Your Holiday Baking Goals

Now that it's December , it's time to start thinking about goals - namely your holiday baking ones. What do you want to achieve. The perfect array of cookies? Delicious pies and cakes? Traditional fruitcakes or airy mousses? It's all up to you.

First of all, any goal requires a plan. With baking it's simple. Make sure you have enough flour and sugar along with mixes, milk , eggs and butter. Also make sure your cookie cutters  and cake pans are up to par. If not go out and get yourself some new ones. Make sure you have extras such as a sieve or strainer for sifting confectioners sugar as well as for dusting onto baked goods. A pastry brush comes in handy , especially for brushing breads and rolls with melted butter or beaten egg.Also  have or get a ruler. This is important when you're making the pieces for gingerbread houses and you have to have exact measurements. I can't stress how crucial it is to have a roll or two of parchment paper. This is  a must if you/re baking certain cookies and definitely meringues. Holiday cupcake papers should also be part of your holiday baking plan. You know you're going to bake at least two dozen whether for a family or school party. Now is also the perfect time to test out your cookie press, making sure that one, the barrel isn't cracked and two, that the press still works. Make sure you have the holiday imprint discs too for those candy canes, angels, wreaths and trees. This is the time to assess baking extras and frills. Do you have to go out and get candy decorations? White and dark chocolate for dipping cookies into and for drizzling onto  surfaces? Do you have any sanding sugar left over from last year - and it's good to use for three to five years.

Now that you have your arsenal loaded, the next question is what to bake. I've been asked to bake  whole gingerbread families  including their dogs. Of course these families require housing. I know from my Mom baking  them, gingerbread houses require a certain level of skill, to bake, assemble and decorate. I know I can't handle the first. It would just be non-stop baking, while putting everything else on hold. I plan on just buying the kits (I have about three to four houses to "build" and frost). Luckily Target has Wilton's Ready To Decorate gingerbread houses that are not also already baked but assembled. All you have to do is just put a few icing swirls here and there, outline the windows and doors, and ice the roof. The kit also has extra silver and gold candy discs to create a front path.My one goal is a simple and elegant one : a two layer chocolate cake with a peppermint buttercream icing, dusted with silver sanding sugar. The only fanciness will be how the icing will be piped. I'll be looking through Carey Madden's great book Buttercream Basics : Learn The Art of Buttercream Decorating for inspiration for the cake's sides. I've also been asked to make scratch cookies and I'm thinking peanut butter blossoms and cookie press cookies in pink and green.

This is the time to think about your holiday baking goals. What do you want to achieve this season? Some elaborate masterpiece or a family classic? It's all up to you and what you can handle.

Your Thanksgiving Plan

It's hard to believe but Thanksgiving is a little ore than a week away. This is the crown jewel of holiday dinners and it has to be done right. Alleviate the pressure and fear by charting out the meal. If you have a plan, then everything, from prepping to cooking to serving will be that much easier.

One of the first must do is write out a guest list. After each name list allergies, dietary restrictions and likes, and dislikes. If a few guests have gluten allergies then think abut making two kinds of stuffing along with having gluten free rolls and desserts.Also think about your vegan and vegetarian friends and family. Do you want to get tofurkey which is a soy loaf usually filled with bread stuffing? Or would your guests prefer no fuss and subsist on just salads and sides?This is a good time to call and ask and write down what they want. Another point to consider is the variety of tastes.If guests want a fresh cranberry jelly instead of a canned one, then think about making a homemade one. Another point to ponder is a sit-down dinner or a buffet where people can pick out where they want to sit.If you feel that cooking an entire meal is too overwhelming , then there are two routes to consider. A pot luck Thanksgiving where everyone brings a dish, while you tackle the main dish or having it catered. Many stores such as Stop &Shop and Shop Rite will cook everything from the bird and the sides. They'll also throw in rolls and pie too. Popeye's and Boston Market can also cook up  entire Thanksgiving meals too. Popeye's will give you a deep fried Southern version while Boston Market has more traditional fare.

Thanksgiving dishes and how they're made are always polarizing. Half the table may want a rich gravy made with roux, while the other half like it just au jus. with a thin gravy. Then there are
 the yam controversy. Do you  make them as a kind of dessert loaded with brown sugar and mini marshmallows or do you just roast them in tin foil. Do you make two types to satisfy everyone or just stick ith one? The best bet is just sticking with what the majority of guests want.Sve the second recipe for Christ mas or New Year's. Thanksgiving is not the day to try out new recipes either. if you do want to experiment try it out this Sunday.That way you can see if it's a hit or a miss and if it's easy or hard.This is also time to hit the stores, from department to the grocery.Get new table linens if the old ones are worn or raggedy. Polish the silverware and dust off the china. Also make sure all your kitchen appliances are up to snuff too.Replace anything that may not work just right. . Sharpen knives. Make sure you have enough essentials such as gravy ladles and serving forks.Now is the time to buy extras like plastic cups and glasses if you're having a big crowd. check to make sure you have enough plates and also make sure none of them are cracked.If that's the case, then think about getting a new set. Target and K-Mart have very pretty sets at good prices.

Thanksgiving prep is a home chef must have.Set a plan and stick with it. It'll make for smoother cooking and serving. That's a holiday in itself.

January Is Kitchen Sale Times

January has always been the month for white sales. Sheets, pillowcases and towels were marked down to unbelievable prices. The same is now true with appliances and gadgets.If you feel like you need new gear or just over worked your blenders and toaster ovens over the holidays, then treat yourself to new ones this month.

Many stores from Targets to Kohl's are having major sales right now, especially on pots and pans sets. This is the time to buy them, especially with the great discounts happening. Some of the better brands such as LeCreuset can be bought with tremendous sales pricing right now. Kitchen Aid , always a chef's must have is also being offered at good pricing. A crock pot can be had at only twenty bucks and this is a steal at Target  , especially if you're big into slow cooking. Other must haves to pick up are electric griddles, rotisseries and grills. Any of these also make great shower or housewarming gifts too so stock up if you're going to have a few of these to attend.

Frill appliances are also going on sale right now too.If you wanted that cool Soda Stream, the aerator that carbonates regular water , scoop it up. Their  flavors are also being offered at discounts too at againlike stroes at Target and Kohl's.Those mini cake pop ovens  along with donut makers are also being sold at lower pricing too. Buy them now for some fun Valentine's Day baking later on. Keurig Coffee makers are being offered at lower pricing right now at some stores . Definitely take advantage of this if you're a big coffee maker,

January is a big sales month. Take advantage of these discounts if you need any appliance or just want a fun gadget. Pinching pennies is always good, better yet when thy're being saved on kitchen appliances.