It’s that time of year again! The holiday season has commenced, and it’s time to get organized before your out-of-town guests come through the door. We’ve come up with the following tips to help make this season’s holidays your best yet:
Prepare Your Menu
Go ahead and start planning your menu now. Once you’ve decided what to include on your holiday menu, make a schedule of what you need to do – and need to have – in the kitchen. Also, be sure to send out any food requests you’d like your guests to bring! From shopping to prepping, spacing out your to-do list over multiple days before the big event keeps you organized and efficient. You can even make certain dishes days beforehand, such as soups, and freeze them until it’s time to serve them.
Buy Your Pumpkins NOW
Yes, this is the season for all-things-pumpkin, but did you know, our favorite gourd virtually disappears after Halloween? That’s right – for some reason, actual pumpkins are hard to find in grocery stores come November. Therefore, buy them now and store them in the fridge until it’s time to use them for cooking.
Shop Ahead
Shop early to ensure you beat the crowds, as well as get all the items you need on your menu. It’s also important to double-check on staples, such as olive oil, butter and spices, before you make a grocery run – you don’t want to have to make multiple trips when you don’t have to!
Delegate
More than likely, you’ll have some family members on hand to help during the holidays. Now is the time to recruit a few of them – it will not only help you feel less overwhelmed, but it’s also a great way to get everyone involved!
Plan in Advance
When it comes to cooking, things always take longer than anticipated. Thus, the rule of thumb is to allow way more time than you think you’ll need. Also, do as much as possible in advance. No one wants to be running around in the kitchen while the first few guests are arriving.
Planning ahead and spreading out the holiday preparations is a great way to enjoy a stress-free holiday season. Enjoy!
