Cooking Space Week

November's here, and it's time to clear the decks in the kitchen: holiday meals ahead! In the next two weeks, we'll declutter, organize and clean cooking spaces and food storage areas. This week, it's the kitchen; we'll leave food storage spaces--refrigerator, freezer and pantry--for next week.

Holiday prep chores focus on the tastes of the season. We'll dig out our holiday recipes, plan menus and baking, and do a tabletop check to prepare for the festivities.

This Week's Houseworks Focus: Kitchen

Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

• In the kitchen - pages 102-113
  Declutter, organize and clean the kitchen or food preparation areas.

Inspiration from the Web:

• Kitchen Declutter: Cut Clutter, Save Time in the Kitchen
• Menu Planning: Save Time In The Kitchen
• Holiday Baking Solution: Make It A Specialty
• Save Money on Holiday Meals

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist:

• Organize holiday recipes. It's November ... do you know where your seasonal recipes are? Dig out the recipes you use during the holiday season. Make a quick list. Thanksgiving Day is too busy to waste time hunting for the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
• Plan Thanksgiving menus. If you're hosting the Thanksgiving feast, it's time to make a menu plan. Use a Menu Planner, and delegate, delegate, delegate!
• Plan holiday baking. With recipes out, make a list of baked goodies you'll make for the holidays. Our Baking Planner form is a good place to start.
• Buy containers for freezer meals, baked goods or kitchen gifts. Holiday-themed disposable containers are available now. Double up on freezer food storage bags; they'll do triple duty this month.
• Order Thanksgiving turkey.
• Bake any fruitcakes or Christmas cakes which require mellowing. Now's the time to bake the Christmas cakes! You'll have eight weeks to mellow them before the season.
• Do a tabletop check. Inventory serving pieces, stemware, china and flatware. Check store flyers for sales. Will you be ready to set a pretty holiday table?

This Week's Forms to Print:

• Holiday Recipes
• Recipes to Try
• Holiday Menu Planner
• Holiday Baking Planner
• 7-Day Weekly Menu Planner
• Potluck Planner

• OrganizedChristmas.Com Forms Library

This Week On the Message Boards:

Join us on the Houseworks Holiday Plan message boards!