Christmas Countdown Day 25: Plan Holiday Meals!

Time to plan holiday meals! Today's the day we break out our printable holiday meal planner forms, and organize those big dinners and festive brunches.

to do today ... plan holiday menus!

Thanksgiving is a few days away; it's time to sort out holiday menu plans. On our free printable holiday menu planner or a fresh sheet of paper, list each holiday meal that will take place in your home.

Thanksgiving Day? Christmas Eve? Christmas Day? New Years? Give each at-home meal a good hunk of space on the page for menu planning.

Next, list those meals that you will take away from home. Christmas Breakfast at Grandma's? Holiday pot-luck at church? If you'll need to bring a dish, note it down. Leave a smaller space between each away-from-home meal.

Once you've sorted out all the when-and-where issues, it's time to plan. Tradition has its advantages: if you always have turkey with cornbread dressing on Christmas Day, you't have to decide on the menu from one year to the next! Under each entry for meals at home, list every element of the meal:

Appetizers
Relishes
Entree
Side Dishes
Vegetable
Salad
Dessert
Beverages

Can you delegate any of these items to guests or family members? Mark a big "D" next to the dish, and add a name.

Finally, turn to your list of "away" meals. Have you coordinated your contribution with the host and hostess? If not, call and discuss what you'll bring. A proactive hint: decide what you'd like to prepare, then call and offer. Positive action frequently means you won't get stuck making individual sweet potato casseroles cooked in hollowed-out orange shells. She who offers first, smiles to the end!

to print today ...

Menu Planner

Potluck Planner

to read today ...

Come up to speed on menu and meal planning, from OrganizedHome.Com

Menu Planning: Save Time In The Kitchen!

today's recipe ...

For experienced candy makers only ... but the result is heaven! A favorite of five generations of the Townley family.

Also known as Oklahoma Brown Candy or Sooner Brown Candy, but in my house, it wouldn't be Christmas without the Aunt Bill's!

Aunt Bill's Brown Candy