We recently asked our readers for their worst kitchen disaster story. In the middle of all those tears and laughter, Kitchn reader JaxLBC, left us a great holiday tip, one that could be a huge help to those who are preparing a holiday feast for the first time, either in a new space or all together — just do a trial run!
Although it might be too close to achieve this year, JaxLBC did their trial run for Christmas dinner in June. Here's what they had to say about the event:
"I did everything as if it was December to work out the timing: cleaning my apartment, shopping, prep work, etc. I planned a pretty ambitious main course: Beef Wellington.3 friends were in the living room enjoying the hors d'oeuvres. 1 friend was opening the wine.
I had the beef wrapped in the duxelles and puff pastry. I had realized that I wanted the temperature probe to go into the "back side" of the Wellington. As I was turning the baking sheet around on the counter it slipped out of my hands and THUD the Wellington hit the floor. I let out a loud "OH NO!" My friend opening the wine started laughing. My other friends yelled, "What happened?"
I got the Wellington back on the baking sheet (within the "mandatory" 5 seconds) and walked to the living room to deliver the bad news and shared that I had washed the floors they day before.
They looked at each other and each said, "I'm good. Let's eat it."
We had a wonderful "Christmas in July" dinner and everyone happily volunteered to be guinea pigs for future practice dinners."
Aside from escape-y Beef Wellington this is a great idea for several reasons. Aside from letting you know exactly how much time it will take to clean and ready your space, it's also a great way to find out how slow things cook when your oven is full and what other items you might need to fill the time. For instance, you might need more pre-dinner snacks if things take a bit longer, or have an extra bottle of wine on hand.
In addition it's a great way for new cooks or those in a new space to get a feel for working on a larger scale for the first time. Our kitchens have a great deal of personality and knowing how to cut corners where you can and how to avoid pitfalls is a great hand up in the game of entertaining. Thanks Jax-LBC!
Related: Entertaining Tips: Get Organized!
(Image: Flickr member Chris Flemming licensed for use by Creative Commons)
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whenever I am trying a new and ambitious dish for something I always do a test run. My in-laws and friends are always willing to test my food. I enjoy it. I get to be with people I love and become a better cook all at once. My friends and family are never afraid to tell me the truth about my dishes and add suggestions for what sort of flavors are missing or overbearing and I am able to alter my recipes for the future main event.
I always practice a dish on myself and my husband before I share it with guests. You just never know!
I do test runs with baked goods all the time, especially if I'm making them for a special occasion.
I've never done a full test run for meals like JaxLBC, but I'll usually try to cook the dishes at least once before I plan on making them for a group of people.
I did this for all the new dishes I made this year and the practice ones tasted better then the Thanksgiving day ones did. I do agree it's a good idea, though. I think it would have helped if I had written down everything that I was happy about as well as the things I wanted to change. Next time!
i have been trying to get brisket right 3 times already. i want it to be perfect, just like my bobe does it for the first dinner i cook for the in-law´s . i think some times it´s good to practice.
I have never hosted Thanksgiving before so I had never made a turkey or stuffing. This year the week after Thanksgiving I made both; a good trial run plus we got to have the ever-coveted leftovers!
I test food on my bf and warn him that if it sucks there's always pizza in the freezer. *g*
What is that phillo spinach beef thing? It looks amazing! I want to make it!
I'm making my mom-in-laws Beef Wellington for Christmas this year (with her in attendance). I hope I have time for a test run!
Daleth - The photo pictured with this article is Beef Wellington. There is no spinach in it. It is basically a tenderloin of beef wrapped in puff pastry (with seasonings, of course). It's very old English but super delish.
I trial cakes and biscuits all the time, and test them on my GF's colleagues who are very happy to test anything I send in :-)
I grew up with my mother doing trial runs for every new dish she'd plan for an upcoming dinner party. There were times when we'd eat the same thing every night the week leading up to a big party, just so she would know she'd gotten the recipe right. The practice rubbed off, and while I don't go to quite that extreme, I certainly do test runs more often than not.
The first time I made dinner for my (now) fiancee, I had my good friend come over every day for three days before hand so I could practice making mushroom risotto. It was a new recipe for me at the time, but I guess it worked as we are getting married next fall. Needless to say I'm a firm believer in the "dry run," and my fiancee is happy to now be my guinea pig when I am testing new recipes.
We did a practice run "Christmas in July" this year, as my partner and I are hosting our families for our first ever Christmas dinner. It all went smoothly for our friends, so hopefully it will go smoothly for our family!