Meal Plan Magic Holiday Style! Baking 101

Not to put the pressure on but the holidays will be here before we know it. Now, don’t start freaking out right now and think “Oh my! I’ll never be able to get everything done that I want to!”. It’s a familiar mantra that many of us tell ourselves each year. No matter what holiday you celebrate, food is no doubt a part of it.

Of course what you choose to do or not do is a personal decision you CAN enjoy the holidays a bit more if you’re organized and of course, plan for all the occasions for food!

This is this first in a three part series about meal planning for the holidays. This week I’m talking about holiday baking. For many, the holidays are really the only time they bake. For me, it’s when I bake the “fancy” cookies and candy for enjoying at home, parties and gift giving.

What I love about holiday baking is that most all the cookies I make can be made ahead and frozen up to three months in advance (usually). Then I can pull out what I need when I need it and not stress when company comes by at the last minute. But you’ve got to have a plan. Have you ever gotten all ready on a Saturday afternoon to have a bake-a-thon and then realized you ran out of butter or flour or some other key ingredient because you just didn’t figure out how much you would need total? Or forgotten about making that favorite candy that your sister-in-law loves until you show up at the family gathering without it?

I’ve got some tools to share with you that can help you get a little more organized: At OrganizedChristmas.com (not just for Christmas–they have other holidays there too), you can download free forms to help you get organized. Check out the Baking Planner or Pantry Inventory forms. They’ve taken the thinking out of what you need to remember when looking through your recipes and making your grocery lists.

Another easy way to get a variety of cookies is to host a Cookie Exchange. There are lots of ways to do it. I’ve hosted several over the years and sometimes it is an evening event for ladies only, sometimes a daytime event where kids are invited or held at the last regular meeting of a group that I’m in before we break for the holidays. How does it work? Check out Cookie-exchange.com or Entertaining at About.com to get some ideas.

My sister hosts an annual Cookie Exchange and hers is an event that everyone looks forward to. She even holds a contest for the most creative cookie and the most creative cookie container. Hot chocolate, wassail and other beverages are served and it’s a fun girls night out for everyone to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle!

Where do you get all the ideas? Well, everywhere! As you can see from my picture, I’ve got LOTS of holiday baking inspiration (and that’s only about half of them!) I’m a sucker for those pretty looking magazines and mini-cookbooks at the checkout stand. It’s always a treat to get a new one (or two) each year. So go ahead and splurge on a new one for yourself this year (BTW, some retailers like Target and Sam’s Club offer 10-30% off the cover price!)

So whatever your plan—big or small, make things a little easier on yourself and take some time to make a plan. You’ll be thanking yourself later I’m sure!

Coming next week: Potluck Party Planning and Food Gifts.

Happy baking!