The holiday is nearly here and you've decided to host the gathering at your place this year. If you're new at this, you'll find out that if you don't plan ahead, you'll end up like many have, scrambling just hours before the meal, frazzled. And your kitchen will look like it too. That's when you might also find yourself wondering just how your grandmother or aunt was able to do it and make it look simple. Don't worry, you can do it too with a few simple planning tips no host or hostess could do without.
The first step to surviving making this dinner with your sanity intact will be proper planning. There is more to a successful holiday dinner than just cooking it. Where will everyone eat? Do you have enough dishes, glasses, silverware, and serving pieces for the meal? Make a list of what you need, and then acquire it. Take into account which guests are coming. Your friends probably will be happy to sit on the floor on pillows and eat on mismatched plates, while your grandmother-in-law might be a little picky.
Then you can start mulling over the menu. Will you need to make someone's sentimental favorite, like a homemade apple pie? Is your friend yearning for her favorite green bean casserole? You can't be all things to all people, so don't pressure yourself to cook everything to please everybody. And hopefully you've kept the guest list a manageable size too.
If this is your first holiday hosting, you might not want to take on too many dishes at once, so take a good look at your list and think about editing it down to something comfortably manageable. While you'll surely want to take into account some of the sentimental favorites, and maybe a new favorite of your own, plan on keeping it rather simple. You'd be surprised at how people will still enjoy a scaled down dinner. Concentrate on the quality rather than the quantity of the dishes. Gather your recipes and prepare your shopping list. Take one last review of your kitchenware to make sure you have all of the tools you need.
So you have your kitchen supplies in order, and now you can concentrate on the food. Double check your grocery list to make sure you have it all covered - this way you'll avoid last minute dashes to the store. If you're planning the meal around a main dish such as ham or turkey, make sure you have the ordered or purchased days in advance. Then purchase the rest of the items you'll need for your side dishes and drinks, waiting until the day or 2 before to buy the most perishable items.
Another good idea is to tackle the big housecleaning a week ahead of time, including a good thorough cleaning and shining of the kitchen. If you're at all tight on space, try to eat the items you have in stock rather than buying too many groceries unrelated to the holiday. You'll be glad you did, as it will give you more room in your cabinets and fridge. The day before the holiday, it's also a good idea to lay out your supplies and tools in easy reach of your cooking area so you can get the morning off to the right start.
Now the best way to ensure a stress free day is to get out your recipes the night before and review them so you can schedule the prep and cook times. Try and prepare any dishes you can the night before if possible. These simple steps in advance will really pay off and make your whole day go much smoother. Put your list in a convenient spot and check of the tasks as you go. Take a deep breath, and try to remember to enjoy the day!
The first step to surviving making this dinner with your sanity intact will be proper planning. There is more to a successful holiday dinner than just cooking it. Where will everyone eat? Do you have enough dishes, glasses, silverware, and serving pieces for the meal? Make a list of what you need, and then acquire it. Take into account which guests are coming. Your friends probably will be happy to sit on the floor on pillows and eat on mismatched plates, while your grandmother-in-law might be a little picky.
Then you can start mulling over the menu. Will you need to make someone's sentimental favorite, like a homemade apple pie? Is your friend yearning for her favorite green bean casserole? You can't be all things to all people, so don't pressure yourself to cook everything to please everybody. And hopefully you've kept the guest list a manageable size too.
If this is your first holiday hosting, you might not want to take on too many dishes at once, so take a good look at your list and think about editing it down to something comfortably manageable. While you'll surely want to take into account some of the sentimental favorites, and maybe a new favorite of your own, plan on keeping it rather simple. You'd be surprised at how people will still enjoy a scaled down dinner. Concentrate on the quality rather than the quantity of the dishes. Gather your recipes and prepare your shopping list. Take one last review of your kitchenware to make sure you have all of the tools you need.
So you have your kitchen supplies in order, and now you can concentrate on the food. Double check your grocery list to make sure you have it all covered - this way you'll avoid last minute dashes to the store. If you're planning the meal around a main dish such as ham or turkey, make sure you have the ordered or purchased days in advance. Then purchase the rest of the items you'll need for your side dishes and drinks, waiting until the day or 2 before to buy the most perishable items.
Another good idea is to tackle the big housecleaning a week ahead of time, including a good thorough cleaning and shining of the kitchen. If you're at all tight on space, try to eat the items you have in stock rather than buying too many groceries unrelated to the holiday. You'll be glad you did, as it will give you more room in your cabinets and fridge. The day before the holiday, it's also a good idea to lay out your supplies and tools in easy reach of your cooking area so you can get the morning off to the right start.
Now the best way to ensure a stress free day is to get out your recipes the night before and review them so you can schedule the prep and cook times. Try and prepare any dishes you can the night before if possible. These simple steps in advance will really pay off and make your whole day go much smoother. Put your list in a convenient spot and check of the tasks as you go. Take a deep breath, and try to remember to enjoy the day!
About the Author:
Make sure you have the right kitchen tools on-hand by purchasing a newstainless steel cookware set. One pan you might want to add to your fry pan options is this Nonstick 12 Inch Skillet.
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