Tips for Crushing the Holiday Season Part II

Without further ado, here is part II of my ten tips to help you crush the holiday season!

6. Cook A Day or Two in Advance

For large meals like Thanksgiving dinner you can avoid a lot of frustration and the pressure of running out of  time by preparing what you can in advance and knowing what you should make for the day of.  General
tips:

• If you brine (turkey for instance) or marinate anything you should prepare it the night before.

• Pies are a great dessert to make in advance because it allows them to set.

• As a chef I often wash, peal, and cut vegetables and put them in deli containers.  This makes it super simple to just reach in the refrigerator and cook the dish at the time that it's needed. 

• My dressings are popular so I always make them from scratch.  This again is something that you can prepare a day in advance. 

  7.  Organization

  Before you go shopping do an inventory check of your kitchen.  Check expiration dates and quantities.  Throw out anything that's gone bad and create the refrigerator and pantry space for the items you need/will be bringing home. This is also a good time to see if you have all the pie pans, roasting, serving etc. dishes that you need.

• Make a shopping list.  I know this sounds like a no-brainer but it really helps to stay on task and get everything you need in one shot. Reference your recipes to make sure you have the proper quantities

• Some of you may have an extra refrigerator in the garage which is great for needed space. If you don't it's good to have a cooler or two around to hold ice and all those extra beverages you have for a big meal/party.
  8. Leftovers

• Remember in part I of this post I suggested giving leftovers to guests to take home.  It's a nice touch to the party and helps with the after party mess.  For the leftovers you keep try to use everything you have in the coming days. It's a great way to not have to cook too much after hosting and also you can enjoy  different combinations of the food. For instance the famous turkey and cranberry sandwich, use turkey bones to make stock, shred meat, etc. There are a lot of ways to change up your leftovers. And then of course, you can always freeze some leftovers to make a simple meal solution on a busy day.

  9. Clean Up Plan

  After all the revelry is done, comes the clean up! Enlist some help if you can, whether it's the night of or the day after. On your grocery shopping list, include cleaning items such as paper towels, cleaning sprays, etc. so that you have everything you need. I am a big proponent of clean as you go. Don't take it too far so that your ignoring your guests but just keep organized. Put dishes in the dishwasher as you go, wipe down the counter. Make sure that your garbage and recycling bins are large enough and easily accessible. If you have any rentals keep them separated from your personal glassware/dishes. 

  10. HAVE FUN

  This is really the most important tip. Remember that the holiday is about coming together with loved ones and CELEBRATING! Hopefully all these tips help you to have the time to focus on the meaning of the holidays and appreciating the people you come together with.  Your holiday will be a success if you feel that you've had a chance to relax and have fun while hosting a great event.

  -Chef Seis