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 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 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 Houseworks Checklist

• Get down and dirty with a kitchen clean-up! American Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners put new emphasis on the household's kitchen. This week, we tackle kitchen clutter, cleaning and organization.

  Moving shelf by shelf, cupboard by cupboard, take on kitchen clutter this week. Using the STOP clutter method, bring food preparation workspaces to a lean, mean, efficient state.

  Once clutter is conquered, a kitchen clean-out is in order. Rout out the grime and corral the crumbs for a sparkling holiday kitchen.

  Don't worry about pantry, freezer or refrigerator just yet ... we'll turn to food storage areas next week.

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, and add them to the holiday recipes planner. 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 form, and delegate, delegate, delegate!
• Plan holiday baking. With recipes out, make a list of baked goodies you'll make for the holidays. Our holiday 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, too; 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 Christmas Planner Pages to Print:

Holiday Recipes Recipes To Try Menu Planner

Weekly Menus Baking Planner Potluck Planner