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For years, I made the mistake of trying to cook everything from scratch for the holidays.
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So I made the decision to embrace shortcuts and allow myself a little leeway.
To my surprise, my meals have actually gotten better since Ive committed to doing less.
And its not just me whos a shortcut convert.
Here are some hacks they swear by for quicker holiday cooking and prepping.
Repeat after us: Theres absolutely no shame in store-bought.
Somethings can be homemade, but to keep your sanity, everything doesnt have to be.
Maybe you make the main dish, but purchase the desserts.
Some foods lend themselves better than others to the store-bought swap.
In general, keep the focus on the exciting parts rather than the basics.
Youll be nobodys hero for rolling and making your own, she tells SELF.
Be real about your bandwidthand delegate accordingly.
Just be sure to organize it so five people dont end up bringing the mashed potatoes.
The pros confirm that its never too early to start prepping for a holiday meal.
So once she sticks them in the fridge, she can completely cross them off her list.
Keep in mind, though, that there are a handful of dishes that youshouldntprep in advance.
Get your kitchen ready to go too.
Then make as much space as possible.
Gather all of your recipes into one easy-to-access place.
Read through your recipes beforehand to avoid any surprises.
This gives insights into what each requireslike the tools, ingredients, and techniquesand allows you to act accordingly.
A recipe may call for roasted garlic for a dressing added at the end, she says.
Prepping this way will also help you better organize your cooking schedule as a whole, Kyogoku says.
Itll also flag any ingredients that you may have missed on your shopping list.
Use a few tricks to keep your counters clear while cooking.
Spotless is too ambitious, but organized is definitely possible.
Shell also drag her trash can and compost bucket closer to her work area.
Too many tools and not enough counter space?
Embrace quirky gatherings that skip the sit-down meal.
For starters, a snack platter can be your best friend heretheyre a reliable crowd pleaser, Berner says.
Remember, the holidays arent just about plodding through old traditionstheyre about making new ones too.
