We’re all looking at the calendar and wondering how the year can go so quickly. Now’s the time to take a moment and make sure you’re ready to entertain this holiday season. No matter if your style is simple or swanky, you can probably use most of these tips!
- Serviceware: Inventory your serving spoons, meat forks, and related items. Do you have enough? Replace missing or add needed items now, before the rush!
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Platters and trays: Once everyone’s seated at the table, how will you get the turkey or ham down the line? Make sure you have meat platters or trays, and big serving bowls, like our Stoneware Shoulder Bowls, for side dishes.
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Stove/Range: Clean the oven, polish the cooktop, and make sure, if you cook with a wood stove, that everything’s in order.
- Tableware: Brighten it up a bit with a quick polish too.
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Cookware: Make a list of everything you’re going to cook, and the quantities you’re going to need. Buy, rent or borrow bigger pots, pans, and casseroles if you must. Clean and polish everything you’re going to use.
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Dining Table: Polish the table, tabletop, chair frames and vacuum chair cushions. Keep a cloth over the just-polished tabletop between now and the big day so it stays shiny. Try Bee’s Wax or Farmhouse furniture polishes available at Lehman’s in Kidron, Ohio or at Lehmans.com.
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Breads: Bake quick breads, loaf breads and rolls now, and freeze after depanning and cooling. Breads should be wrapped well in parchment paper, foil and a freezer bag.To warm on the big day, thaw under a cloth, and then pop into the oven for a few minutes at 300° until warm. Tuck a heat-proof bowl with water in there too, so breads don’t dry out.
- Fruit pies: Put them together, right up to the point where you’d normally bake them. Then put them in the freezer, pie pan and all, wrapped well in parchment paper, foil and a freezer bag. No need to thaw before baking. Place in cold oven, and turn to temperature as recipe directs the day or morning before your get-together. Starting in a cold oven will ensure that your pie pan won’t be damaged during baking, especially if it is a glass or stoneware pie pan.
