My Christmas Lists

Hello!  Well Christmas has just finished, all of the Spode Christmas china is put away, the dishwasher is running, and now I'm relaxing by writing a blog post.  I've cooked 4 meals for 7 plus people and had family stay until today. All of this I love and I'm thankful I was able to do it.  How do I manage?  With lists!  I've created meals and purchased Christmas gifts all with the help of lists. 

The below picture is only one of the 2 lists I had going.  We celebrated Christmas Eve at my in-laws and I brought dinner.  That was a list in its-self.   The below list are the meals for Christmas Day, along with how far ahead I can make the item.  Some are just assemble at the moment, like Chicken Cesar Salad, others such as coffee cake I could make ahead.  Really whatever your meal is for a large group of people I highly recommend a list! 

I always think my table looks so cute, before we start the multiple meals on it.  Also talk about something else you can do ahead, set the table! If you have gusts staying for multiple meals let them set the table for the next meal.  Almost everyone knows how to set the table and people like to be useful.  I've learned that as I've hosted more get-togethers.  They may do something differently than you or at a different pace, but it is okay.  

We started our Christmas Day with Eggs Benedict.  I thought about making it for 9 people, brunch and then thought about poaching 18 eggs and decided no.  10 eggs for a family of 5 is plenty, plus making the Hollandaise Sauce.  So we enjoyed Eggs Benedict, grapefruit and coffee before we set out to 9 am mass. Even for this meal my eldest offered to cut the grapefruit and my husband whisked the sauce!  Take help when you can. 

Now here was an easy make ahead meal. Blueberry coffee cake, Florida Satsuma oranges, sausage (not pictured) and coffee.  Again people can take as much or as little as they want, eat when they want and feeling useful.  Also the dishes after breakfast were quite easy.  

So now the lists are away, except for the dinner plans for the rest of the week on the side of the fridge, and of course a few other lists of things to eventually get done, but that's it. 

I wish you a relaxing rest of the holiday season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And as always with love from the Midwest,

Beth