Need Some Holiday Help? 5 Ways To Handle the Prep Work

The holidays will be here before we know it. This is a good time to start planning those fun celebrations and family gatherings. Instead of handling all the work of meal preparation as well as decorating and hosting, consider using professional help in taking care of the prep work for parties and festive meals. Here are some services that can help.

Salads and Appetizers

If you have the menu already planned, you might just appreciate some help with salads and appetizers. Vegetable chopping, mincing, and mixing can be time-consuming, especially when cooked items like hardboiled eggs or specialties like diced deli meat are added. Order salads ahead of time for pickup on the day before or day of the meal.

Delectable Sides

Maybe you’re craving that wonderful sweet potato casserole that you get only a couple times a year. Possibly you want to serve some specially-prepared vegetable side dishes involving veggies like Brussels sprouts or winter squash that you’re not used to preparing. You don’t have to order a complete feast to get a few sides you’re hankering for. Just order the family-size sides in advance and reheat for the festive dinner.

Main Meats

Whole or sliced baked hams and turkeys that you can order from specialty shops have been around forever. There are more selections than ever now, with your choice of glaze, marinade, sauce, or seasoning. You can often find beef roast and other large cuts of meat commercially prepared by expert cooks that you can order for your celebration. Meat often takes the most time for both prep and cooking as well as cleanup, so you can save time for other cooking tasks by purchasing a meat dish.

Breads and Desserts

If you don’t already have a favorite local baking company, this is a great time to find one. There may be plenty of local bakeries that serve an extensive range of baked goods, from dinner rolls to specialty loaf breads and baked desserts like pie or cake. Save time by ordering fresh bread from your favorite baker in time for the holidays.

Dishes and Cutlery

Maybe one or two china plates got chipped at the last family meal, and now you’re short on dishes. You can rent china and silverware or other types of dishes and cutlery for your upcoming event instead of buying a whole new set of your own. Delivery and pickup service may also be available.

The holidays are stressful. However, you can save time, stress, and energy at your next holiday dinner by taking advantage of professional services like these. With less to worry about, you can enjoy the time with your family and friends.