Organize for holiday baking and cooking

Do you enjoy creating holiday treats or hosting holiday dinners or parties?

Personally this isn’t my idea of fun (I’d rather eat than cook) but I do find it more enjoyable if I’m prepared and organized.

Here are some suggestions that will help you prepare yourself and your kitchen for holiday baking and cooking.

• Clear your counter tops.   Remove nonessential items or the gadgets you rarely use.   Now you have more space for rolling out pie dough, decorating cookies and chopping up vegetables.  The gadgets you removed could live in your basement for a few weeks or until you need them again.
• Gather your baking supplies.  Save money on ingredients by taking inventory of your pantry before you shop.
• Create a baking zone in your kitchen.  Store your cookie sprinkles, flour, sugar, vanilla and other baking ingredients in one area.  Do you have a cabinet or shelf you can dedicate to baking pans, mixing bowls, measuring cups?  You won’t waste time searching for your tools and pans if they are in one area.
• Clean out your refrigerator.   Toss the expired food and make room for your creations.

What are you cooking up this holiday season?