Christmas is coming soon! This is the time of the year when life gets a lot busier. You may be thinking of potlucks and dinner parties and start to feel the giddy anticipation of hosting a festive-get together. Despite our high expectations, holiday stress often comes uninvited. But keep in mind there is a better way to make Christmas enjoyable and less stressful. The secret: plan ahead.
Your guests will be spending more time in the kitchen so it’s important to get organized and clean every nook. Here are some of the ways you can make your kitchen ready to take on guests while preventing major cleanup later.
Remove clutter from countertops. Get rid of mail, bills, and recipe books lying around. Keep paperwork off your kitchen and make sure all surfaces are sparkling clean.
Clean the microwave. Some of your guests might offer to help you warm up food. we’re pretty sure you don’t want them to see a food-splattered microwave.
Check your refrigerator. Your fridge will be opened and closed continuously and will soon be filled with heavy dishes. The door handles and gaskets should be tight, cold air vents must be clean, and lights should be working properly.
Stock your kitchen properly. If some of your guests have allergies or are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, take these into consideration and prepare dishes accordingly. Aside from alcoholic drinks, make sure to offer other beverages as well.
Create a cooking schedule. Prepping ahead of time will help you keep things organized during the holiday celebration. You can chop some of the veggies and store them properly. Potato dishes and casseroles can also be put in a baking pan ahead of time.
Disinfect trash cans. Clean them before your expected holiday party. Wash them with a garden hose and dish soap and disinfect with a cleaning spray. Keep extra trash bags, too.
Check your dishwasher. Aside from your fridge, the dishwasher will also be used a lot after the dinner party. Make sure it’s running efficiently and the drain is free of any residue. Check if there are broken glasses or lost utensils at the bottom. Remove any gunk by wiping off the rim of the door.
Get your serveware ready. Take an inventory of supplies you need - cookware, serveware, cooking oils, canned goods, and other pantry necessities. Have your knives sharpened for the honey-baked ham so you can serve it to your guests in an instant. Get your plates, utensils, and cloth napkins ready.
Take precautionary measures. Make sure everything is childproof. The kids may hang around and play. Plugs should be covered, lamps and other fragile items must be put off the table edges. Double check your smoke detector and CO2 detector batteries, and replace them if necessary. Have a fire extinguisher ready, too. Complete your first aid kit so you're always ready to respond to minor medical emergencies.
Did we miss anything in the list? Share your best holiday tips in the comments below.
From everyone at Milan Stoneworks, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. We hope you're all having a fantastic holiday!
