The holidays are fun, but there never seems to be enough time to enjoy them. These nine tricks have really helped me get a handle on everything I have to do to get ready on time without totally stressing out.
1. Plan My Menu.
At our house, holiday meals are always the main event. That means lots of cooking, food shopping, and the rest. It all goes quicker and easier if I plan my menu at least ten days out. I always want to cook more than I really have time for. Planning a big menu is a little like window shopping. I initially put a lot of dishes on the list, keep adjusting it and playing with it, and have fun thinking about what I might make. Four or five days before the meal, though, I get serious, whittle it down, and make decisions about what I'll really serve. Once I do that, I can breathe a sigh of relief and move on to the next task: making my shopping list.
2. Make a Complete Shopping List.
Once you plan your menu, don’t think you‘ll remember all the ingredients you need when you go shopping. You won’t. Write it down and make sure you take it with you when you go to the store. Shopping takes a lot of time and if the supermarket is crowded, it can end up being stressful, too. With a list, you’ll go quickly to what you need without needing to prowl aisles that sell ingredients you won’t be using. Plus, you won’t have to run out at the last minute to find something you completely forgot you needed because you didn’t write it down.
