Time Management for Easter Meals

Now that Easter is just around the corner, it's time to talk about good food and managing that meal if you are the host.

Having a large group of people over can be overwhelming.  You are cooking for more people than normal.  You want everything to go well.

And wouldn't you rather be less stressed than more stressed?  I know I would be.

So here are some tips to making a tasty and flavorful meal without driving yourself completely batty - I hope!

1.  Plan ahead. 
What can you make now, or other the next week than can be safely stored in ziploc bags or frozen for quick thawing for the big meal?

2. Ask people to bring items.
Everyone loves to share food.  Odds are, you usually get asked, "What can I bring?" anyway.  So take those volunteers up on their offer.  Let them bring the bread, the salad, the dessert.  Give up some of those items and make your life a little easier.

3. Prep outside the box.
What I mean by this is don't think you have to have everything in the kitchen.  The stovetop and oven are not your only options.  If the weather is going to be nice, consider grilling that ham or turkey!  If you have a roaster oven, put that main dish in there and let it do it's thing.  It's one less thing you have to babysit.  The plus to this is that means your oven is open for other side dishes or desserts and not tied up all day with the main entree.

Planning Ahead:

* Make your mashed potatoes now.  Place them in a ziploc bag, flatten and freeze.  The day before the big meal, put it in the refrigerator to thaw.  Then all you have to do is place them in a pot and re-heat.  Seriously, this makes the best mashed potatoes ever!  And you don't have to worry about peeling, chopping and cleaning on Easter.

* Pre-measure your vegetables in containers or ziploc bags.  Measure out what you need right now.  Trim and chop now so that all you have to do is open the container and either bake, steam or place in a bowl.


One more thing to ask yourself...Do you REALLY need to use the formal china?

This is a very personal thing, but if you are only using china because you think you have to, not because you want to, then don't.  There are so many nice, heavy options for paper plates out there that can coordinate with your decor.  Keep the regular silverware ~ it probably will be needed for cutting meat.  Beverages again can be handled as you see fit.

If you aren't tied to your china, make your life easier for these larger occasions and get the paper plates.  Easier cleanup for everyone all the way around.

I'll post some fun, Spring-ish recipes that you can add to your Easter table later this week.