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GAME PLAN: NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH

January 1, 2016

12:30 P.M.

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests.
  • Think about menu (if it’s elaborate like mine, you will need help in the kitchen and a bartender).
  • Book kitchen staff and bartender now!
  • Make a detailed shopping list.
  • Buy all non-perishables including alcohol.

3 Weeks Before

2 Weeks Before

  • Confirm guest list.
  • Organize all dishes, serving pieces and table linens.
  • Prepare Homemade Granola and store in an airtight container.

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu and shopping list.
  • Prepare glaze for Baked Ham and store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
  • Buy croissants. (Stale croissants are better for this recipe.)

5 Days Before

  • Do all grocery shopping.
  • Wash all the fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • Buy flowers.

4 Days Before

  • Arrange flowers.
  • Set table, organize all platters and bar.

2 Days Before

Day Before

New Year’s Day

February 8, 2016

GAME PLAN: THANKSGIVING

Thursday Night

6:00 P.M.

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests.
  • Think about Menu and style of Thanksgiving. (Will you be doing most of the preparation on your own or is yours a group effort? Do you want to do most of the meal and ask people to bring a dessert or salad, or their favorite Thanksgiving dish?)
  • Buy all non-perishables including alcohol.
  • Decide logistics: Where to set up bar, buffet, etc. Do you need extra tables and chairs?

3 Weeks Before

2 Weeks Before

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu and confirm guest list.
  • Set table: If you’re doing a formal sit-down dinner, it’s not too early to set the table. Traditional Thanksgiving involves a lot of last minute food preparation, so set the table now!

Sunday Before

  • Do all grocery shopping.
  • Wash all the vegetables and fruit.
  • Buy and arrange flowers. If your house isn’t too hot, flowers will keep if you replenish water, or wait until Monday to arrange flowers.

Monday Before

Tuesday Before

Wednesday Evening

Thursday

December 3, 2015

GAME PLAN:

2nd ANNUAL APPS & ALCOHOL PARTY

Saturday Night

7:00 P.M.

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests
  • Think about Menu
  • Think about logistics, where to set-up bar, buffet
  • If you need extra help, contact them, check availability, put them “on hold”

 

3 Weeks Before

 

2 Weeks Before

  • Review menu
  • Organize all dishes and glasses and serving platters
  • Reconfirm extra help

 

1 Week Before

  • Confirm guest list: Will there be 26 or 16?
  • Finalize menu
  • Buy and store ice, and any additional beverages

 

Monday

  • Set-up table, dishes, glasses, silverware, serving platters, utensils and napkins

 

Tuesday

  • Do all grocery shopping except for ground lamb, shrimp and crab claws
  • Wash and store all vegetables

 

Wednesday

  • Chop all onions for all recipes
  • Roast garlic
  • Roast jalapenos
  • Buy flowers
  • Organize playlist

 

Thursday

 

Friday 

 

Saturday

MORNING:

 

AFTERNOON:

 

LATE AFTERNOON:

 

7:00 P.M.:

September 21, 2015

GAME PLAN: GAME NIGHT

Saturday Night

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests
  • Think about Menu
  • Decide logistics such as where to set up bar, buffet, etc.

 

3 Weeks Before

 

2 Weeks Before

  • Review menu
  • Book support staff if needed
  • Organize all dishes and glasses and serving platters
  • Buy all beverages including alcohol
  • Make Salted Caramel Sauce

 

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu and confirm guest list
  • Buy and store ice

 

Monday

  • Set-up table, dishes, glasses, silverware, serving platters and utensils

 

Tuesday

  • Do all grocery shopping except lamb, fish and shrimp
  • Wash all vegetables.

 

Wednesday

 

Thursday

 

Friday

 

Saturday

 

MORNING:

  • Buy shrimp and tilapia
  • Take all prepared food out of refrigerator to come to room temperature

 

AFTERNOON:

 

 

June 29, 2015

NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH

GAME PLAN

 

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests: Send evites early as people may have established New Year’s Day traditions

3 Weeks Before

  • Plan menu: My menu had some food that needed to be kept warm. Omit this if you don’t have equipment like a chafing dish.
  • Arrange support staff or kitchen help if you will use it

2 Weeks Before

  • Finalize menu
  • Make detailed shopping list
  • Decide what you will buy readymade

7 Days Ahead

6 Days Ahead

  • Do grocery shopping: non-perishables, ice, frozen orange juice, blintzes, etc.

4 Days Ahead

  • Set-up buffet table

3 Days Ahead

  • Do grocery shopping: perishables, cream cheese, smoked fish, fresh orange juice, eggs, etc.

2 Days Ahead

  • Prepare and bake Pumpkin Monkey Bread
  • Roast leg of lamb for Lamb Hash
  • Bake potatoes for hash
  • Chop onions for hash
  • Buy and arrange flowers
  • Buy bagels, pastries, breads, fish, cream cheese, etc.

1 Day Ahead

Morning of Party (My party started at 12:30 p.m.)

  • 10:00 a.m.
  • Prepare fish platters (2 hours ahead)
  • Slice breads

Have a drink and wait for your guests to arrive!

January 12, 2015

MOROCCAN FEAST

GAME PLAN

 

5 Weeks Before

4 Weeks Before

  • Think about menu (see blog entry under Create the Menu)
  • If necessary, order the special spices

3 Weeks Before

2 Weeks Before

  • Review menu
  • Book serving staff if needed

1 Week Before

Monday

  • Set up table, dishes, glasses, silverware
  • Get out serving platters with serving utensils

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Morning:

Afternoon:

Sunday

  • Relax and eat any leftover fruit with yoghurt and cake!

October 10, 2014

APPS & ALCOHOL

GAME PLAN

 

4 Weeks Before

3 Weeks Before

2 Weeks Before

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu
  • Buy alcohol, beverages, phyllo dough
  • Buy and store ice

 

Monday

  • Set up table
  • Dishes, glasses, etc.

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • Buy and arrange flowers
  • Clean house
  • Set playlist
  • Do major grocery shopping

Thursday

Friday

SATURDAY

Morning:

Thaw:

  •          Empanaditas
  •          Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits
  •          Cookies
  •          Chicken Liver Pate

Next:

Afternoon:

August 13, 2014

MEXICAN FIESTA

GAME PLAN

4 Weeks Before

3 Weeks Before

  • Invite the guests

2 Weeks Before

  • Finalize the menu
  • Make the MASTER LIST of household items, food, beverages, serving supplies, everything you will need

1 Week Before

Tuesday

  • Clean the house
  • Finalize the menu
  • Make a detailed SHOPPING LIST (food prep, house prep)

Wednesday

  • Do the shopping
  • Set up the bar
  • Puree the chipotles for the Chipotle Sauce

Thursday

  • Set up the table, dining or buffet
  • Arrange the flowers
  • Bake the Cayenne Mexican Brownies and store at room temperature, tightly covered
  • Resist the TEMPTATION TO TASTE!

Friday

Saturday

June 4, 2014