Turkey Day

I just volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner for my immediate family. Talk about the last minute! (Although, I suppose Wednesday would be the VERY last minute.)

This type of spontaneity is just one reason for maintaining organization in your kitchen. In my own case, I have enough to think about with the menu, who is going to bring what, grocery shopping, and places for everyone to sit. Knowing that when I start cooking Thursday morning that everything I want is in the right place helps to make the day fun.

The average kitchen is usually built for good organization by the fact that there are cabinets. And most people have their stuff in the right cabinets. I have found that the biggest culprit of kitchen clutter is too much stuff – too much food, too many duplicate utensils, too many pots and pans.

This holiday season as you cook or bake, take a critical look at the “extras” in your cabinets. If you haven’t used something in two years, time to discard it. If you have a cooking implement that is for a particular dish, consider storing it elsewhere so you have room for your everyday kitchen duties. Check your foodstuffs for expiration dates and trash anything that has expired, and consider donating to a food bank those items you know you won’t use.

Preparing a holiday meal for friends and family should be a delight. Don’t let kitchen clutter make a chore instead.