Cooking Space Week

Posted July 20th, 2007 by Cynthia Townley Ewer

Houseworks holiday plan 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

Houseworks by Cynthia Townley Ewer Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

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

Inspiration from the Web:

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist:

holiday plan

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?