Ready for the Holidays?

[Kchurchill5]

Here are some tips to help with your dinner planning.

This time of year can be so hectic for all of us. NO less cooking on top of - shopping, entertaining, holiday parties and special events, Xmas cards, wrapping, etc. It seems like a never ending list of things to do.

So, before it hits ... Prepare Ahead. Now, I know we all may not have big freezers. But, there are definitely some things you can make and prepare ahead; as well as, stocking up. Watch for sales, and pick up some items you know you will need. But, plan your meals - you will be surprised at how much time and money you will save. I know a drive thru or take out seems easier; but, it is also costly. And, this time of year ... is the time to save.

So, here are some ideas. Please share yours.

Butters - I like to make my own (shaking method) for T-day, it is a tradition. But, I also love to make compound butters to entertain with. They are easy to make ahead and freeze. Saves time; and, they are ready to use.

Pies/Cakes - I'm not a fan of frozen pumpkin pie; but you can make the crusts ahead; or even just the dough. It freezes great. Cakes also freeze great and easy to make ahead of time.

Chicken - Pick up chicken on sale, whether or whole chicken or pick of chick. Then cook it in the crock pot. NO, the skin isn't good for eating; but, it sure makes a good moist chicken. Serve with gravy and spuds. Then, add all the bones to the crock, and make stock over night. And the chicken cooks all day, so frees up your day. Also, make an extra chicken, and bag all the cut up chicken to have in your freezer.
Good for salads, stir fries, pot pies, pasta, sandwiches, etc.

Ham - You can also make a ham in the crock pot. Great for a dinner, then, bag up and freeze, for nights when you don't want to cook much. Simply reheat with a raisin sauce, or add to mac and cheese; or even scalloped potatoes. Sandwiches, fritattas, quiche, etc.

Spices - Check your cabinet and make sure you have spices and herbs for the holidays. Now is the time to stock up.

Rolls and Breads - You can make rolls and bread dough ahead of time. Then, thaw, rise, and bake. A great way to get a head start.

Chicken and Pork - Rather than pork chops. Buy a pork loin when it goes on sale. Cheaper, and just as good. Slice, cook what you need, and freeze the rest. Try adding 1-2 chicken breasts or slices of pork loin to a baggie with a marinade, then freeze. In the am, simply transfer to the refrigerator. When you get home. Cook your marinated protein. Works for beef too.

Burritos - Something I always have on hand. Breakfast and dinner. I add beans, rice, beef, whatever I want, cheese too. Wrap, and freeze. Thaw and cook right in the microwave. 10 minutes, and dinner is ready. Add some lettuce, sour cream, and salsa. Any other extras.

Quiche - Also great to make ahead and freeze. Just bake and add a salad.

Italian - We all know that lasagna, baked shells, ziti, and meatballs are always great to make ahead. Then, just thaw and bake. But, pasta can also be made ahead, frozen, then just reheated in a bowl of hot water. This is great for making a small serving amount. 1-3 people.

Pot Pies - If you make chicken in the crock pot - Plan on making a few pot pies. And, if you don't have enough glassware/baking dishes. Use the small / mini aluminum bread pans. I make all my pot pies in them. They work great. Just wrap in foil and bake. They come out perfect. 1 pie per person is more than enough.

Soup - Make a pot of your favorite. Freeze in ziploc bags for a 1 bowl wonder. Simply thaw and nuke. Make a sandwich and dinner is ready.

Ravioli - Whether you use wontons or pasta. Make ahead. You can fill with anything. Freeze and bag up. It's just me, so I put 7 or 8 per baggie and freeze. Then, add the smaller bags to a gallon bag. A great go to dinner. 5 minutes to heat up the sauce and cook the ravioli as you make a salad. Dinner.

Have the following on hand:
- Tortilla are great for chips, sandwich wraps, quesadillas, cut in strip for a garnish on soups or salads
- Tuna for salads and sandwiches
- Clams for a pasta dish
- Canned tomatoes, cannellini and black beans, for sauces, dips, and pasta dishes; also can be used in soups, salads, and quesadillas
- Canned potatoes come in handy for soup dishes, or you can fry them for a quick side dish

Whole Pork Loin - Cook in the crock with mushroom soup, onion, and extra mushrooms. Enjoy some for dinner. Bag up the rest for the freezer. Save the gravy. Then, cut up the pork. Use it for a sandwich, pot pie, shepherds type of pie, hand pies. reheat with a different sauce. Since, the sauce is on the side, add BBQ for a pork sandwich; or use on pizza. The gravy can be used on pork chops at a later date.
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OK, that's enough of my tips. Make ahead ... and obviously not all this at once. But, if you are at home on Sunday, watching football or cleaning the house, laundry, etc. Why not have something in the crock pot cooking, or in the oven. Or when cooking ... cook once, but make two.

And mostly, just think ahead. That extra money you can save from planning ahead, NO take out or drive thru could probably pay for Christmas.

[elsie]

Great tips! I implement a lot of those tips myself. It can get a little stressful sometimes with all the holiday cooking and baking. It’s always good to have a plan of action.

[Kchurchill5]

Yep, just a lot of reminders. So many things we can do NOW, before the holidays hit.

[Gerry]

Great tips, most of which I have found helpful over the years. Love how they free up time better spent with family and friends during the holidays. Thanks for sharing!

[Kchurchill5]

Thx. It's, a lot of what many of us already do. But some new cooks may not be aware ... and; it's never bad to get a reminder.

[Felix4067]

The other thing I do that doesn't necessarily involve prep, but definitely involves saving money, is to make a list of exactly how much of what ingredients I'm going to need for my holiday baking. Then as things go on sale I pick them up. Not only do I get things cheaper, but it makes it a lot less of a hit to my checking account right near Christmas to buy several pounds of flour, butter, sugar, etc.

I'm afraid not many people, especially new folks, are going to see this thread in the What's For Dinner forum, though. Would've been better in All About Food, Recipes and Cooking. ;)

[Kchurchill5]

You are right Felix. I thought about that today. I think I will copy over too. Thx for the reminder.

And you are right ... making lists of what is needed is very important. You can really save a lot. And many items we need for the holidays are items that will NOT go bad. So why not take advantage of the sales

[Mary]

Since I don't have a slow cooker, I'm translating recipes that I like the sound of to slow cooked oven dishes, and my most recent addition is an oven cooked pulled pork that was a real success. Moist, tender and flavorful in three short hours!

It produced a truly bountiful amount, as I expected, so I have bags of delicious pulled pork for the holidays (frozen in 2 cup portions) -- for sliders, to mix with vegetables in a soup/stew dish, to roll in corn tortillas and top with sauce, to wrap in flour tortillas with hash browns or slaw, to serve as a filling for baked potatoes, and to warm for an unexpected "bring a dish" that is bound to happen.

A nice variation in the endless days of turkey/ham/beef to come and a steal at the grocery this time of year. With limited freezer space, I've "found" extra room by using freezer bags which will stack, and the bags are also on sale now as we prepare for the holidays.

I rely on a "pre-computer" note card of things I'm likely to forget -- spices, those freezer friendly plastic bags, disposable plates, napkins, and cutlery, for example -- and stock up for Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's when the sales begin. Another card refreshes my memory about who likes/dislikes which dishes and who likes to cook what. Yes, it's a bit OCD, but those lists have saved me lots of time over the years.

[Kchurchill5]

Great ideas; and completely agree. I write all my notes and lists by hand; still do. However, I do have a running menu as a draft email. I just keep adding or subtracting from it every day. I never have to print it. I can add something to it when I remember it; and, I just save it. I can add ideas, things I want to make; things I am not making, odd items I need to pick up, etc.
I check that daily, and then make my lists off of that.

Love your pulled pork; great to have on hand. I too love the freezer bags. Stacking everything. I also will add a shoe box to the freezer. Quart baggies stack up really nicely in that.

Good Job Mary!

[Mary]

A shoe box? What a great idea, KC.

Instead of sorting through a stack on a shelf, you can pull out the whole box and put it on the counter to thumb through. I have some of those rubber coated metal storage trays that I use, but they are shallow.

And that draft menu is similar to my draft shopping list -- all the standard items plus what's new this week on my menu plans or in the sale circular from the grocery. A super way not to forget batteries or light bulbs.