CHRISTMAS comes once a year, unless you are Jayne Winteringham that is.
The 68-year-old has had Christmas dinner every day for the last 23 years and has no intention of stopping any time soon!
Whilst most of us will have a roast over the festive period or on a Sunday, the sales consultant has had Christmas dinner virtually every day since 2000.
Like many parents, the mum-of-four would regularly make a weekly roast but after her kids moved out, Jayne picked up the strange habit.
Her love of Christmas dinner started long before she had children though, with her often having a roast with her parents on a Sunday afternoon.
The Bristol woman is so obsessed with the classic British dish that she will order the traditional dinner, or the closest thing to it, when out with her husband.
Even in warm weather Jayne refuses to change up her diet, with the 68-year-old often taking her kids to a Toby Carvery after a day at the beach.
“In the summer, I still cook it, whatever the weather, and it has to be piping hot – there’s nothing worse than a cold roast,” she laughed, adding: “Sometimes I make a roast sandwich in the summer, which is lovely.”
Though you’d think she’d get bored of the repetitive meal, every day is Christmas for Jayne and she has eaten over 8,000 roasts during the last two decades.
In fact, she has a few tricks to keep things fresh and low cost.
Despite the cost of living crisis, the 68 year old has sprouts, gravy, potatoes and meat with every dinner and claims to spend just £2 per portion.
This is thanks to her one-pot method for cooking the traditional meal, which Jayne says takes her around forty minutes to prepare.
Starting by par boiling the potatoes, she will then cook these with chicken breasts in oven and steam the veg in the microwave – ready to serve with gravy.
“With the way I cook it, all in one pan, and just veg in the microwave, it’s quite cheap compared to doing it all separately,” she revealed, adding: “You can put all of it in the oven, it’s an easy way to eat, and it’s nutritious.”
The thrifty mum-of-four will also make enough to spread over several days, cooking bubble and squeak or soup from the leftovers.
Occasionally, she will treat herself to some turkey or sausages with the 68-year-old also adding different condiments to her favourite meal.
In fact, she’s already started planning for Christmas Day and intends to make it ‘extra special’ by adding Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and pigs in blankets.
“It’s my favourite meal so of course I’m still excited for Christmas, I can’t wait,” she gushed.
Even after eating it every day for over twenty years, Jayne cannot see herself giving up her favourite meal any time soon.
She said: “Now I have this reputation I can’t stop now!
“I just love roasts so much, and it’s my favourite meal, so I’m sure I’ll be eating them for many years to come.”
