Cooking for the Holidays – Ways to Keep it Simple
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, and by cheer I mean cleaning, cooking and then more cleaning! Even the biggest of scrooges knows that deep down inside they love being involved in the preparation of the family’s holiday feast even if they dread the clean up. If you are getting ready to start your holiday cooking extravaganza, here are a few things to keep in mind.
One great kitchen creation is the non stick pan. While a high quality T-Fal pan might cost you a bit more than your every day run of the mill frying pan, it is an investment that you won’t regret. Anyone who has ever had to pick at burnt on cheese with their nails will agree that a non stick pan is a real life saver in those kinds of situations. If you don’t want to spend your Christmas evening in the kitchen while your family is enjoying the festivities, you might want to consider asking Santa to deliver a new set of non stick pans as an early morning Christmas gift.
For your oven baked foods, a nice set of glass cooking dishes or even some stoneware can go a long way. Most of the baking dishes available on the market today are dishwasher and microwave safe, and some sets even come with lids for refrigerator storage. There is nothing better than cooking and storing things in the same pan to cut down on dirty dishes.
Unfortunately, not everything can be stored in the same thing you cooked it in so it’s always a great idea to grab some extra tupperware on hand. If you opt for the cheap disposable types you can reuse them or toss them out depending on your mood. Tupperware is also a great way to send home left overs with your guests as well.
If you are in charge of your family’s holiday meal then chances are that you probably have a whole list of desserts to bake also. It seems like the holidays really bring out the desire for cookies, pies, cupcakes and who knows what else. While these tasty treats can be a lot of fun to create and even more fun to eat, they can lead to a real disaster in the kitchen. One popular baking option on the market is silicone bake ware which is designed to offer storage flexibility and really quick clean up.
The key to enjoying holiday cooking, is to make sure that neither the cooking nor the clean up keeps you away from your family for too long. If you can get them involved in the kitchen you can make it a true family event. Hand your little one a spatula and let him stir the cookie batter while your significant other slices the holiday ham!