Her secret is doing a lot stuff ahead of time and using her freezer. Instead of putting Italian sausage away in the freezer when she gets home from shopping, she fries it up in two big skillets, throws in tomato sauce and seasonings, then freezes it measured out, all ready for lasagne.
I especially loved the way she does Thanksgiving. While all the special food is wonderful, I really dislike spending the whole day in the kitchen, trying to put on a Normal Rockwell spread, ending with the turkey-picking and a mountain of dishes.
Here's a few of her tips...which, all taken together, free her up to go play games with the family and be with PEOPLE, not just food all day.
- Pre-cook sweet potatoes, peel, dice, and cover with your topping; cover and freeze. Defrost on T-Day and warm in the oven.
- Pre-cook the turkey a few days ahead of time. (Then you don't have to find room for it in your fridge or freezer!) Slice and drizzle some of the broth over; cover and freeze. Warm in the microwave at serving time (not the oven -- she says that gives it that leftover taste).
- The rest of the broth frozen, ready to thaw and make gravy.
- Cooks up her turkey soup ahead of time, instead of the day after.
- She uses festive paper plates and napkins -- that don't have to be washed! She sets the table the night before.
And I know there are other short-cuts that work...freezing dinner rolls, having the cranberry sauce pre-cooked or pre-sliced. Freezing your pumpkin pies.
You know, I think my freezer is too small. I can see whole vistas of this method for year-round, simplifying my life even more. Think how handy to have a pre-done casserole or pot of soup for that unexpected company. Though I've done some of this on a sporadic basis, I'm going to get really intentional about it.
Have a blessed and stress-free Thanksgiving!