Holiday Cooking and Planning Tips for New Chefs

Holiday Cooking and Planning Tips

The holiday season is all about a time for celebrating with friends and family. For many people, this includes preparing special holiday meals. But if you’re new to cooking, making these meals can seem daunting because of everything that needs to get done. We can help you with this, really. These are the actual methods we use when we cater weddings or other large food gatherings.

With some simple guidance and holiday cooking tips, even beginner cooks can make tasty holiday foods.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to plan holiday menus

• Tips for holiday baking

• Inspiration for easy holiday recipes

Plus we will give you a planning template to print and fill out.

Planning is key to holiday cooking success. Honestly, I think planning is actually half of the battle. Make menus ahead of time and shop for ingredients in advance. This will help make sure you have everything you need. In fact, we will share our process for our Thanksgiving meal with you to make everything easier for you.

When it comes to holiday baking, start with simple recipes. Cookies, brownies, and quick breads are great options. Use handy tools like cookie cutters to make fun shapes.

These tips are here to take the stress out of holiday meals. With some planning and easy recipes, you’ll be ready to cook up and spread some holiday cheer!

The Challenges of Holiday Cooking

Making holiday meals can be challenging and a little intimidating for new cooks. But it doesn’t have to be. Let’s look at how to start.

Two big issues are time and planning.

With lots of dishes to make, how are you supposed to make everything ready at once? To solve this problem, we make a plan for what to cook and when. This makes it easier when the time comes to know what to bake, when to start sides, and how to get everything done all at the same time.

Another problem you may face is managing different diets.

Holiday meals often have many guests. Some may have food allergies or can’t eat certain foods. Making sure to have options for all is important but can be tricky.

What kitchen tools will you need to make all this food?

You need to make a main dish, side dishes, desserts… all of these things use different kitchen gear. What will you need?

Finally, beginners may deal with ingredients or dishes or flavors they’ve never tried before.

Learning new cooking skills under pressure makes holiday cooking even more overwhelming and daunting. Which, let’s be real, is just not any fun and is incredibly stressful.

Tip #1: Meal Planning

Let’s solve the first problem: Time and Planning.

Planning is the best way for beginner cooks to handle holiday meals. First, make diverse menus with options for all guests. Write down recipes and what ingredients you need.

Next, be smart when grocery shopping. Make lists with the exact amounts needed to stay on budget. Buy non-perishables early. Wait on fresh ingredients.

Finally, prep ingredients or even entire recipes ahead of time. Wash and chop veggies early. Make casseroles or desserts 1-2 days before. This gives you more time later.

We will share our plan for this year’s Thanksgiving Meal. Feel free to copy it or use it as a guideline for what ever your traditional meal is. We will also provide a planning template for you to fill in to make your own plan.

Tip # 2 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets for Novice Chefs

In the kitchen, it pays to be prepared. Certain tools can make holiday cooking much easier for beginners. Handy gadgets we use include:

• A good knife set- Having quality knives in different sizes allows for easier prepping of dishes, and of course the slicing of the turkey or ham.

• Variety of pots and pan sizes. This includes baking dishes.

• Several cutting boards- you use different cutting boards to keep food from cross-contaminating. What we mean by that, is you don’t want to cut raw meat on the same board as you cut the vegetables for your cru-di-tés (your vegetable tray).

• Mixer – Quickly mixes batters and doughs. Saves energy and time. We like our stand mixer, but a simple hand mixer will do.

• Food processor – Chops, slices, and purées with a push of a button. This isn’t absolutely necessary, you can cut everything with a knife, but it makes the job much easier and faster.

• Instant-read thermometer – Takes the guesswork out of meat doneness. Ensures safely cooked food. Pa likes his digital thermometer.

• Baking utensils, like a rolling pin, a cookie press, and cutters – quickly makes perfect, uniform cookies. Great for holiday baking.

• Silicone baking mats- We used to use parchment paper, and it will definitely work, but I have found I love silicone mats. They are washable and reusable. I don’t have to continually buy them. I cut them to the size of the pan I am using, and I can use them repeatedly. They are perfect for baking. Cookies and cakes don’t burn on the bottom; foods don’t stick to the pans… In my opinion, silicone mats are one of the best things you can have in your kitchen.

Investing in some appliances and tools simplifies recipes and makes cooking so much easier. With the right tools, novice chefs can cook holiday meals with confidence.

Don’t be afraid to ask for useful kitchen gadgets as gifts! We do.

Tip #3: Navigating Dietary Restrictions

So you are planning your holiday meal, but your cousin is lactose intolerant, and your aunt is vegan, oh, and grandma can’t eat nuts anymore because of her teeth. Your brother is bringing his new girlfriend, and your nephew only likes sweets… How do you deal with all of this? A little extra planning will solve this for you.

• First, ask guests about any dietary needs and restrictions.

• Make a list to remember who can’t eat what.

• Really. Make the list. It will help.

Next, look up substitutions for common allergens like dairy, eggs, nuts, etc. Swap dairy milk for almond or coconut milk in recipes. Use oil instead of butter.

Finally, build menus with options for all. Have veggie side dishes, regular rolls as well as gluten-free rolls, and a vegan dessert. This way everyone can enjoy something.

With some creativity and flexibility, beginner cooks can make holiday meals work for any diet. The extra effort makes guests feel welcome. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from experienced cooks too! Or even ask the guests what they would like to have.

Tip #4: Quick Tip List

Plan your holiday meal: your menu and game plan on how you will execute the plan.

• Make detailed menus and plans a couple of weeks before mealtime.

• Write out what you’ll make and when.

• Stick to simple recipes you’ve tried before or what you are comfortable trying out.

Shop early for non-perishables, then get fresh stuff a couple of days before.

• Check your list to avoid last-minute trips.

Thaw frozen turkey in a cooler of ice water a couple of days early.

• Replace water occasionally.

• About a day ahead, refresh the water and add in the brine. Brining helps keep that turkey juicy instead of the dreaded dry bird my grandparents always served.

Great tip here: Pre-assemble side dishes, like casseroles or potatoes a day or two (or more) before.

• They are fine to cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for a couple of days before cooking.

Store your food outside overnight if you live in a cooler climate.

• It will save your fridge space for other things.

• The colder temperatures overnight keep the food safe.

• We have pets that would love to eat food left outside, so we like to store food in the large smoker barbeque grill, in coolers outside, or even in the shed.

Use the leftover turkey carcass to make delicious turkey stock that you can freeze for later use.

Quick turkey stock recipe:

• Put the leftover turkey bones and scraps to simmer into a large stock pot.

• Add fresh onions, carrots, and celery, and a little salt or garlic if you want. I generally skip the salt.

• Fill the pot with water, enough to cover the turkey carcass, and cook.

• Bring it to a boil and simmer for about a half hour or so.

• Let cool and freeze to use in other recipes later.

• The amounts you use depend on how much you want to make. Use more vegetables if you use a larger stock pot, like we do. We use roughly a bunch of celery, about as many carrots, and about 4 onions. Use half of that if you make a smaller pot of stock.

Clean up the mess as you go. Wash used dishes and pans after you are done. Stay on top of the mess, and cleaning up after the meal will be much simpler instead of taking an hour.

• One nice thing about making dishes ahead of time is you don’t have as much going on in the kitchen the day of.

Remember, practice makes perfect. So, don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned the first time around. You get to learn from the experience and adjust what to do the next time. That is how we developed our process.

Tip #5: Navigating Unknown Ingredients Or Dishes

So what do you do if you haven’t made the dishes or used ingredients before? Start simple with recipes that use 5 ingredients or less. Look for dishes with basic cooking methods like baking, sautéing, or roasting. A good rule is to follow the recipe exactly. Keep in mind, the creator of recipes usually know what flavors and ingredients go well together. But to keep things simple for this upcoming holiday meal, choose dishes that sound easy to make, you have had before, or just sound interesting. Have fun with it.

When following recipes, take it one step at a time. Read the ingredients and directions fully before starting. Have all your ingredients and tools ready to go. Don’t skip steps.

Here are some easy win holiday ideas new chefs can master:

• Honey Glazed Carrots – Just roast peeled carrots with honey and butter.

• Baked Ham – Stud a ham with cloves and coat with brown sugar. Bake until heated through.

• Roasted Vegetables – Toss carrots, Brussels sprouts, squash etc. in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 400°F until tender.

• Mashed Potatoes – Boil potatoes, then mash with a little milk, butter, and salt. You can add a dollop of sour cream if you want a little more flavor.

• Green Bean Casserole – Mix canned or frozen green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and french fried onions. Top with crispy french-fried onions and bake.

• Candied Yams- Bake canned sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar. Bake until heated. Keep in the oven and top with mini marshmallows, and bake again until they are melted, gooey and browned.

• Cranberry sauce- You can either make it yourself, or just buy canned jellied or whole berry cranberry sauce. Put it in the refrigerator to chill before serving.

• Pumpkin Bread – Mix up a simple pumpkin quick bread batter. Bake in a loaf pan.

• Hot Cocoa – Heat milk, or hot water, stir in cocoa powder and sugar. You can add a little extra flavor, like hazelnut, if you choose to be fancy. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

• Cheese Ball – Mix shredded cheddar, cream cheese, and spices. Form into a ball and coat with nuts or herbs. Or just buy a pre-made one. Easy.

• Pumpkin Pie- The easiest way to do this is to just buy a premade frozen pumpkin pie and bake it the day before. Top with whipped cream.

• Chewy chocolate chip cookies- Here you can buy chocolate chip cookie dough and pop them on a cookie sheet and bake them up. Or you can make your own cookie dough and add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or other ingredients you like in your cookies.

• Easy Banana Cream Pie- Get a premade frozen pie crust, and either use a fork to prick the bottom of the pie crust all over or add pie weights (beans or rice work well) and fill the bottom of the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes to cook the crust. After the crust cools, slice some bananas up and layer in the bottom of the pie crust. Mix up some banana cream pudding, and pour the filling over the banana slices. Top with whipped cream.

• Dressing or Stuffing- You can buy a box stuffing mix, buy stuffing bread in a package, or just cut up some bread into strips, lay them on a sheet pan to dry out. You add chicken broth, sautéd onions and celery, and bake.

• Dinner Rolls – Use store-bought dough, shape into rounds, let rise, and bake until golden.

• Carrot Cake- Make up a store bought carrot cake mix, and frost with pre-made cream cheese frosting.

Don’t be afraid to try simple holiday recipes. Taking it slowly and following each step will lead to delicious results! Cooking is a learning process.

Our step-by-step Thanksgiving Meal process, as promised

Click here to print our blank planning pages

Planning Stage:

Here are the questions we ask:

When we will be eating?

Choose a time you need everything to be prepared by. This way you can plan what time to get all the food cooking, so everything is getting done at the same time.

How many people will you be feeding?

A valid question. Plan for the amount of people you will be entertaining, so you don’t run out. Keep in mind who they are and how much they typically eat.

Do we want leftovers?

Your choice. Plan more food if you do.

Are we making specific meals with the leftovers?

I like to use leftovers to make a new meal. It mixes things up, and makes for really quick and easy meals later.

How much do we need?

Take all of the previous into account and decide how many to plan for.

• Here’s a basic formula for how much food to plan per person for a holiday dinner:

  • Main dish/protein: Plan for 6-8 oz per person

  • Starch side dishes (like mashed potatoes or stuffing): Plan for 1⁄2 – 1 cup per person

  • Vegetable side dishes (like roasted carrots or green beans): Plan for 1⁄2 – 1 cup per person

  • Dinner rolls: Plan for 1-2 per person

  • Dessert: Plan for 1 piece that is 2-3 inches big per person

  • Drinks: Plan for 2-3 glasses of water, soda, wine etc per person

  So for example, if you have 10 guests:

  • Main dish: Plan for 6-8 lbs (like a 12-15 lb turkey or ham)

  • Starch sides: Make 2 batches (9×13 pans size)

  • Vegetable sides: Make 2-3 batches

  • Rolls: Make around 20 rolls

  • Dessert: Make 2 pies or 10 large cookies

  • Drinks: Have at least 4-5 bottles of wine/soda, pitchers of water

  Having leftovers is great! Adjust amounts based on appetites and if you’ll have lots of snacks. Planning 2-3 cups food per person is usually plenty.

Write out a menu.

• Another point to make when you are planning out your menu is you need to be aware of how much oven space you have. You can only cook so much at a time, so you need to plan what pans you can use at the same time.

• We like to use an electric roaster pan for the turkey to free up the oven. Or crock pots for sides.

• We also prepare dishes ahead of time if we can’t cook everything at the same time.

Make a grocery list

After you decide your menu, write out the groceries you will need to get. We break down each dish individually and write what we need to buy. It may help to also write we already have on hand. We have included a grocery list template for you to make things easier.

Do I need ingredients for leftover meals?

We also plan for leftovers. If we are missing any ingredients for the meal, they are included on the shopping list.

Preperation Stage (The days prior to the holiday)

We use this time to prepare as much as possible in advance. That way we don’t have to do as much on the actual holiday, and get to spend the time with guests instead of in the kitchen.

Keep in mind if you are cooking up a big turkey, ham or roast, you need to know how big the cut of meat is because the bigger it is, the longer it takes to cook. So you want to plan what time to get that in to the oven.

Also, take in to account your seating arangements. Do you have a place for everyone to sit? Do you have enough plates and dishes? Where will people dish up their food? These are good questions to ask yourself.

Click Here to see our current plan for this upcoming Thanksgiving. Go ahead and use it as an example or for some menu inspiration. If you would like to make some of the same things we are, we will link to the recipes below.

Conclusion to these holiday cooking and planning tips

Holiday season cooking can seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be scary. With some planning, handy gadgets, and easy recipes, even beginner cooks can make tasty holiday meals. Remember to make detailed plans and prep ahead of time. Invest in useful tools that simplify cooking. Most importantly, start with easy dishes and follow recipes step-by-step.

If you stay organized and keep things simple, you’ll be on your way to holiday cooking success. Don’t let inexperience stop you from bringing friends and family together over delicious food this season.