Spencer - Christmas Feast Cookbook: The Very Best Classic and New Recipes

Cooking for a large group is not always easy, but it can be if you follow a few simple tips that will make your Christmas meal perfect. Tip Number One: Make a Grocery List Before you even start cooking, it is important to make a grocery list for your Christmas or any holiday dinner. Start by going over the recipes in this book and choosing some of the recipes that you would like to make. Once you have the recipes, take the time to go through your cupboards. Make a list of what you have and another list of what you need. Be thorough with the list since the last thing you want is to not have the items on hand when you make your meal.

Tip Number Two: Check the Age of your Spices While many people don't think of this, it is very important to check the age of your spices. Spices, while not technically going bad, can lose their flavor. Spices that are over six months old lose a lot of flavor and can result in bland food. Instead, purchase fresh spices before the holidays if your spices are over the six-month mark. Trust me, the flavor you will get from the spices will be worth the extra investment. Tip Number Three: Make Food Ahead of Time A lot of dishes, especially desserts, can be made ahead of time, so try to make as much as you can the days before the holiday.

This will cut down on how busy you are the day of the meal, and you will have time to relax and enjoy your family and friends. In addition, making things ahead of time will help prevent ruining a recipe. We all know that it can be very easy to ruin several dishes when you have them all going at the same time.

Tip Number Four: Prep in the Morning Another great tip for having your holiday meal go off without a hitch is to have all the prep work done in the morning or the day before. What this means is that you cut the potatoes and put them in water, cut all the veggies, get the meat prepped, and anything else you can think of. The more you have done, the easier the day will be.

Tip Number Five: Invite a little Help Good food, good wine, and good company will make the time in the kitchen even easier. Ask people to bring a dish, or invite them to help out in the kitchen while you are cooking. Guests will be happy to help, and you will be happy for the company. In the end, the best way to have a perfect Christmas dinner is to relax and not sweat the small stuff. Do all the prep work early so you don't have to rush to get things done.

Suggested Menus

I love cooking and trying new food.

Suggested Menus

I love cooking and trying new food.

Preparing food for your loved ones and trying to challenge yourself to try new recipes and new foods is a challenge and a joy. It is with this in mind that these menus have been composed. I hope they can help you decide what to put on your holiday meals. A good preparation and some make-ahead dishes will simplify your life and get the stress out of holiday cooking.

Traditional Menu

This is a traditional menu for Christmas dinner in North America and many places around the World.

Light and Flavorful Menu

You will to go lean and mean with this menu.