November 15, 2018

Hey Everyone!

I think the worst part of hosting a holiday is the dreaded cleanup...right?

Dinner is over and you want nothing more than to put your slippers on and spend some quality time with your guests, but you have tons of pots and pans waiting to be cleaned in the kitchen.

After dinner, fill the big pots with soapy hot water and use them for soaking utensils and plates.

A cooler can also be used for soaking larger items, and as long as everything is immersed your cleanup can be put off until you're up to it.

Set up a lined garbage can ahead of time so food scraps can go directly into the trash, and voila! Your mountain of dishes is a problem for tomorrow...go enjoy your some time with family!


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Hint 1: Time to Eat That Turkey

Although you've planned your meal timing perfectly, there are a few helpful tricks to keep some tricky food items hot.

- Keep your gravy piping hot? A thermos will do the trick just fine.

- A cooler will retain heat, and can hold stacked foil dishes or covered pots.

- A microwave oven is insulated, and can be used as a resting place to keep a hot dish warm for a half an hour.

- A Crock-Pot will keep your mashed potatoes, rice, or stuffing warm (you can even set it to low for longer periods or time).

You're driving me up a wall... just got a whole new meaning!

Hint 2: Ready for something sweet

Although you and your guests are ready for your famous pumpkin pie or pecan pie, it's impossible to clear the dishes and serve dessert at the same time. Taking a coffee break between courses is the perfect way to give time to clear the table
after dinner.

Create a dessert station in the dining room with plates, forks, and coffee cups. Press the brew button when you (and your helpful guests) are clearing the table, and have the cream and sugar bowls ready in the refrigerator ahead of time. Your coffee will be ready and the table will be clear, making it the perfect time to present the dessert.