Time lines and lists: how to make the most of your holiday dinner.

Realized today that I had to change my entire game plan I had written out for the holiday meal. I still had my map, as we call it in the catering biz, written out for a big Christmas Day dinner. Since the day and time of the dinner has changed, so has my map. Writing out your plan of attack illuminates missing ingredients, time issues, and what you can do ahead. I still have to make one more quick trip to the market for 3 missing items and I am going to bravely do so tomorrow so ALL last minute items will be picked up in one swoop.

This is my new Christmas Eve dinner map. Yep, it is allot of work. If you've never written one, you may be surprised how much energy and time you actually spend on ONE meal. And yes, they are written proof you have earned the next day off from dishes.

WEDNESDAY AM

LAST STORE TRIP: Pick up fresh produce and any other last minute items

Make graham crackers for cheesecake crust

CLEAN HOUSE AND FRONT ENTRANCE
Stock bathroom w/ tp, fresh hand soap, hand towels

WEDNESDAY PM

Make cheesecake and store in 'fridge

Make gingerbread and store wrapped tightly on counter

Roast and store unpeeled beets

Par boil and peel pearl onions, store

Trim green beans, store

Slice cheeses for cheese platter

CLEAN KITCHEN

THURSDAY (DINNER AT 5:00 PM)

AM Set table

Make cookies to bring to church

CLEAN KITCHEN

2:00 pm

Prep ham and put in 275 oven.

Peel, chop, and steam sweet potatoes: whip with butter and some brown sugar and place in casserole pan; set aside

Peel cold roasted beets. Mix up a sherry vinegar, ginger, orange dressing and toss beets to coat. Cover beets with plastic wrap, set aside.

DO DISHES/CLEAN KITCHEN

Take out garbage/compost

3:30pm
Turn on holiday music

Set up beverage station

Set out cheese platter

Turn on indoor and outdoor holiday lights


3:45 pm 
Ice beverage station
Guests arrive

4:00pm

Put sweet potato casserole in oven.

Make a rice flour roux

Place condiments on the table
Clean kitchen counter
Fill dish tub

4: 30 pm
Take ham out; keep warm loosely covered with foil.

Put rolls in oven

Steam green beans

Add milk to roux, and whisk to thicken. Add baby peas and the par cooked pearl onions and let heat up on medium low.

Take sweet potatoes and rolls out of the oven

Slice ham

Light candles

5:00 pm 
DINNER