Food, family, travel, and time can become overwhelming during the holidays; especially if you are the one preparing and hosting. We all would prefer to spend our time with our loved ones as opposed to in the kitchen.
Whether planning for a simple holiday dinner or feeding your family over several days, planning is key.
Below are Chef Kitura's simple steps to plan your holiday meals and limit time spent in the kitchen.
Tip 1: Map Out a Meal Plan
Write down what you are serving; this provides a vision of what needs to be prepared. Any special recipes, ingredients, cookware, and timings have all been taken care of by just putting everything on a piece of paper.
Tip 2: Take Inventory of What You Have
Once the meal has been written down, we need to make a list of ingredients needed. Using the meal plan above, break down each dish into ingredients. This may take a little time, but once this list of ingredients is complete, a quick inventory of what's in the fridge, cabinets, and pantry lets you cross off things you already have. There's no better trip to the grocery store than one in which you know exactly what you're getting.
Tip 3: Prepare a Shopping List
We've eliminated ingredients we already have on hand, so all that is left are things we need to shop for. Some people like to categorize ingredients by the area in the store. Others use mobile apps to make their lists and either pickup or have the ingredients delivered. Whichever way you choose, you'll be glad that the plan is already in place.
Tip 4: Prep Early
We have dishes and ingredients, so now it's time to figure out what we can prep ahead of time. Simple things like washing and chopping veggies, seasoning meats, making sauces and dressings, and making dough will significantly cut down the time required in the kitchen on meal day.
Tip 5: Delegate and Ask for Help
Whether it's a meal for two or the entire family, there is ALWAYS something that can be delegated to others. Even if you prefer to do all of the meal prep and cooking yourself, others can be recruited for tasks like setting the table, plating appetizers, taking out the trash, washing dishes, running to the store, and more. Figure out who is able to help and what they can do make the meal process smooth for everyone.
Tip 6: Eat and Enjoy
The most important tip of them all: take time to share the meal with your loved ones and enjoy the fellowship over good food. Be very intentional about enjoying your meal and make new, special memories this holiday season.
BONUS TIP: Let Chef Kitura Take Care of the Cooking
We have several options for holiday celebrations large and small. Spend more time enjoying your company and let Chef Kitura create a unique dining experience designed for especially you.