AKB: How To Get Your Kitchen Holiday Ready
The holiday season is quickly approaching and for so many of us, that means more time spent in the kitchen. Similar to spring cleaning, this can be a great time to go through your home and clean up, throw out, and rearrange so that you are all set for hosting and long days of cooking and baking. A little prep like this can make your holiday season a bit more enjoyable, knowing you have prepared and set yourself up for success.
Declutter Your Countertops
Countertop space becomes sacred over the holidays, especially if you are cooking with others or planning on making a lot of dishes for one meal. To prepare for this, find good storage spots for any large appliances you may not be using and organize any magazines or mail that can sometimes make its way into the kitchen area. This is also a great time to toss any old coffee beans or oils that sit out on the counter, taking up space. Give yourself ample real estate for easy and low-stress cooking and baking!
Clean Your Appliances
Spending more time in your kitchen means noticing parts of it that may go overlooked during your busy week and weekends. Take an hour or so to wipe down your refrigerator, inside and outside of the ovens, and make sure your dishwasher is running properly! All three of these items will be crucial to having a smooth holiday hosting season. Clean up the floors, and wash that mat by the kitchen sink. You will be so happy that your station is clean and tidy so that you have a blank canvas to create in.
Organize The Fridge & Pantry
After you have finished the pre-holiday deep clean, take a quick inventory of what you have, and what you may need. Stock up on spices and baking ingredients to allow for spontaneous afternoons of cookie-making to seamlessly happen! It will also help you be prepared by getting some of the grocery shopping out of the way as soon as possible, leaving less time to be spent in long checkout lines the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make space for large dishes in your fridge to stay chilled by throwing away expired food or sauces. Wipe out your fridge drawers, and clean off pantry shelves to once again give you the best environment for making delicious food over the holidays. You will also love this clean slate as you move into the new year!
Prepare The Table
If you plan on hosting any parties or dinners take a quick inventory of what supplies you have. Wash and iron tablecloths now so that you won’t have to worry about that on the actual day of the event. Wash or polish silverware and glassware to save yourself time, and check in to make sure you aren’t missing any of those cloth napkins that can sometimes sneak away. Getting the place settings and table decor in order ahead of time will save you more stress than you can imagine the day before. You will be ready to host, even your own social meals for just you and your family!
As always if you have questions about where to begin, or need help with an overall vision we are always ready to assist.