5 Tips to Save Time Cooking Holiday Dinners

The holidays are a very hectic time. So much is going on and guests are coming over to eat dinner. Sometimes the idea of getting the meal cooked and then cleaning up afterwards can seem like a task so huge you just do not want to even do it another year. The person doing all the cooking of the dinner, also seems to never have enough time to sit down and enjoy the time talking with the friends and family who have come to enjoy the holidays with you. Follow these 5 tips to save you time cooking holiday dinners, and you will enjoy the holiday much more.

1) Have a cooking schedule - many foods can be prepared a few days ahead of time. I always make any cookies, cakes, candies and brownies I am having at least 4 days ahead of time. I make an extra amount because I know the kids and my husband will be sneaking into them. Two days ahead of time I make my pies. Then the day before the big dinner, I make my salads and slaws and deviled eggs. I also cut up any veggies I need for stuffing's, baked beans and such, that way when I get up the next morning I only have to take them out of the fridge and put in the dishes as I prepare them. The next morning I get up and put my Turkey or Ham in the oven, prepare and cover my stuffing and baked beans and get my potatoes peeled and chopped and in a pot of water, ready to put in the oven or stove top when it is time. This buys me time to lsit around watching TV and visiting with my family while the turkey cooks.

2) Before you start preparing your foods clean out your refrigerator and organize it. You are going to need all the space you can get for refrigerated foods and leftovers.

3) We all seem to want to pull out the good china for holiday dinners, however if you are having a lot of guests you are better off to purchase some good quality, heavy duty paper plates and plastic ware. Nothing is worse than having a sink and table full of dirty dishes to wash right after you spent so much time cooking such a delicious dinner.

4) Accept Help - You may even want to just ask for it. If someone offers to bring a dish, let them. The food they cook saves you from having to cook it. If someone wants to help you clean up after wards accept their offer. You just saved them from cooking a dinner and cleaning up a mess by themselves, it is perfectly alright to let them help you clean up.

5) Buy prepared foods - If you are busy with other things in life and just do not have time to make the dinner from scratch, maybe you don't know how to make potato salad. Go ahead and buy some prepared dishes from your supermarket or deli.

You want to have an enjoyable holiday too. The point of the holidays is to spend time with loved ones. Do what ever you need to, to make this holiday season less stressful.