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With this ultimate to-do list, we help you prepare for Christmas Day feasting. See how a little planning can help you float from meal to meal with nary a care. Click here to see the Country Home Christmas Day menu and recipes.
one week ahead
- Finalize guest list, mealtimes, and menus.
- Plan table decorations; purchase needed items.
three days ahead
- Order pork roast and purchase groceries ( click here to see our complete grocery list), wine, and other beverages.
- Combine dry ingredients for pancakes.
- Make hot fudge sauce; cover and chill.
- Plan table arrangement and seating; ready the serving dishes, linens, and place settings.
two days ahead
- Bake Chocolate Truffle Cake. Cool, cover, and chill. Make Candied Orange Peel garnish.
the day before
- Make sage-garlic paste and rub onto pork roast. Cut up squash and onion. Stir together maple-balsamic glaze. Cover all; chill separately.
- Bake gratin (no crumbs); cool, cover, and chill.
- For fruit bowls, cut up fruit except kiwi. Combine yogurt mixture. Chill both separately.
- Combine wet ingredients for pancakes and make Cranberry-Maple Syrup. Cover both; chill.
- Blanch green beans and cut peppers. Cover; chill.
- Make cheese ball but do not roll in toppers. Prep crudités and dip for snack platter; chill all.
- Set the breakfast table; set up a buffet table.
Christmas day morning
- Place bowls of fruit, yogurt, granola, and nuts on the buffet table, along with small bowls.
- Make pancakes and place on buffet. Serve with reheated syrup and softened butter.
- Soft-boil eggs and cook bacon. Add to buffet.
Christmas day afternoon
- Finish cheese ball and assemble snack platter. Serve as appetizers or for a snack-time nibble.
- Cook pork roast and vegetables (allow 2 hours), reheat gratin, and sauté the beans and peppers.
- Bring cake to room temperature. Just before serving, warm fudge sauce and soften ice cream.
- Remember to have fun-—it’s your holiday, too!
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