Kitchen Tidbits

A true marker of adulthood is when you plan and host your first holiday dinner. There is no day quite like it. However, at some point, probably about six hours before you’d like to serve your dinner, you’ll look around a kitchen that resembles a war zone, at a beloved dish that looks nothing like it should, and you’ll wonder how your uncle, mother, or grandmother ever managed to pull it off. They did, of course, and with a little luck so will you.

To begin with, the way to best survive your first big dinner is to plan the day ahead of time. It’s not just about the cooking, but about the arrangements. For instance, where will your guests eat? How is your supply of dinnerware, glassware, flatware, and serveware? A good place to start is by making a list of the items you’ll need, and get them in advance of the big day. You’ll want to consider who your guest will be - is it your friends who will be quite content with a casual event, or is it your in-laws who you need to impress?

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 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?

The next step is to prepare your kitchen. About a week before the holiday scrub your kitchen top to bottom. Clean out your pantry and your refrigerator. Try to live off of food you already have in your kitchen to save space and money. Check everything you will use to cook and serve your dinner. Put everything you will need in easy reach. Even if this requires rearranging your cabinets, the time it will save on the big day will be worth.

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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