Cooking Christmas dinner for 100 – Inverness care home chef prepares for an early start
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In kitchens across Inverness, today will herald busy – and perhaps sometimes fraught – scenes culminating in the serving of Christmas dinner.
So, spare a thought for Cecilia Smith who will be looking after 100 people at an Inverness care home on Christmas Day.
The 48-year-old, who is chef and activities coordinator at Kingsmills Care Home, is among those workers who put family plans on hold as they dedicate themselves to keeping essential services running.
But Cecilia says she is looking forward to making today special for the residents.
And as for the secret to cooking Christmas dinner for 100 people? Days of preparation and an early start, she says.
Cecilia has worked at Kingsmills Care Home for five years – in the kitchen as the home chef as well as engaging residents in activities as part of a special programme which focuses on health and wellbeing.
With her own children now older, she says spending Christmas Day with the residents is her favourite way to enjoy the day.
"Spending Christmas with the residents, staff and relatives is the best way to celebrate the day," she said.
"My kids are teenagers now so they are more interested in a long lie on the day, anyway, so it’s great that I can get an early start in the home and make the day as special as possible for the residents.
"I’m cooking for almost 100 between the residents, the staff and we also invite any family members of the residents to join us, too, so prep work needs to start days in advance.
"I then head home and cook for the family but thankfully, my brother starts on the prep work to make things a little easier."
Outlining Christmas Day at the care home, she said: "We enjoy a special Christmas fry-up in the morning and then open presents and welcome family visits before our big blow out Christmas dinner with all the trimmings but the residents also enjoy wine, party food and cheese and crackers throughout the day.
"It really is one big celebration."
Residents have also been busy with other festive activities including carol singing, ceilidh bands, festive high teas, movie days and bingo.
"The residents have a jam-packed schedule over the month of December and Christmas Day tops that off nicely with lots of games, singing and dancing," Cecilia said.
"We really live by the idea that we work in their home as opposed to them living in our place of work and we do all that we can to make it feel like a Christmas at home," she said.
"For some, we’ll be all the family they have and that puts an incredible responsibility on us to ensure we give them the best day that we can.
"Christmas at Kingsmills really is full of joy and I am so lucky that I get to play a part in providing that experience for our residents."
Kingsmill Care Home is part of the Renaissance Care Group which operates 16 homes across Scotland.
The home also has a large garden which residents tend to in the warmer months, growing herbs and vegetables used to create nutritious meals at the on-site kitchen.
