In this part . . .
Chapter 1
Making Christmas Special and Stress Free
In This Chapter
Listing the benefits of cooking at the Christmas season
Getting prepared for Christmas cooking
Christmas gives you the opportunity to prepare special food during a whole season, not just on one special day. Businesses hold holiday parties, most adults and kids get vacation time, and windows and streets from the biggest city to the smallest town are festive with bright lights. The whole month of December feels like a party â so Iâve included cooking suggestions not only for Christmas Day, but for the entire season of celebration.
The days get shorter, the temperatures dip, and those hazy days of summer when you casually invited the neighbors over for a barbecue have faded from view. Now is the time to savor the fact that Christmastime is family time. If your extended family gets together every year, consider hosting the party. Or, if itâs just you and one other loved one, make the season as special as it was when you were a child â or as special as you wished it had been. If youâre not near family, find friends who are also free and create a family for an evening.
Not only can you spread good cheer throughout the season, but you can also spread the responsibilities. Family members can take on tasks, such as watering the poinsettias, or they can help with food duties. Even young children can chip in. And someone has to take out all that garbage â it doesnât have to be you!
But Christmas Is Always at Grandmaâs House
Maybe youâve never hosted a Christmastime meal because you think your mom would never give up the honor. Well, for all you know it has become a duty that she would be more than willing to pass on to someone else. Youâll never know until you ask.
Or perhaps youâve never offered to host a big holiday meal because you donât think youâll be able to live up to family expectations. Well, hey â maybe itâs time to shake things up a little. Maybe itâs time that you start your own tradition.
Take advantage of landmarks. Have you started a family this year? What a great time to start the tradition of Christmas dinner in your home. Or maybe your mother-in-law has hosted it for the past ten years. Time for a change!
Reasons you should make the big meal
There is more to Christmas than just the big meal on the big day, but, for a lot of us, that meal is still the focal point of the season. With that in mind, and just in case you need some further support, here are all the reasons why you should take on the responsibility of preparing the feast:
When youâre the host, you get to make whatever you like.
Making the meal is less expensive than eating out.
You get to choose whom to invite.
You get to pick at the food in the kitchen (those calories donât count).
You did the cooking, so someone else can clean up.
Making the meal is a way to give back to your family.
Now all your guests have to return the favor.
Making hearty, delicious food is immensely satisfying.
You have leftovers for the following week.
Canât I just take the whole gang to a restaurant?
You may be thinking that making a holiday meal is just too much trouble. You may even be tempted to let your fingers do the walking and make a restaurant reservation. Thereâs nothing wrong with that. In fact, many restaurants have special menus for the season. But many other restaurants are closed on Christmas, and with good reason. The chefs and other employees want to be with their families.
Really, making the main meal isnât that big a deal. Set your priorities, and remember to breathe! You will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Christmas Cooking For Dummies helps you plan and make meals that are enjoyable to make, as well as delicious and beautiful to behold.
Prioritizing and Gettin...
