Holiday Dinner Planning

With Christmas just around (that's right I said it), I'd like to share a few tips and tricks that will help you pull off a great Christmas dinner. Organization and planning are the keys. If you spread the work over a few days you will be able to enjoy yourself.

1. Take the time to plan now before the hustle and bustle of the season is upon you.

2. Make a list and check it twice: food, beverages, seating. Review a week before the big day.

3. Grocery shop a few days before. If you can't find an ingredient this gives you time to look around for it. Don't forget a frozen turkey takes a few days to thaw.

4. Ask for help if you are cooking for a lot of people. Or hire a caterer, (like Design by Desire).

5. Make whatever food you can the day before. Dressing does not need to be cooked in the bird and is always better the next day.

6. The day of the dinner, do as much early morning prep as you can, when it's time to cook later, you can keep an eye on the time, not your cutting board.

7. Let your turkey rest before you carve it, about 20 minutes. By doing this, the juices, which have been driven to the centre of the meat can redistribute and be reabsorbed. The meat will lose less juice when you cut it and be far more tender. This also gives you a chance to make sure everything will be ready at the same time and pour yourself a wine (if you don't have one going already).

A little planning and forethought goes a long way, and will take a bit of the stress of the holidays away, unless you are the Griswold's, then all bets are off.