| Man, I can't believe Thanksgiving is over already, | | | | have time to go through all of that, I used |
| and Christmas is just around the corner. It seems | | | | ready-mashed potatoes. They eliminate all of your |
| like this happens to me every year. I'll have | | | | prep time, as well as free up stove burners for |
| thoughts of a terrific Christmas meal at some | | | | other things you might need to cook because |
| point in August, with all of the turkey, stuffing, | | | | these potatoes are microwavable. |
| sweet potatoes, etc. But for some reason I | | | | Now, before you turn up your nose at them, you |
| forget about it again until a few days before the | | | | really need to try them. I used to have the same |
| holiday, which is weird because I'm on top of | | | | thoughts about them until one year when I |
| every other holiday and event throughout the | | | | burned the mashed potatoes when cooking dinner |
| year. | | | | one night. I called my husband and asked him to |
| Party planning when your life is busy with work | | | | pick up some potatoes I could microwave in a |
| and kids can be extremely difficult. Just keep in | | | | couple of minutes. What he brought home |
| mind that almost any holiday party is entirely | | | | changed my mind about ready-mashed potatoes |
| doable at the last minute if you break it down into | | | | forever; they are just as good as the real thing, |
| small, manageable components. You also have to | | | | so your guests will never know the difference. |
| be willing to go with simple ideas, because | | | | I generally like to get fresh vegetables and |
| anything too elaborate probably can't be | | | | prepare them to go with our meal. I get fresh |
| accomplished if your time is short. | | | | beans that I have to clean and snap of the ends. |
| Here are some quick and easy Christmas meal | | | | I buy corn on the cob, shuck it, boil it, and then |
| ideas that you can put together at the last minute | | | | cut the corn off. I could go on, but you already |
| that will still give you and your guests a traditional | | | | think I'm crazy for putting that much into my |
| holiday feel. | | | | vegetables. |
| The first thing I think about when planning a | | | | For any of you out there who do the same thing, |
| Christmas meal is turkey. When people think of | | | | there are pre-bagged vegetable available that |
| cooking a turkey for this holiday, they think of | | | | taste just as good as fresh. All you do is throw |
| cooking a whole turkey. That's fine when you | | | | them in the microwave and they steam to a nice |
| have days to let it thaw out in your refrigerator, | | | | crunchy finish. Your family will not be able to tell |
| but what if you don't have that kind of time? | | | | the difference. |
| A turkey breast is the perfect solution. Depending | | | | As for the pies, you can always buy them at a |
| on how many you have coming to your | | | | local store. I know it's not the same as a |
| Christmas feast, you may need to invest in more | | | | fresh-baked pie, but by the time everyone gets |
| than one breast. The great thing about a turkey | | | | done eating all of your other food, they aren't as |
| breast as opposed to the whole turkey is the | | | | concerned with the pie being homemade as much |
| cooking and prep time; both are greatly reduced. | | | | as they are figuring out how they are going to fit |
| Another great thing about it is a turkey breast | | | | it in their stomach. |
| doesn't take up as much room in your | | | | Hopefully these holiday party planning tips will help |
| refrigerator or freezer. | | | | you to enjoy your Christmas more because it |
| The next item on the menu is mashed potatoes. | | | | should leave you more time to spend with your |
| It is a tradition in my house to clean, peel, and boil | | | | family, which is what it's all about. Happy Holidays! |
| the potatoes before mashing them. When I don't | | | | |