Friday, October 8, 2021

Take Time Now to Prep for the Busy Holiday Season!


These cool days of  early fall are the perfect time to prepare for the busy holiday season coming in November and December. 

Prepare double batches of soups and casseroles.  I like to do this on normal evenings as I'm preparing dinner.  It's easy to put the extra in the freezer for a busy day meal.  Just be sure to label it.  I've had a few surprises over the years.  Oh my, did I say that aloud?  ~smile~ in fact, right now, I have a container of something red in my freezer. I think it's sauce for meatloaf. I think. ~smile~

You'll find some delicious soups and stews on this list from my blog:  
An Autumn Mix: Warming Up with Soups and Stews... A List of Favorites .

Begin now to prepare cookies for your family often. Bake a dozen for the family to enjoy now and freeze the rest for busy November and December days.  I often go ahead and shape the dough into balls for easy thawing and baking right on the cookie sheet.  This is a huge help when unexpected guests pop in during the holidays or you find that you need a treat to take to a gathering. This year, I plan to try some sugar free low carb cookies, too. Try some of my favorite cookies here.

Now's the time to gather ideas and make your lists.  Look at all the ideas you've come up with over the last few months.  Start making lists. Think about what you'd like the next few months to look like and start breaking it all down.

If  you're planning on making gifts, it's time to get started!

Start thrift shopping. I went for my first shopping trip this week. I found a set of Wilton's cooling racks for cookies or cakes for just $3. They are brand new in the package. With four young adults, they will be a gift for someone. You can often find new or like new items at great prices.

Well, I've given you something to think about.  Go, think, scribble a few thoughts down, and try some of my soups and cookies.  Let's take the coming months in a steady pace and enjoy it without stress. Have a terrific week!

Laura
Happy at Home
Happy to Be Alive and Cancer Free


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May I suggest?
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16 comments:

  1. I have made a start with the extra meals already too so on a day that I am busy we always have something healthy handy. Hope all goes well with your surgery.

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    1. You're a smart cookie, Mama! Thank you so much.
      Laura

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  2. In some ways our lives seem to run parallel. I've been cooking soups (with the summer's harvest of local veggies) and freezing different portions.

    I pray your surgery goes well and good healing comes after. Soup is a favorite food of mine in autumn. Your soup will contribute to your healing.

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    1. I think you're right, Karen. I made a simple chicken soup tonight with 2 chicken thighs, a boullion cube, a few potatoes and carrots and an onion. I added a can of peas, drained at the last minute. Salt and pepper made it scrumptious with my husband's bread.
      Blessings,
      Laura

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  3. Will be praying for you on the 10th Laura. I Know God's gonna be right there with you through the whole process, isn't that a wonderful comfort to know. Be at ease and turn ALL your concerns over to Him. Thank you for sharing the idea about freezing cookie balls...what a time saver!! Having raised 7 kids, always doubled the batch, and they all gotten eaten quickly..but now we have an empty nest, time to come up with alternative baking habits! God Bless you dear lady.

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    1. Thanks so much Karla! Seven kids. I felt like I had a big family with 4. My girlfriend has 9.
      God knows what we can handle I guess!
      Blessings,
      Laura

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  4. Thanks for your suggestions and timely reminders. You have me thinking now!

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    1. If I don't start thinking in September and early October, it seems like everything moves too fast and I get behind!

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  5. My husband really doesn't care for soup so it would do me no good to do those kinds of prep ahead. He won't eat meals that have been cooked and then frozen either.

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    1. Dear Carol,
      That does make it hard, doesn't it? Perhaps you can think of something else to help you get ahead of the game. Hugs to you!
      Laura

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  6. The first hurdle here is getting the adult children to tell us when they will be here for the holidays. It is like pulling teeth! Until I know that my hands are tied. It frustrates me so much nut trying to hurry them along only gets them upset with me so I will wait.

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    1. That will no doubt be a problem for us, too, as time goes by. My sons work opposite hours. It's hard to get everyone together already.
      Be blessed,
      Laura

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  7. Great post!
    Thanks for coming by my blog and luring me back. LOL. I lost most everyone when my computer died.
    I only have a phone now and it is a change!
    Have a great weekend!

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    1. I understand about losing people! I just got a new phone, and it didn't transfer some of my most used phone numbers! Fortunately, I had recently texted several of them, so I could figure out who some were from our conversations, and I texted the others.
      Technology. Humph.
      ~smile~

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  8. Thank you for the encouragement to make ahead. I usually do muffins and bread ahead and just googled how to freezer cookie dough yesterday. With six of the 12 still home I am still baking cookies on the regular. LOL! I hope your feeling better. God bless!

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    1. I'll bet you do bake a lot of cookies. I do miss the days of having kids at home a lot. Sometimes I get lonesome for their little selves. Their big selves are just so different!

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Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor