Tips for a Stress Free Holiday Dinner
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us view the start of the winter holiday season with both anticipation & dread. On the plus side is a chance to gather with family members & friends, of giving thanks for the blessings that we have received during the past year & a chance to spend time visiting with those we don't see often enough. On the negative side, the extra people can make the house seem crowded, there's lots of extra cleaning & when the guests have left, you often wonder if it was worth the time & effort that was spent in the kitchen while everyone else was enjoying themselves and laughing in the other room.
There are, however, some simple tricks that can help you enjoy the holiday gatherings. By utilizing as many of these hints as possible, you will find that your holiday dinner will be more enjoyable for all involved.
1) Start planning your event early. If you're getting a turkey or ham smoked, book it early. Check your pantry & start shopping for the ingredients you will need for your main dishes ahead of time - the expense can be spread out over a few weeks rather than hitting all at once.
2) A week before the holiday give the house a thorough cleaning. Make sure carpets, drapes & the linens are all clean. Make sure there are no overly-ripe vegetables or moldy leftovers in the refrigerator. Clean the oven & microwave. Remove clutter from the kitchen counters.
3) If decorating for the season, do it a few days ahead of time. It will allow you to enjoy the decorations a little longer yourself.
4) Anything that can be started & "held" in the refrigerator or freezer, should be! This is a super stress-buster. Pre-bake your pie shells and casseroles. Store in the refrigerator. Pick cookies that can be mixed, rolled & stored in the refrigerator. Many vegetables can be sliced the night before, covered & left in the refrigerator.
5) Utilize some of life's modern conveniences. Pull that bread-maker out of storage & greet your guests with the aroma of fresh, hot bread. If you want rolls, the bread-maker can take care of the mixing & kneading for you. After the dough has been mixed & kneaded, remove it from the bread-maker, shape your rolls & let them rise as normal before putting them in the oven. Use your ice cream maker to make a refreshing fruit or pumpkin sorbet.
6) Consider having everyone bring a dish - let everyone bring their "special" dish or a favorite, but keep track of what everyone is bringing or you might end up with no vegetables and five or six pumpkin pies.
7) Involve children in dinner preparations. Kids love to snap beans, arrange a garnish tray, fold napkins and put the silverware on the table. Remember - picking an activity that is age-appropriate will avoid "disasters" and the resulting tears.
8) Set the table the night before & cover it with a clean tablecloth and consider using plastic or paper plates for leftovers later in the day.
9) "Draft" help to clear the table and clean the kitchen.
These tips will allow everyone to enjoy both a great meal and a satisfying visit after giving thanks for the year's blessing.
