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:
โข Plan, plan, plan. Take the time to write your menu and gather your recipes in one place (pro-tip โ 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.
โข 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.
โข Shop over time. Itโs can be easier on your budget to spread the extra expenses over a few paychecks and itโs more convenient to pick up a few things at a time rather than all at once. If you have room in your freezer โ 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 wonโt go bad before the holiday.
โข Look to our weekly and monthly sales for specials on holiday staples HERE.
โข Mix homemade with pre-made to ease the workload!
How much food t0 prepare for each guest:
โข Hors d’oeuvres | 4-6 bites per person
โข Cheese and Charcuterie | 3 ounces per person
โข Salad | 1 ยฝ cups per person
โข Rolls | 1-2 per person
โข Turkey/Entrรฉe | 1-1ยฝ lbs. per person
โข Mashed Potatoes | ยฝ lb. per person
โข Stuffing | ยพ cup per person
โข Gravy | ยฝ cup per person
โข Cranberry Sauce | ยฝ cup person
โข 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:
โข Make and freeze soup
โข Make and freeze gravy (if you havenโt ordered it already from KWF)
โข Prepare cranberry sauce
โข Make pie dough, roll into disks, and freeze
โข Mix pie fillings and freeze or refrigerate
โข Cube and freeze bread for stuffing
โข Prepare and freeze or refrigerate casseroles
1 day before:
โข Assemble stuffing and refrigerate
โข Peel and chop potatoes, cover in cold water and refrigerate
โข Clean, peel, and chop vegetables for salads and sides, refrigerate
โข Bake pies
โข Make whipped cream
โข Prep cheese and charcuterie or other appetizers
โข Cut garnishes for drinks, make sure you have plenty of ice
โข Arrange tables and chairs for ample seating
Day of:
โข Roast turkey
โข Boil and mash potatoes
โข Cook vegetables
โข Heat casseroles, sides, gravy, and soup
โข Assemble salad
โข Set table