Secrets to Festive, Stress-free Cooking for the Holidays

‘Tis the season for making memories! And, what better way celebrate the upcoming holidays than with memorable meals that bring family and friends together.

Yet, for some, the thought of creating an inspired menu, shopping for ingredients, preparing each dish and having everything come out of the oven piping hot and on time can make even the most organized hostess want to call for takeout!

But, beautiful holiday meals can be a no muss, no fuss affair. I promise! I grew up in a home where my mom, Sally Clayton, wowed our guests from the first bite of an appetizer to the last dessert crumb. She made it look effortless and everything was just, well, perfect. But, she had a secret. Mom was the master of the make-ahead meal.

She had a repertoire of recipes that allowed her to pre-make the vast majority of the entire meal. Many dishes could even be made several days in advance. On the day of the gathering, she’d assemble final ingredients, finish pre-made dishes with special touches, dress the salad and pop the main dish in the oven. Voila! She perfected this process over the years. And, her stress-free approach allowed her to enjoy the company of loved ones instead of tending to pots on a steaming stove.

I learned from Mom, and her approach is now mine. In fact, our uncomplicated approach to delicious meals served as the basis for our cookbook, A Well-Seasoned Kitchen. From easy hors d’oeuvres and scrumptious soups to make-ahead main courses and to-die-for desserts, I can help you stay frazzle-free and festive.

Join me at an upcoming cooking class to get kitchen-tested tips for creating a make-ahead holiday meal that will leave your guests feeling special and you feeling stress-free.

Join Lee Clayton Roper to learn the tips, tricks and surefire ways to create memorable, make-ahead holiday meals without the stress. Lee will hold two cooking classes (Sunday November 6th from 9 am to noon, and Saturday November 19th from 9 am to noon). Lee promises that you will leave with a menu, a complete make-ahead plan, tips for tackling tricky kitchen projects and a new found confidence for preparing your holiday dinner. Register online or call 720-865-3580.

Guest Blogger: Lee Clayton Roper

Lee was inspired by her mother Sally’s love of cooking and entertaining to gather friends and family over great meals and conversation. In fact, Lee held her first dinner party at the age of 16. Throughout the years, Lee has provided recipes, menu advice and cooking tips to friends seeking uncomplicated and delicious ideas for home entertaining.  In 2009, she published A Well-Seasoned Kitchen, a cookbook she co-authored with her mother. The book has received rave reviews, and in May 2010 was awarded a gold medal. Lee is frequently invited to conduct cooking demonstrations throughout Colorado, by local broadcast stations and cable networks as well as at culinary events including A Taste of Colorado, Denver Food & Wine Classic, and the Cherry Creek North Food & Wine Festival. She appears monthly on Denver’s KWGN Channel 2, cooking up delectable dishes with Tom Green on Daybreak.  She started teaching cooking classes in early 2011, at the request of several of her customers.