What goes on in the Kitchen, STAYS in the kitchen

A couple of months before the holiday rush, I start planning my big meals. During the month of October, I add three or four ingredients I know I'll need for the special holiday meals to my weekly grocery list. Somehow, it seems less painful at the register that way AND I'm not left with one big shopping trip; if I do things in small "doses", it saves me big chunks of time! One thing I DON'T like nor can I afford, is wasting time repeating my steps or running out for ingredients I've forgotten. Some shortcuts save us lots of time and others save us a few steps here and there. Either way, it all adds up and gives me time to sit with my family awhile after feasting upon that big holiday meal!

I'll admit, I DO take quite a few shortcuts in that kitchen when preparing meals. "What goes on the kitchen , stays in the kitchen" is pretty much my motto in the kitchen. Does Aunt Violet really have to know that the pie she's raving over was made with a premade, refrigerated piecrust? I think not. If she loves it, she loves it! Mr. Man can't tell the difference between completely homemade gravy and a jar of gravy that I've "seasoned" with drippings from the meat so why not do it? Why NOT save time in the kitchen if no one really knows? After all, though the food is great, the meal is not what they will remember five years from now. They're more likely to remember the occasion, the shared memory.

Please don't get me wrong; I love preparing a nice homemade meal and having the family gather around the table. My family knows that I usually prefer to make the meal by myself , I like the idea of surprising everyone when I come through to the dining room with plates and bowls of homemade goodies.

Thanksgiving meal, I make an exception. I welcome help in the kitchen and love the feeling of all of us pitching in and sharing memories. This just means that I need to do my shortcuts in advance; these kind of shortcuts make everything run smoothly in that kitchen! Traditionally, I make a turkey, mashed potatoes (I love mashed potatoes), dressing, sweet potatoes, homemade bread , salad, a new recipe we've never tried before, pies and a cake. Oh! Do not under any circumstance forget the cranberries! Now with the cranberries, I do like homemade so I make those up the day before. Then, on the big day, just pop homemade cranberry sauce on a lovely cranberry dish and voila! To me, nothing quite "accessorizes" a holiday meal like cranberry sauce.

In the same way that I shop ahead to ensure I've got all my ingredients; I also think ahead the days previous to the big day and save steps and time in the kitchen.
I know I'll be needing chopped onions for that dressing so when I make that omlette for breakfast the day before, I go ahead and chop extra onions. That can be so time consuming! As far as the mushrooms for the dressing? I just pay the few extra cents and get presliced. Again, what goes on in the kitchen......Well, you get the idea!
The idea is this! If you can save time in your kitchen by taking shortcuts, why not?
If those shortcuts make no real difference in the meal quality wise, I'm all for it!
I frequently buy frozen or packaged refrigerated Ore-Ida potatoes for daily meals. My family isn't going to hold me in contempt for taking shortcuts. Especially not since they get to spend more time with *moi* because of them!

I'd like to thank Parent Bloggers and Ore-Ida for giving me the opportunity to share what goes on in my kitchen with you! But remember, normally what goes on in the kitchen stays in the kitchen!