Your family is visiting for the holidays–and you’re cooking the main holiday meal. You want to impress them, but you also don’t want to be too exhausted to open presents.
“Cooking for all those extra guests can become overwhelming,” said Katie Brown, author of “Katie Brown’s Weekends.”
Brown, over e-mail, offered these tips to ease the stress:
– Be prepared. “Plan your menus in advance. Shop early. Take shortcuts where possible, like buying packaged veggies already trimmed or cut, or ready-made bread dough.”
– Buy disposable pans. “Save time and headache this year by using disposable roasting pans, or line your casserole pan with foil. The less washing you have to do, the better!”
– Keep it clean. “With all those extra bodies in the house, likely you will have to rearrange some furniture to accommodate the holiday masses. Keep one of my favorite `quick-fixes,’ Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, on-hand to erase scuff marks left on walls and floors.”
– Learn quick meals. “Roasted chicken and potatoes is one of the quickest and most impressive meals to dish up at a moment’s notice and is a hit for a holiday-themed dinner.”
– Don’t forget the kids. “How about a scavenger hunt. Make a list of 10 nature items to find outside, give them each a paper bag, and open the door! When they get back, place their treasures in a glass bowl, surround with votive candles, and they’ve helped create a beautiful centerpiece for the dinner table.”
– Cut corners. “I believe dessert is a great time to cheat! I always have a box of pre-mixed brownies on hand. The guest will never know because you can make them your own by adding to them. One of my favorite new ways to twist them up is melt down caramels and swirl them in with the batter, then serve them with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.”
– Give it away. “Instead of being overwhelmed by incredible amounts of leftovers, send them home with your guests to enjoy. Stock up on covered containers and festive ribbon–a `doggy bag’ never looked so good.”
———-
Do you have any expert tips, on any topic, you’d like to pass along? Or any you’d like us to track down? E-mail [email protected] Put HOW TO in the subject field.
More Top Picks Nas