Keeping The Fa-La-La-La-La In Holiday Meal Prep

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Expert Advice For Keeping The Fa-La-La-La-La In Your Holiday Meal Prep (NAPSA)—So, you’re in the spirit and you’ve merrily taken on the role of holiday host for one of this season’s many get-together opportunities. By now you’re knee deep in gift wrap, school pageants, menu planning and everything else that makes the holidays special for your family. The word “simplify” might be starting a refrain in your head. Enter Catherine Bailly Dunne, home dcor expert and author of “Designing for All Five Senses.” Dunne says she treats holiday hosting like she would one of her interior design projects, just on a much smaller scale. She has some easy suggestions for keeping peace andjoy in your space during the busy weeksahead. Start with a Theme. “I like to start with a clear vision of what I want the tone for the holiday gathering to be,” Dunnesays. “For example, if there will be lots of little tots running around, I might think: magical, colorful and casual. Chancesare, I wouldn’t be serving a rack of lamb for this group, but I would plan some simple and deliciously nutritious finger foods for busy hands to grab. A theme helps me keep things focused when I’m browsing for decorating and menuideas.” Control the Clutter. It’s easy to feel a little frazzled if you keep your “pending projects” pile within your frame of sight. Dunne suggests resisting the a ime (0 : inches wide, it’s the same width as a standard range, but with two separate ovens so you can prepare multiple dishes at varying temperatures. Ovenslike this one also come with convection cooking, which delivers more precise heat and reduces cooking time. Self Service With a Smile. Dunneadvises setting up a serve- = A double oven range lets you cook a turkey and side dishes simultaneously at different temperatures. urge to set up a gift-wrap station on the dining room table or leaving baking supplies on the counter. Designate one shelf in your pantry for holiday meal prep items to keep them within easy reach. If possible, stage your giftwrapping area in a seldom-used room of the house. When the Heat Is On, You Need a Double Oven. If you haven’t purchased kitchen appliances in recent years, it’s time to take a look at what’s new and how the advancements are changing the way we cook. If you thought you didn’t have enough space for a double oven, then check out the new Frigidaire Range with Baken-Warm”™ Double Oven. At 30 yourself-beverage-and-snack area for holiday guests away from the core kitchen area. That way, house guests can help themselves and the cook won’t become frustrated by all the foot traffic coming throughthe food-prep area. * Dish Duty in Double Speed. Ovens aren’t the only appliances benefiting from recent technology advancements. The Frigidaire Speed Clean dishwasher washes and dries a complete load in 50 minutes—that’s about half the time of a typical cycle. It means you can have the forks ready in time for dessert! Lots of Elves Makes for Lighter Work. Finally, Dunne suggests involving the whole household in the party-planning festivities. Whether it’s setting the table, stringing some popcorn or stirring the stuffing, participating in the process is part of the fun. Dunne is a consultant for Frigidaire Appliances and has more advice on the steps for remodeling a kitchen successfully at www.frigidaire.com.