I have been my grandmother's (Gogger) right hand since I could walk. Growing up, when it came to cooking, baking, setting the table, meal planning, it was all Gogger, her Legs (that's me), and my dad. We are basically professionals. Gogger said today that it sometimes feels like we run a bed and breakfast. With 13-16 people coming to the house for all the holidays, everyone has a different schedule, different meals need to be prepped and cooked, desserts have to be baked in advance, and grocery store lists are made and remade prior to the multiple trips. So, since we are such pros, I thought I'd share with you some secrets about Christmas Day meals, cooking, and preparing the best turkey.
1) Prep. Things like dressing can be prepped days or weeks in advanced. Cooked vegetables like corn and green beans should be prepped (cooked ahead of time, so you only have to reheat) 2-3 days in advance. Vegetables and fruits a day or two days before the meal is great, especially if you have family coming into town before the big day. Desserts and baked treats are also great things to prepare 3-4 days in advance. Prep is one of the best ways to cut down on cooking time, business during Christmas day. The most important part about prep is making lists...
2) Lists on lists on lists. Step 1: Meal planning. Know when your guests are going to be there and decide what times the meals should be. Based on how long the family is in town plan out your meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Step 2: Grocery list time. Go through each meal and write out everything you will need for every meal. Check your fridge and pantry for ingredients you might already have, and write everything else on your grocery store list. Bonus points if you organize the list by categories: produce, freezer section, canned goods, meat, etc. Step 3: Make a list of each day leading up to when company comes into town and spread out your prep work. Prep fruits and veggies one day, desserts another day, and leave only day of cooking for when family is in town.
3) Day of Schedule. Anyone who cooks knows the struggle of oven space and stove tops, especially if you destroy your turkey by baking it in the oven (sorry folks). One of the best ways to help with this is to write down everything you need to cook in the oven and on the stove, along with how long each item will take and what needs to be the warmest when you serve. Things like mashed potatoes cook quickly, but most people don't want to eat them cold. The easiest solution is to make the potatoes and let them keep warm in a crockpot (use crockpot liners for easy clean up), which will open up stove space.
4) Fry your turkey, season well. The reality is that you should always season everything well, but specifically with the turkey. Before everyone jumps on me and tells me that roast (dry) turkey is the best and that it isn't dry... you're wrong. I'm sorry, it had to be said. If you don't believe me, let me fry you a turkey. You will change your mind, I'm 100% sure. (Confident Sarah emerges) You don't think your turkey is dry, because you just don't know better, but trust me, it is, and there is a better way. I understand that frying your turkey isn't the healthiest option, but let's be real folks, there isn't much about Christmas dinner or snacks or any number of desserts that is healthy. Enjoy it to the fullest, diet in January. My dad taught me how to season and fry a turkey, and it is wonderful. I use a creole butter injector to season the inside of my meat (start with the breast meat and don't forget the dark meat). I use seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and a few other secret spices to season the skin of the bird before giving it the "hot oil bath" treatment. The outside is crispy and perfect (so full of flavor), and the inside is juicy and wonderful. Also, name your turkey, it makes the whole experience more fun.
5) If you cook, you don't clean. Cooking the meal is a huge deal and the amount of work it takes can be (totally is) exhausting. Let someone else clean up. The table can be cleaned off by someone, the plates washed by someone, the leftovers saved by another, by hand pots and pans by another, and the counter and stove by another. If you are the cook, let someone else clean. If you don't cook, offer to help clean up.
6) This is a special secret tip from the one and only Gogger. "Let your grandchildren do it. If they won't, run away from home." She was teasing.
Those are just a few tips and tricks I have learned from the master's of Christmas Day Feast over the years. What is your favorite thing to eat or cook/bake at Christmas time?
1) Prep. Things like dressing can be prepped days or weeks in advanced. Cooked vegetables like corn and green beans should be prepped (cooked ahead of time, so you only have to reheat) 2-3 days in advance. Vegetables and fruits a day or two days before the meal is great, especially if you have family coming into town before the big day. Desserts and baked treats are also great things to prepare 3-4 days in advance. Prep is one of the best ways to cut down on cooking time, business during Christmas day. The most important part about prep is making lists...
2) Lists on lists on lists. Step 1: Meal planning. Know when your guests are going to be there and decide what times the meals should be. Based on how long the family is in town plan out your meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Step 2: Grocery list time. Go through each meal and write out everything you will need for every meal. Check your fridge and pantry for ingredients you might already have, and write everything else on your grocery store list. Bonus points if you organize the list by categories: produce, freezer section, canned goods, meat, etc. Step 3: Make a list of each day leading up to when company comes into town and spread out your prep work. Prep fruits and veggies one day, desserts another day, and leave only day of cooking for when family is in town.
3) Day of Schedule. Anyone who cooks knows the struggle of oven space and stove tops, especially if you destroy your turkey by baking it in the oven (sorry folks). One of the best ways to help with this is to write down everything you need to cook in the oven and on the stove, along with how long each item will take and what needs to be the warmest when you serve. Things like mashed potatoes cook quickly, but most people don't want to eat them cold. The easiest solution is to make the potatoes and let them keep warm in a crockpot (use crockpot liners for easy clean up), which will open up stove space.
4) Fry your turkey, season well. The reality is that you should always season everything well, but specifically with the turkey. Before everyone jumps on me and tells me that roast (dry) turkey is the best and that it isn't dry... you're wrong. I'm sorry, it had to be said. If you don't believe me, let me fry you a turkey. You will change your mind, I'm 100% sure. (Confident Sarah emerges) You don't think your turkey is dry, because you just don't know better, but trust me, it is, and there is a better way. I understand that frying your turkey isn't the healthiest option, but let's be real folks, there isn't much about Christmas dinner or snacks or any number of desserts that is healthy. Enjoy it to the fullest, diet in January. My dad taught me how to season and fry a turkey, and it is wonderful. I use a creole butter injector to season the inside of my meat (start with the breast meat and don't forget the dark meat). I use seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and a few other secret spices to season the skin of the bird before giving it the "hot oil bath" treatment. The outside is crispy and perfect (so full of flavor), and the inside is juicy and wonderful. Also, name your turkey, it makes the whole experience more fun.
5) If you cook, you don't clean. Cooking the meal is a huge deal and the amount of work it takes can be (totally is) exhausting. Let someone else clean up. The table can be cleaned off by someone, the plates washed by someone, the leftovers saved by another, by hand pots and pans by another, and the counter and stove by another. If you are the cook, let someone else clean. If you don't cook, offer to help clean up.
6) This is a special secret tip from the one and only Gogger. "Let your grandchildren do it. If they won't, run away from home." She was teasing.
Those are just a few tips and tricks I have learned from the master's of Christmas Day Feast over the years. What is your favorite thing to eat or cook/bake at Christmas time?