Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Holiday so you can relax and enjoy the day!
As wonderful and welcomed as the holidays are, we end up too stressed just from the mere preparations for the holiday; making lists, grocery shopping, cleaning house, and getting ready. If you are one of those people, you know too well that all the anxiety and pressure does is rob you off the joy of the holidays and the pleasure of spending time with loved ones.
I used to be one of those folks. Run myself ragged, stay up late, wake up early, twirl like a squirrel in the kitchen, chase my tail, all in the name of making sure my family and guests have a wonderful time. That’s all well and good, and that’s the goal, but when it’s all over, I realise that I was so busy that I didn’t get the chance to really sit down and enjoy the company of my guests. I know it’s a satisfying feeling to see everyone enjoying themselves and having a good time but I still want to have a sit down and catch up on what’s happening in the lives of my family and loved ones.
Below are Tips and Tricks, I now use for a Stress-Free Holiday so I can relax and enjoy the day.
MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY STRESS-FREE!
- Write down your menu and stick with it. (simple, right?) You need to nail down what you intend to serve before you start your preparations. Write it down and stick with it. Find out if there are any caveats you need to keep in mind like guest with allergies, restrictive diets, etc.
- Make a second list of all the ingredients you will need. Check them against what you have in your cupboards. Check the amount of ingredients you need in total for those recipes that call for the same items such as eggs, milk, etc. Again, this is where tip #1 above comes in. Make your list and stick to it. Don’t decide at the last minute to add something and make it, and then find out you don’t have enough ingredients for the main things on your list and end up having to make several trips to the store.
- Identify those items that you can cook 2-3 days ahead of time. What? I thought you’re supposed to wake up early, Thanksgiving morning and work hard in the kitchen? Absolutely not. A lot of sides and desserts can be made ahead of time. Even your turkey can be brined and cooked the night before.
- Delegate! Delegate! Delegate! I can’t stress this enough. If you have a large family and need to cook for an army, delegate items to family members. Share your menu and your recipes, and ensure your volunteers know what they are responsible for and the items/ingredients & amount they need.
Remember the Pilgrims made their dishes and the Indians made their dishes, and then they all came together and gave thanks.
My family has made our own Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition which we have followed for quite a few years. We cook the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. When we wake up on Thanksgiving, all we do is set food in the warmers, eat, and then graze all day. That has allowed us to do nothing but rest over the holidays and enjoy each other’s company.
Be Blessed and have a Wonderful Thanksgiving
~Arama Christiana
#aramaproducts
IG: @aramaproducts
www.aramaproducts.com
Be Blessed and have a Wonderful Thanksgiving
~Arama Christiana
#aramaproducts
IG: @aramaproducts
www.aramaproducts.com
