It seems like people get way too stressed out trying to make everything perfect for that special holiday dinner party. Granted, fixing a big turkey with the attendant dressing, giblet gravy, mashed and sweet potatoes, peas and beans and that special chopped cranberry relish is a big deal and usually requires an all day, ‘all hands on deck’ approach. There are ways to make it all easier and so much more fun…and the preparation can become an important part of the gathering too. When the holiday meal preparation becomes a part of the tradition, special memories of good times can result.
The first thing to consider is what the meal will be: turkey, goose, or ham? One could even include all three choices with a minimum of extra effort. The secret is to allow others to help, in a kind of gourmet pot-luck kind of way. Decide on the meal choices first, then the participants. Ask each participant what they are willing and able to bring to the table. Treating the dinner as more than just a gustatory delight makes it much easier on everyone.
Think about the reasons some people decline a holiday dinner invitation-sometimes it encompasses more than a feeling that it should be an intimate family affair. Truth be told, a lot of people really enjoy having the leftovers: turkey for sandwiches, casseroles and soup, pumpkin pie for breakfast, and mashed potato pancakes. Tell invitees that plenty of everything is planned to arrive so that everyone can take home ample leftovers, including an extra carcass or two for the soup-pot. You might find that your invitations are suddenly accepted.
In planning such a large endeavor, also remember to ask people what they are physically able to do. While the elderly might not be able to stand at the counter long enough to stir the gravy or chop a huge amount of vegetables, they can usually sit and crack nuts, place pickles and olives in party dishes, or spread some soft cheese on fancy crackers. The tiny fingers of children are great at peeling garlic skins from the cloves and sorting cranberries and they love getting to set the table.
Some of the preparations can be done days ahead of the dinner, including roasting an extra turkey, slicing it and pulling the carcass apart. The extra turkey can be prepackaged for guests to take home. Extra dressing can be made at the same time, with some left to be stuffed inside the turkey that will be served that day. Jello molds of cranberry relish can be made days ahead, as can the pies. Potatoes can be peeled and blanched so that cooking time is shorter but the mashed potatoes still come out perfect. Giblet gravy can be made ahead and frozen. There are always ways to make the holiday dinner easier on everyone and therefore more enjoyable for the whole crowd; including mom, who shouldn’t have to spend the whole holiday sweating in the kitchen.
The cleanup afterwards should involve everyone too. Make an assembly line, with one batch of guests boxing up take-home food and another set cleaning everything up. Dessert then can include everyone; with another quick cleanup afterwards. A holiday dinner done in such a manner leaves everyone feeling valued and a part of the family, with wonderful memories of shared warmth and a good meal. The guests will be reminded of the good times when they haul those leftovers out and enjoy them again…and they will feel loved.
Even those who are horrible cooks can pull off a terrific holiday dinner, via the local restaurants and supermarkets that offer complete meals with all the fixings at reasonable prices. If the ones who can’t cook want to have the do-it-yourself variety of holiday dinner, asking a friend who can pull it all together is a really fine idea. Either way, it’s ‘good eats’ and holiday warmth. The holidays are supposed to be all about the sharing of love and the bountiful harvest; the dinner is all about that.
