Holiday Dinner Planning Made Easy
There’s nothing quite like the experience of hosting your first holiday dinner for family or friends. If you don’t plan ahead, you might join the ranks for many who, just hours before dinner is set to begin, find themselves in a kitchen that looks like a bomb hit it. You’re sure to wonder just how your mom or grandma ever put it all together, and made it look easy. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to manage it quite well too.
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.
The next step in planning is coming up with your menu. This is an area where emotions run high. Thanksgiving, to me, means my grandmother’s stuffing. A dear friend says it is not a holiday without green bean casserole. However, unless the family is moving their celebration en masse to your house, you probably won’t be cooking for the crowds that we usually associate with holiday dinners.
If you’re hosting for the first time, it’s very wise to not try to handle too many dishes at once. Review your list to see if there isn’t a dish you can do without, that or perhaps have someone else bring it. And while it’s a nice idea to make a few sentimental dishes for your guests, focus on keeping it simple. Think quality rather than quantity, you’re guests will enjoy themselves quite nicely and you’ll certainly breathe easier. Review your supplies one last time and make sure all of your kitchen tools are on-hand.
After you have acquired all of the cooking and serving equipment you need, it is time to consider the food. Make sure you have written down EVERYTHING you need on your shopping list. Consider your main dish. Do you want a special turkey or ham? You might need to place a special order. Buy pantry staples (flour, sugar, anything canned) about a week or so before the holiday. A few days before buy the turkey or ham. Then buy the perishables. Don’t forget to check your staples. Do you really have enough salt, pepper, coffee, and sugar?
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!
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