Reply to S/O: 'Civilized' Holiday How-To

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I made a table in Word with each dish I make: what ingredients are needed, what pots/utensils are needed to cook it, what I need to serve it in/with, how long it cooks, and at what temperature. Then I can easily make a shopping list by going down the ingredients column and seeing what I have, making sure I don't use the bowl I need for the mashed potatoes for something else, and figuring out what needs to go in and out of the over when. It probably took me an hour to make the table the first year, and then I have updated/annotated it over time. My MIL has openly mocked me about it (she also believes "real" cooks don't need to rely on recipes) but I don't care...I can get dinner for 12 on the table at the scheduled time with everything perfectly cooked and plated, and I've never seen her manage to do that in the 15 years I've known her.[/quote]

OP here. Wow, you are organized! I think that is really smart. It does help to know what dish will what go in what serving vessel. It avoids scrambling to get something out which may be stored up high/down low/may be a bit dusty.

A written-down game plan for the day-of is [b]essential[/b]. Even if it's really basic, I write down what time to preheat, what time to put in oven, when to pull something out to rest, etc. It keeps me from being stressed because my instinct is always go-go-go, and glancing at the list, I'm like, "Oh, I don't have to do anything for another half-hour. I should pour myself some wine!"

You can tell your MIL that this is what the Barefoot Contessa recommends, and she's a real cook! :)[/quote]

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