Preparing to host a holiday meal can feel overwhelming, so we’re sharing some planning, make-ahead, and kitchen prep tips that can make the big day easier and give you more time to enjoy your loved ones.
Organization and Shopping:
β’ Plan, plan, plan. Take the time to write your menu and gather your recipes in one place (pro-tip β stick with tried and true recipes, holidays are not the time to be recipe testing and can add to the overall pressure). Then make a detailed shopping list.
β’ Ask for help! Asking family members and guests to help with prep or clean up, or to bring a side-dish, dessert, or drink can save you a lot of time and energy.
β’ Shop over time. Itβs can be easier on your budget to spread the extra expenses over a few paychecks and itβs more convenient to pick up a few things at a time rather than all at once. If you have room in your freezer β pies, dinner rolls, and staples like extra butter can be bought in advance and frozen. You can also stock up on canned goods and shelf-stable items like broths, condensed soups, cranberry sauce, crackers, and snacks that wonβt go bad before the holiday.
β’ Look to our weekly and monthly sales for specials on holiday staples HERE.
β’ Mix homemade with pre-made to ease the workload!
How much food t0 prepare for each guest:
β’ Hors d’oeuvres | 4-6 bites per person
β’ Cheese and Charcuterie | 3 ounces per person
β’ Salad | 1 Β½ cups per person
β’ Rolls | 1-2 per person
β’ Turkey/EntrΓ©e | 1-1Β½ lbs. per person
β’ Mashed Potatoes | Β½ lb. per person
β’ Stuffing | ΒΎ cup per person
β’ Gravy | Β½ cup per person
β’ Cranberry Sauce | Β½ cup person
β’ Pie | 1-2 slices per person
Work Ahead:
Doing a few little tasks each day can make a huge difference. The sooner you get started, the more ahead you’ll be!
Up to 1 week before:
β’ Make and freeze soup
β’ Make and freeze gravy (if you havenβt ordered it already from KWF)
β’ Prepare cranberry sauce
β’ Make pie dough, roll into disks, and freeze
β’ Mix pie fillings and freeze or refrigerate
β’ Cube and freeze bread for stuffing
β’ Prepare and freeze or refrigerate casseroles
1 day before:
β’ Assemble stuffing and refrigerate
β’ Peel and chop potatoes, cover in cold water and refrigerate
β’ Clean, peel, and chop vegetables for salads and sides, refrigerate
β’ Bake pies
β’ Make whipped cream
β’ Prep cheese and charcuterie or other appetizers
β’ Cut garnishes for drinks, make sure you have plenty of ice
β’ Arrange tables and chairs for ample seating
Day of:
β’ Roast turkey
β’ Boil and mash potatoes
β’ Cook vegetables
β’ Heat casseroles, sides, gravy, and soup
β’ Assemble salad
β’ Set table