While cooking Christmas dinner can be a badge of honor, it comes with its fair share of challenges. If you're tasked with creating the perfect Christmas dinner this year, don't let the stress ruin your holidays. This season is all about spending time with friends and family. And enjoying delicious food, of course, whether this is your first year making a feast or you're always the holiday host.
In this article: Hamilton Beach 22-Quart Roaster Oven, Amazon Echo Show 8 and Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1 Vegetable Slicer.
Making a plan is the first task. Grab a notebook and write down every concern and job that needs to be tackled. Once you have all your thoughts out, go back and organize them into a to-do list. Here are a few questions to consider.
Most families have traditional dishes that are cooked for Christmas, from turkey to ham to Grandma's famous corn casserole. However, it may not be necessary to cook every single dish. For example, it's probably not imperative to have three types of potatoes and bake everyone's favorite pie. Simple can be elegant, and sticking to the essentials allows each dish more attention.
You don't need to complete all tasks on the same day. For instance, potatoes can be peeled ahead of time, vegetables can be cut the day before and most cold dishes and desserts do well in the refrigerator overnight. The table can also be set ahead of time, and be sure to defrost everything.
Whether it's having family members contribute a dish or grabbing a pie from the bakery, don't be afraid to ask for help. Many hands make light work, and additional contributors will ensure everyone enjoys the day and remains stress-free.
Not everything goes according to plan, and it doesn't have to ruin the night. Sometimes the food takes a little longer to prepare, and sometimes guests show up early. Having a quick charcuterie board prepared ahead of time will keep guests busy and make sure everyone's comfortable until dinner.
Hamilton Beach 22-Quart Roaster Oven
Between roasts, casseroles and rolls, oven space is a hot commodity when preparing Christmas dinner. This roaster keeps the oven free for other dishes and holds up to a 28-pound turkey. Included is a removable rack to remove heavy food, and the pan comes out for effortless cleaning.
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Keep your hands free for more important tasks by using this second-generation Echo Show. From reading off a recipe to setting a timer, it’s the best kitchen assistant while preparing Christmas dinner. It also plays music to help anyone get in the holiday spirit and can show cooking and how-to videos.
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Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1 Vegetable Slicer
Don’t spend all day slicing, dicing and chopping, thanks to this 10-in-1 vegetable slicer. It comes with blades to dice, slice, julienne and grate, some of them in several sizes. Plus, the bowl catches every last piece, so there is never a mess.
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ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer
With this wireless meat thermometer you can keep an eye on the main dish from anywhere in the house, or outside. The app provides temperature updates and alerts on a smartphone and works within 500 feet. It also features dual meat probes to monitor two items or multiple parts of a turkey.
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Royal Craft Wood Bamboo Cheese Board
Don’t be caught unprepared. This bamboo cheese board is the ideal base to create an elegant and delicious spread of fruit, cheese, meats, crackers and more. A hidden slide-out tray features four serving and cutting utensils. Plus, the board has a non-absorbent and odor-free surface.
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Hamilton Beach Electric Carving Knife
Cutting turkey, ham or bread has never been easier. This electric carving knife takes the work out of carving meat or bread and leaves an elegant cut that looks great while serving. It comes with a space-saving storage case and stainless steel serving fork.
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Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook and Carry Programmable Slow Cooker
Not only is the slow cooker an excellent alternative when there's no oven space, it’s also fuss-free and takes the stress out of cooking. This one features a digital countdown control to program cooking times up to 20 hours. Plus, it automatically shifts to the warm setting when the timer is up.
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Cuisinart Chef's Classic 16-Inch Rectangular Roaster and Rack
Flimsy disposable pans are unsafe when lifting heavy dishes in and out of the oven and can easily puncture and create a mess. This roasting pan features riveted stainless steel handles and a removable rack that allows even cooking.
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Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler
Don’t spend valuable time peeling potatoes or apples by hand. This electric peeler will help prepare delicious mashed potatoes, apple pie, sweet potatoes and more. Plus, it takes off only the skin and leaves the nutritious parts.
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Instant Omni Plus 19 Quart Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
This air fryer is spacious enough to cook a whole chicken and a tray of potatoes at the same time and guarantees a crispy outside. Or use it to bake a pizza and toast six slices of bread. It can bake, toast, broil, reheat and more.
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