table looks sparse.
Arrange a big bowl of clementines, pomegranates, and lemons. Put the fruits and some snipped tree boughs directly on the table. Or, buy a few bunches of rosemary, stick the sprigs of herbs in vases, and festoon the table that way.
More from Bon Appetit:
The Ultimate Sugar Cookie Recipe for All Your Christmas Cookie Needs
How to Solve Your Cookie-Baking Conundrums
Sweet and Savory Christmas Day Breakfast
Christmas Party Dos and Dont’s
