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Not every meal we cook will be a winner. That’s pretty much guaranteed, and something even an ardent three-michelin star chef will understand. But that can sting a little when you cook for others, and especially so if it’s a big meal, such as during an important holiday when you have your entire family to stay. Even worse, if you cooked and it flopped in front of new in-laws, well, you may wish to avoid repeating that mistake.
Now, there’s no real guilt to be had here of course. It’s not a character flaw to cook a meal that doesn’t quite work. But it’s understandable to want to avoid that happening again at any cost. So, if your holiday/christmas/festive meal didn’t work out in 2023, perhaps 2024 can be a new opportunity to do so?
Let’s consider some advice to help you out:
Nail Your Spices Beforehand
Many people receive lovely spice gifts during the holidays, but understanding how to use them properly takes practice, and if the balance was off last year, practicing before your main meal this time is worthwhile.
Or, alternatively, adding your spices to a pre-marinade you can soak your proteins in before cooking can help you avoid overspicing anything. You can even have little bowls of spices and salt and pepper shakers for when the meal is served so people can add at their own leisure. This way you can avoid overpowering anyone, especially young children or those with a sensitive palate that may be less inclined to a particular taste.
Consider Additional Oven Space & Cooking Attachments
When your guest list grows, so does your cooking volume. Most people only have a set amount of oven space and this means cooking timings can be thrown way off if you’re not careful. If you found yourself fighting your oven for space and that messed with how well and comprehensively your food cooked last time, you could purchase a mini oven of a particular size this year.
For instance, roasting your ham in one mini oven, using a plug-in hob top elsewhere, and even adding an air fryer to the mix for some of your side dishes. It lets you somewhat orbit the space with the items you need without feeling frantic and messing up timings. Don’t worry, it’s easy to do, but this year you’ll be prepared to avoid it.
Enlist A Loved One
You don’t have to do everything alone or else. If you need help, ask family members that have come to say. Just make sure you can cook with them, you don’t need an in-law or parent questioning every single decision you’ve made while you’re trying to plan everything. Perhaps then someone else can be responsible for your lovely veggies, while you exclusively focus on spices, meat preparation, or vegan/allergy options for anyone who needs an alternative. Sometimes, meals just fail because you’re stressed out making them. This way you’ll feel so much less burdened by the actual joy of cooking.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily enjoy cooking the festive meal of 2024. Don’t worry, you’re sure to nail it!
