Coping with Menopause While Cooking Christmas Dinner: Tips to Enjoy the Day

Getting Ahead in the Kitchen

Christmas Day is a time for family, laughter, and delicious food, but when you’re dealing with menopause, it can feel overwhelming. After years of trying to make everything perfect for everyone, I learned that it's crucial to prepare in a way that lets you enjoy the day too. One of the best tips I can give is to get ahead in the kitchen.

Consider preparing some dishes a day or two before Christmas. Jamie Oliver's cookbooks are fantastic for this. They provide simple recipes that are sure to impress your guests without leaving you feeling frazzled. Dishes like his roasted vegetables or make-ahead stuffing can save you time and hassle on the big day, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – family time.

Show-stopping Christmas Trifle Recipe- Menonet style!

Dark Chocolate & Orange Christmas Trifle with Madeira Sponge and Fresh Custard- A recipe that’s rich, elegant, and a little bit indulgent — layered with madeira sponge soaked in orange liqueur, creamy fresh custard, dark chocolate, and toasted nuts for crunch.

• Time

  • Prep time: 40 minutes

  • Chilling time: 2–4 hours (or overnight)

  • Total time: Around 3 hours (including chilling)

  Serves

  8–10 people

  Equipment

  • 1 large glass trifle bowl (3L capacity)

  • Medium saucepan

  • Heatproof bowl

  • Whisk

  • Sharp knife

  • Chopping board

  • Fine grater or zester

  • Mixing bowl

  • Spatula

  • Electric whisk (optional)

  Ingredients

  For the sponge layer

  • 1 large Madeira cake (about 300 g), cut into thick slices

  • 100 ml orange liqueur (e.g. Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or triple sec)

  • 2 tbsp orange juice (freshly squeezed)

  • Zest of 1 orange

  For the custard

  • 500 ml whole milk

  • 150 ml double cream

  • 1 vanilla pod (or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste)

  • 6 large egg yolks

  • 100 g caster sugar

  • 2 tbsp cornflour

  For the chocolate layer

  • 150 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), roughly chopped

  • 150 ml double cream

  • 1 tbsp orange liqueur

  For the whipped cream topping

  • 300 ml double cream

  • 1 tbsp icing sugar

  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

  To finish

  • 50 g toasted almonds or hazelnuts, roughly chopped

  • 25 g dark chocolate (grated or shaved for decoration)

  • Fresh orange zest for garnish

  Method

  1. Prepare the custard:

     • In a saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and vanilla pod (split and seeds scraped in) over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.

     • In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornflour until pale.

     • Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the eggs while whisking continuously.

     • Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook gently over low heat, stirring, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5–7 minutes).

     • Remove from the heat, discard the vanilla pod, and let it cool slightly. Cover with cling film (touching the surface) to prevent a skin forming.

     • If pushed for time and anxiety has kicked in then miss this step and go out and by the best quality fresh custard you can!

  2. Soak the sponge:

     • Arrange the Madeira cake slices in the bottom of your trifle bowl.

     • Mix the orange liqueur and orange juice, then drizzle evenly over the sponge. Sprinkle over the orange zest.

     • Let it soak for 10 minutes while you prepare the chocolate.

  3. Make the chocolate layer:

     • Heat the cream in a small pan until hot but not boiling.

     • Pour over the chopped dark chocolate, let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.

     • Stir in 1 tbsp of orange liqueur. Let it cool slightly, then pour gently over the soaked sponge layer. Chill for 10–15 minutes to set slightly.

  4. Add the custard layer:

     • Once the chocolate layer has cooled, spoon the fresh custard evenly over the top. Smooth the surface.

     • Chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight for deeper flavour).

  5. Whip the cream:

     • Whip the double cream, icing sugar, and vanilla together until soft peaks form.

     • Spoon or pipe over the custard layer.

  6. Finish and decorate:

     • Sprinkle with toasted nuts, grated dark chocolate, and a little orange zest.

     • Keep chilled until ready to serve.

  Serving Tip

  Serve straight from the fridge. Each spoonful gives you that dreamy mix — boozy orange sponge, rich dark chocolate, silky custard, and fluffy cream with nutty crunch.

Tips to Make Christmas More Enjoyable

1. Involve Your Family
Don’t take on everything yourself — Christmas is a team effort! Invite family members, especially kids or parents, to help with meal prep, setting the table, or organising the day’s schedule. It creates lovely bonding moments, shares the workload, and gives you space to breathe and actually enjoy the celebration.

2. Keep an Eye on Wrapping Paper
As the presents stack up under the tree, do a quick check that you’ve got enough wrapping paper, tape, and tags. It sounds small, but staying organised can really help ease last-minute stress. On the big day, keep a few sturdy bin bags nearby to collect all the discarded wrapping — it keeps things tidy and makes post-Christmas recycling a breeze!

3. Take a Refreshing Walk
A brisk walk after lunch is a wonderful way to revive your energy and calm your mind. Fresh air and gentle movement can help balance mood, ease hot flushes, and boost circulation — plus, it’s a great chance to “walk off” some of that festive feast and clear your head for the rest of the day.

4. Play, Laugh, and Unwind
Once the plates are cleared, bring everyone together for a board game or a fun quiz. Laughter and light-hearted competition are fantastic stress relievers — and a perfect reminder that Christmas is about connection, not chaos.

Preparing for Christmas dinner while navigating menopause doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a bit of planning, a sprinkle of self-kindness, and a willingness to delegate, you can create a joyful, relaxed day for everyone — including yourself. Remember, it’s about memories, not perfection.

And if it all gets a bit too much? Leave them to it, run yourself a hot bath, pop on your favourite podcast, and start the gentle countdown to Boxing Day bliss.