Andrew Philip

Making Holiday Meal Planning Easier Every holiday season kicks off the same way, right? Big ambitions, a mental note to “actually plan ahead this year,” and then somehow it’s the day before and you’re still staring at a blank menu. Meal planning during the holidays doesn’t have to be this constant scramble, though. A few small shifts in how you go about it can make things feel way less overwhelming, without turning you into some hyper-organized planning machine overnight. Nail Down The Menu Before Anything Else Tempting as it is to jump straight into shopping, that usually backfires. Figure out what you’re actually making first, even if it’s a rough, messy draft. Once the menu’s set, everything else — the shopping, the prep schedule, who’s bringing what — falls into place way more naturally than trying to juggle it all at once. Resist The Urge To Overdo It More dishes doesn’t automatically mean a better spread. Honestly, a slightly smaller menu done well usually beats an overstuffed ta...