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Cooking for the holidays or for a party
How to keep it simple and still serve a great meal?
When you are
organizing a party or
celebrating the holidays, apart from
decorating your home and
getting ready yourself, preparing
even a decent meal can be a monumental tasks. Here are some
excellent tips from the Personal Chef members of the NY Metro
Chapter of the United States Personal Chef Association:
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 If using a
frozen dish that requires defrosting, it must first defrost in
the refrigerator for four days prior to cooking. Place in a
tub/plastic container in case the packaging is torn.
If you are
offering snacks or appetizers before the main meal, keep the
choices light and the textures varied. This will keep your
guests from overindulging prior to dinner. |
Be sure to
chill white wine well in advance, (but not too cold!) and
decant your red wine prior to your guests' arrival so that
each is at its ideal temperature.
Don't
overload your guests with too many choices at the table. Plan
a simple menu with one or two starches and two or three
vegetable choices. Everyone will have plenty to eat and leave
the table pleasantly satisfied, not overly full and
uncomfortable.
Prepare all
the side dishes in advance and keep them chilled or at room
temperature until ready to heat. When the turkey or roast is
out of the oven and resting before being carved, warm all of
your sides in the oven and/or microwave. Then, when the turkey
is carved and ready to serve, your side dishes are piping hot
and ready at the same time.
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For a
festive ending, serve a light fruit crumble or
pie, a basket
of fresh fruit - which can also double as a centerpiece - and
a variety of finger-type desserts such as miniature pastries,
cookies and petit fours.
Fondue is another excellent choice
for a large group.
Serve a
variety of cordials along with your
coffee and
tea for a tasty
ending.
When
storing left over turkey or any large piece of meat, cut it
into small pieces instead of storing it whole. Pieces will
chill faster, therefore, keeping the meat safer from any
bacterial growth. Plus, when you eat these leftovers over a
period of time, all you do is to take out a family-dinner size
piece and serve it. Otherwise, you will need to reheat the
whole large piece and then store it again.
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Plan ahead
and buy disposable individual portion containers to send
guests home with a doggie bag to cut down on leftovers and so
you do not have to give your good containers away.
If all of
this seems daunting, just
hire a personal chef, and be a guest
at your own party!
Recommended:
Do not overeat during holidays
Romantic holidays
Banana split recipe
Pink lingerie cake
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