Something that no person wants to encounter is running
out of ingredients while making special dishes for holidays or not having the
time to make all you need. These seven tips
have worked so well for me, I’d like to pass them on to you.
1) Harvest
of Cranberries: Around Thanksgiving we can find plenty of fresh and frozen
cranberries, but after the holidays they’re scarce. When they are in season be sure to purchase
extra supplies and freeze them.
2) Using
Nuts: My mother always had a supply of fresh mixed nuts for us to munch on
during the holidays and I like to do the same thing. However, it’s rare I find nuts on sale, but
when I do I buy as much as I can at the time and freeze them. Plus when you
purchase them in larger amounts they are cheaper.
3) Buttermilk:
Many recipes, especially desserts call for the use of buttermilk. If you don’t
have any on hand you can make your own.
4) Pie
Crusts: One thing I’ve learned NOT to do is make my own pie crusts. My mom
and oldest sister could make delicious crusts, but not me.
5) Whipped
Cream: Make flavorful whipped cream by adding a few ingredients to regular
topping. First chill the beaters and
mixing bowl. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice,
sugar, vanilla or imitation liqueur to the whipped cream before beating it to
make it fluffy.
6) Stuffing:
I remember there were times when we didn’t have enough bread crumbs for
stuffing.
7) Baked
Goods: Bake your gifts ahead of time.
During the holiday is the worst time to make the bulk of your famous
recipes for friends and family. The only
things I like baking close to the actual holiday are the things I’ll be serving
at the table. I make and freeze most baking gifts in late October or November
and they still taste fresh.
Image credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified.
1) Harvest
of Cranberries: Around Thanksgiving we can find plenty of fresh and frozen
cranberries, but after the holidays they’re scarce. When they are in season be sure to purchase
extra supplies and freeze them.
Have you wondered how professionals get that
crystal look on the berries that look so pretty for decoration or photographs?
To make
your berries look even more festive, coat them with sugar and let them dry
before placing them around a dish with greenery for decoration. You can find out how to do it here.
2) Using
Nuts: My mother always had a supply of fresh mixed nuts for us to munch on
during the holidays and I like to do the same thing. However, it’s rare I find nuts on sale, but
when I do I buy as much as I can at the time and freeze them. Plus when you
purchase them in larger amounts they are cheaper.
To add a special flavor to your dishes, toast the
nuts ahead of time and freeze them until you need them for recipes.
3) Buttermilk:
Many recipes, especially desserts call for the use of buttermilk. If you don’t
have any on hand you can make your own.
By combining milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to equal a
cup of milk it will act like buttermilk in the recipe. Stir and let it sit for
5 minutes before adding to your recipe.
4) Pie
Crusts: One thing I’ve learned NOT to do is make my own pie crusts. My mom
and oldest sister could make delicious crusts, but not me.
Instead of giving in
to defeat, I learned to buy pie crusts when they are on sale and freeze them
for when I need them.
Place packaged crusts in freezer bags in the foil pans for up
to six months. When you’re ready to use
them they don’t need to be thawed before using. Take them out of your freezer
for about five minutes and use them as normal.
5) Whipped
Cream: Make flavorful whipped cream by adding a few ingredients to regular
topping. First chill the beaters and
mixing bowl. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice,
sugar, vanilla or imitation liqueur to the whipped cream before beating it to
make it fluffy.
To save more time during the holiday baking rush,
drop dollops of whipped cream on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer
until frozen. Remove them and store in a quart container before returning them
to the freezer. Take them out and use
them in coffee, hot chocolate or desserts as needed.
6) Stuffing:
I remember there were times when we didn’t have enough bread crumbs for
stuffing.
All we did was place slices of
bread on a cookie sheet and cover them with paper towel. Let them set overnight on a counter or inside
the oven leaving the door slightly open; they’ll be ready to use in your recipe
the next day.
7) Baked
Goods: Bake your gifts ahead of time.
During the holiday is the worst time to make the bulk of your famous
recipes for friends and family. The only
things I like baking close to the actual holiday are the things I’ll be serving
at the table. I make and freeze most baking gifts in late October or November
and they still taste fresh.
If you make baked goods to send to relatives,
frozen items always do better especially if they get hung up somewhere in the mailing
system. This way the baked
item remains fresh when it arrives to your loved one.
What tips do you have to help relieve some of the
baking pressure during the holidays? If
you have one share it with us in the comment section.
Blessings for a favored holiday!
Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I
know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more
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used is from the New King James Bible Version provided by Gateway BibleImage credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified.
