Holiday Cooking - Your Battle Plan

Christmas is only a few days away and it's time to put your battle plan for cooking into action. It's time to write out lists and check them twice to make sure your holiday dinner goes perfectly. Also no matter where you are in the world, you should be planning and plotting what you'll be doing from the first chore to washing dishes.Being completely prepared helps to create a smoother ,less stressful Christmas dinner.

By now you should have your turkey,ham or crown roast (or whatever you 're going to make on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day).For those serving fish on Christmas Eve , you can buy some fresh fish the day of cooking. Also make sure you have nut crackers for cracking crab legs or lobster.Root veggies should also have been bought already too. Make sure your spice rack is well stocked and you have what you want as far as dried herbs and condiments.Also double check to see if you have the right amount of pots and pans for cooking. Check to see if your oven and appliances are up to speed too.

Desserts are a little easier . By now you should have made your cookies and they should be all set to be baked or decorated.Cakes should be baked either tomorrow or Sunday for the big day. If you;re making cream pies, then do so either Christmas Eve Day or Christmas morning. If you;re settling on a simple ending of fruit and cheese , then you can buy those tomorrow. Both will keep. As for wine and champagne, again, you can buy tomorrow. Punches can be made the day of serving. They taste better when they're made an hour or two before serving.

Many hate holiday cooking because they feel it's too overwhelming. It doesn't have to be if you have a game plan.Be prepared. That's all it takes to have a wonderful Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner.