To help you with your holiday meal, use these three tips for planning and decorating:
1. A couple of days before your meal lay out all of your serving dishes, sets, and linens.
Clean anything that needs cleaning. If you have any silver from past generations, now is the time to check it and see if it needs to be cleaned and is ready for use. Click here for table setting guides.
2. Create a centerpiece for your serving or dining table.
You can use cuttings from your yard, grocery store flowers, pine cones, leftover colorful ornaments. Keep it simple and choose a color theme, add sparkle or baubles you have on hand. View this video to create a rustic floral centerpiece for your table. Use any container or platter that you have available. Keep in mind, if you choose a live flower arrangement, presoak the floral foam and place it in a water-sealed container. If you select a box or tin, use a plastic or glass container to hold the presoaked foam.
Note: There is dry foam usually used for artificial arrangements and wet foam that you can find at any craft or dollar store along with floral tape.
3. Create a meal day checklist with a timeline of when things need to get started to serve everything on time.
Having my checklist as a reference is a big help as I get to talking and skip steps. Also, ask for help, you don’t have to do everything! Most importantly is that you enjoy your company and the holiday. I always have to look up the guidelines for cooking a standing rib roast and wanted to share:
Quoted from kitchn – these are the suggested temperatures before the beef rests. The beef will continue to “cook†as it rests.
Rare: 115 to 120°F
Medium-Rare: 120 to 125°F
Medium: 130 to 135°F
Medium-Well: 140 to 145°F
Well-Done: 150 to 155°F
If you are looking for things to do in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, check out these activities; note many require advanced ticket purchasing!
Or, you may be the type that wants to avoid the bustle of crowds and wish to enjoy a bit of peace after the holiday rush. My family enjoys staying in cozy clothes and playing games. We like to watch movies and eat fabulous food, a yummy red wine with a charcuterie board. We plan a big brunch with all the delicious items you can imagine: Croissant French toast, bacon, home fries, and champagne! I can’t wait! I know Oliver is looking forward to curling up in someone’s lap and taking a snooze!
From my family to yours, however you choose to celebrate this holiday season, we hope it is full of peace and joy!
By Debbie Correale, Redesign Right, LLC. Connect on Facebook Redesignright, Instagram Redesignright, Pinterest, Houzz, LinkedIn. Feature photo from Pixabay.