7 ways to get your kitchen ready for the holidays

The kitchen is inevitably the busiest room in the house during the holiday season. Whether you’re baking dozens of cookies or hosting family and friends, you can count on the fridge door being opened countless times and your cabinets being rifled through for wine glasses. Before the onslaught begins, take heed and get your kitchen in order.

1. This is obvious, but stock up on all your baking and party needs with one big grocery shop. Make a list before hand and gather everything you need to make everything from gingerbread cookies to cheese boards. You might also want to hit the liquor store at the same time.

2. Clean out your refrigerator. Not only are you going to need the extra space to store side dishes, desserts and leftovers but everybody will be sticking their head in there. Get rid of any past due condiments and give the shelves a good wipe.

3. De-clutter. Clear your kitchen countertops of any small appliances you won’t need on a daily basis. The extra room will come in handy with more cooks in the kitchen once you start plating cheese and dessert boards.

4. Switch out all of your summer tableware – lemonade pitchers, popsicle molds – for items like serving bowls, napkin rings and turkey platters.

5. Stock up on food storage containers you won’t mind family and friends walking away with. Pack them up with leftovers and bundles of cookies so you’re not left with a house full of food you can’t eat.

6. On that same note, pick up extra garbage and recycling bags. Chances are, you’ll need them.

7. Finally, pull together a small holiday emergency kit – Tylenol, matches, candles, micro-fiber clothes, corkscrew – and put it to one side. Somebody is bound to ask you for one of those things, so have it at the ready.

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