Week 128 - Christmas - is your kitchen set up for large scale cooking?

7 years ago

Christmas has always been a time of nonstop cooking for weeks in my household as we make cakes and pies for neighbors, employees etc... on top of the Christmas family get together.

We're now on our second year without a kitchen and were managing last year. It took 5 days of no little sleep and little batches at a time but I made over 1000 cake pops with a table and a small toaster oven.

This year I have to admit defeat as I'm taking care of my parents while managing with a cast from falling, spraining both ankles and tearing my ligaments last Friday. No big cooking for me.

On the bright side, I'll be able to test the friendliness of my kitchen design as I roll about in a wheelchair.

Whether large or small, any kitchen can hold up to mass cooking IMO as long as the design is functional.

Is your kitchen design holding up for Christmas? What do you like about it? What pitfall did you encounter and would want to change?

Share some cooking pictures of your kitchen in action. We like real life mess.

Featured Answer

mama goose_gw zn6OH

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

mgmum, your messaging is not enabled, so I'll post a link to my OneDrive Kitchen album (scroll down to skip my wandering explanation). It starts with the hand-drawn plan--I found GW before I knew how to upload pics or use a Paint program. I did a DIY mini-remodel using some cabinets from the old kitchen, some new cabinets, and some salvaged cabinets and other recycled/upcycled elements. If you click on each pic, then click on it again, the captions should appear. The whole mess is documented, so if you just want to see the final result, scroll to the end.

I mentioned hosting big family dinners--the kitchen is set up specifically to facilitate feeding a crowd. I could have a better working layout, but I need the long counter with no appliances, and a direct path to the new dining room. The range used to be on that wall, and the burners would still be hot from cooking, when it was time to serve the buffet. Many times I've covered the still-warm burners with a noodle board, so no one would accidentally touch them. I moved the range across the room, in part to clear that wall, but also to vent it to the outside. My vented hood is one of my favorite parts of the new kitchen.

So, we start in the LR, file past the buffet serving counters (counter on one side, island on the other), and walk directly into the new dining/flex room. I'll include the link for that album, too, although you can see it in the background of the kitchen pics. Scroll down for a pic of the table set for 20. We can seat 6 at the kitchen dining table (usually the teens/young adults), which is open to the kitchen on the other side, and four more at a drop leaf table, which we move from the new room to the LR, which is connected through another opening, so no one is isolated in another room. I live in an older home with a circular traffic pattern--I guess now it's more of a figure-8. Before adding the new room, we had to move chairs out of the LR, push everything else against the walls, and squeeze around each other to seat the whole family together.

One Thanksgiving we seated 24 at tables in the LR, and I said, "Never again, unless we have a separate dining room!" I think I've posted the story before, but that year my FIL had a friend visiting from the UK, and they decided to come early and visit with my DH, which left me without my usual help, so I was really running behind schedule. Then my mother arrived with her friend, who became bored because the British friend was getting all the attention. Mother's friend decided that since I was alone in the kitchen, he should come in and sing to me--'Devil in Disguise', while I shooed him from one spot to another, as I needed to check the oven, open the fridge, grab something from a drawer, etc. My mother dragged him back to the LR, but as soon as her attention was again on the interesting British friend, 'Elvis' returned for an encore. As more family members arrived with their dishes, he decided that holding court in the kitchen suited him just fine. I was ready to wring his neck by the time I had the buffet laid out.

Now, I can set up the tables the night before, place the serving pieces on the long buffet counter early in the day, have everyone seated comfortably in the LR before the meal, set the drinks up on the island at the last minute, give the signal for the blessing, and breathe a sigh of relief. Everything is arranged for point of use, and my relatives know where to find things without asking, so if I'm running behind, they can set up tables and chairs, set up the coffee maker, set the tables, etc.

I have trained them well. ;)

Kitchen album

New addition/dining room/playroom

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Comments (20)

mama goose_gw zn6OH
7 years ago
Beachem, I'm sorry to hear of your accident, but you have a great attitude! Your cake pops are adorable--maybe all the past recipients of your generosity will repay you this year. :)

My kitchen was set up for large scale baking and entertaining, since we have a large family dinner once a month. (By now everyone is probably sick of hearing about it, but it is so nice not to have to rearrange furniture to accommodate up to 30 people. ;) Over the last couple of weeks we've made batches and batches of pfeffernusse cookies, which should have been done by Thanksgiving, but this year we have a new grandson in the house, and everyone is running short on time. The cookies are stored in re-used metal popcorn cans, stacked at the end of the island, some holding cookies already bagged and ready for tags. I've also made one big batch of savory party mix (7 gallons), and need to make another. I ran out of oyster crackers--who knew that the packages now contain only 10oz.?!

I have a 10' long baking/serving counter, with the KA mixer housed at one end, and a marble topped island for rolling and kneading dough. My elder GS requested tuna casserole one day last week, so the 3 x 5' island was covered with homemade noodles, except for the spot where the hand crank pasta machine was attached. I always make at east 4 batches at a time if I'm going to the trouble of setting up the pasta maker. When the water was boiling, all I had to do was scoop handfuls of noodles from the island, turn, and drop them in the water.

DD and SIL have been helping with the cookies--one can be mixing a second batch of dough while the other is rolling the first batch out on the island, and someone else can be manning the oven, and clearing the cooky sheets.Small, hard cookies, such as pfeffernusse, are dumped directly on the island to cool, and bigger, softer cookies, are placed on stacked cooling racks.

Last night I was making a delicious fish chowder for supper, while baking the party mix, and there was room to spread everything out, but have it all close enough that I could easily turn from chopping carrots for the soup, to shaking the skillet with onions caramelizing, to rotating the trays of party mix in the oven. The only inconvenience--the family had to eat at the dining table, when the kids prefer to eat at the island.
beachem thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
cpartist
7 years ago
Beachem, please take it easy. You need to slow down and take care of yourself too.

As for me, nah, I make great reservations. Especially this year in our dysfunctional rental kitchen.
beachem thanked cpartist
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chispa
7 years ago
I'm with cpartist! I also make great reservations and catering orders! My kitchen was built by someone with 5 kids, well laid out, 48" range, 3 ovens, etc. I'm happy to host large crowds, but don't love the cooking part of it.
beachem thanked chispa
nhbaskets
7 years ago
I gave my kitchen a good workout last Friday and Saturday when I hosted dinner for 12 on Saturday evening. This was probably the largest sit down dinner I've done other than hosting holiday meals for family, which can run up to 25 people--but family always bring something on the menu. I'm very pleased how everything turned out. My photos are more focused on the food than my entire kitchen and the mess, thou, I tend to be a pretty organized cook who cleans up as I work.

This is my lobster casserole almost ready to go into a casserole dish.

Before and after of my filet. DH is still enjoying leftovers two days later.

And the finished product.

If I could change anything, I would hire a dish washer to help with cleanup. I went to bed at 11 pm that evening and DH was up till 1:30 am doing dishes. What a guy!
beachem thanked nhbaskets
lakeerieamber
7 years ago
No, which is why I am so excited about the kitchen in my new build. My current kitchen's counterspace is very chopped up. We moved here 10 years ago and in my kitchen before this one. I had a large uninterrupted peninsula for large scale baking. I didn't realize how lucky I was.
beachem thanked lakeerieamber
bbtrix
7 years ago
Beachem, your predicament makes mine very trivial. Please take care of yourself and let others wait on you. Healing well is most important right now.

My kitchen is setup but I'm not! I am one year into a whole house, mostly DIY remodel for my daughter and grandson. I've been working nearly 7 days a week to try to get them in by Christmas. I'm so close, but don't know if I'll make it, which makes me very sad and frustrated.

I will be cooking and have house guests, but have not cleaned, planned the menu, nor shopped, I also want to make Christmas cookies with my grandson. He loves the cooking process but it's so difficult with a curious almost 2 yr old! I am trying to figure out how I can get doors and trim painted, finish the laundry setup, and install a temporary plywood counter while I get ready for Christmas. Sigh... I just have to take a deep breath and put helpers to work

i usually do a tenderloin roast as they are so easy and delicious! nhbaskets, can you share your recipe? Your plate looks wonderful!
beachem thanked bbtrix
nhbaskets
7 years ago
Bbtrix, I used a Barefoot Contessa recipe. Easy and delicious!
mgmum
7 years ago
Oh, beachem!!! How frustrating! My friend just got out of a boot after surgery on her ankle. Take it easy!

My kitchen is SO small. I can easily make big batches of stuff, I suppose, but I would be scrambling for somewhere to put everything. It would go on the dining room table I guess and hope the cats don't find it too interesting while my attention is elsewhere. LOL

nhbaskets, how about the recipe for the lobster casserole? It looks great!

mamagoose, I don't think I've seen your kitchen... hint hint
beachem thanked mgmum
aprilneverends
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
a) Beachem, you're a wonder woman but please take it easy. So the mankind can enjoy your kindness and hospitality for as long as possible

b) no:) lol.

in my case though the mankind doesn't miss on anything special

(DD is home for the holidays..sweet girl is making some meat. Music playing loudly..screams "Mom where is this? Mom where is that?" (we've just moved)

they were also cooking yesterday, my family..very yummy but they scratched the new cabinets, probably dropped a knife or something..and also didn't wipe them right away, and I've no idea what it was that's spilled, looks like dirty fingers-but I was cleaning them afterwards for like an hour, to no avail. Didn't find the baking soda though. Found it today..Will try tomorrow. I'm not sure who's health is more important, mine or cabinets..yesterday I thought: cabinets'. Today am not so sure lol

All this I'm saying, full of humility and gratitude..:)
beachem thanked aprilneverends
mushcreek
7 years ago
We don't do truly large scale cooking, but we've got plenty of room if we did. Our biggest affair is every other Thanksgiving, when there is a total of 10 people. My wife has been doing a lot of holiday baking, and marvels at how much room there is, and how easy it is. Our new kitchen is about twice the size of our previous houses, and two sinks make a huge difference, especially when two of us are pot-wrassling.
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
7 years ago
If I were to cook, I now have space. I actually cleaned crap off my miles of countertops and put things away. The freedom of visual clutter is uplifting!

That said, I'm heading to my sisters in MI again. I might take some Chili's with me, given the fact it's really good. LOL!

Beechum, I'm sorry you fell that badly! Make certain to put something about the size of a shoe box underneath your mattress at the end of the bed. Get your feet higher than your heart and you'll be surprised at how little swelling and fluid build-up you'll have. [inset yoga teacher voice] any time you can reverse the flow of gravity, our bodies thank us by moving more fluidly. Interesting, but true.

All those pictures of food up there are fabulous. Talk about eye candy!!

News: I'll be getting my soapstone installed in January. After a couple of years of paying towards it, I've reached 1/2 and they'll install. I love Granite Grannies. :) Pics WILL follow!
cpartist
7 years ago
If I could change anything, I would hire a dish washer to help with cleanup. I went to bed at 11 pm that evening and DH was up till 1:30 am doing dishes. What a guy!

If you invite me to a meal like that, I'll do dishes! I would rather clean up than cook anyway.
algeasea
7 years ago
Oh, no, Beachem! Hope you heal quickly and everyone else you care for stays as well as possible. Love your cake pops from last year. Nothing looks that pretty at my house.

Yesterday I hosted our annual Christmas Cookie Party for my niece and several of her friends. When we did this in my old kitchen, it was challenging. The space was about 8x10, and we had about 4.5 linear feet of available counter broken into two sections.

The new kitchen is so much easier to work in. In the morning, my niece and I worked together--I made icing in the KA in the center table, she tinted it on the long counter behind me. Then I put it in piping bags on the long counter and she put out little bowls of sprinkles, sanding sugar, nonpareils, jimmies and so onn across the kitchen on another long counter in the appliance area. When the other girls arrived, we rolled out cookie dough on the center table. Then I whisked away the rolling pins and cutters and replaced them with the icing so they could start on the pre-baked gingerbread girls and boys. As their cookies came out of the ovens, there was room on the peninsula to cool each girl's cookies on her own rack. There was no crowding at the sprinkle station, set up with five old pie tins, one for each of them to capture stray sprinkles. Aside from a few cookies dropped frosting-side down on the new oak floors, everything went smoothly (and those cleaned up easily).

Here's the center table and the appliance area/sprinkles station on the left. The main sink and two long stretches of counter are behind the redhead.

Here's the peninsula laden with the decorated cookies.
Best thing? I didn't feel like cleaning up all the used piping bags, and there was enough room to leave them stashed on the counter and still use the kitchen. I love my new kitchen.
artemis_ma
7 years ago
For Christmas, I am making one side dish, and that's that. Taking it with me, Currently, my kitchen is near worthless - hope to be in my new build before NEXT Christmas!!!

At any rate, there will be only 6 of us for that dinner, two of whom are diabetic, so no focus on sweets. And I actually lack a sweet tooth to begin with.
rikerk
7 years ago
NHBaskets would you mind sharing your recipe for your lobster casserole....it looks amazing
nhbaskets
7 years ago
You can find my lobster casserole recipe on a Cooking forum thread HERE. Scroll down a bit to find. Happy cooking!
mgmum
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
MamaGoose!!!!!! I LOVE your playroom!! If I was 9 I would be so upset I couldn't go in there! LOL I do remember seeing bits of your kitchen now because I remember the apple (celery??) green, the rolling pin above the door and the row of cabinets. It's really great !

NHBaskests! Thanks! What do you serve it with usually? I don't use French dressing, do you suppose there's a recipe for homemade I could make for 1 T so I don't have to buy it?

CEF! Yay for soapstone in the new year!
practigal
7 years ago
Wow!!! Mamagoose that is an incredible tranformation! Now I know why you have such amazing kitchen designs, a good eye and a lot of thought. And then a real playroom with real swings, hopscotch, checkers and reading nooks! Simply heaven.
Cheryl Hewitt
7 years ago
Oh my goodness, Beachem! I hope you heal quickly. My heart goes out to you. Please be kind to yourself and stay off your feet as much as possible.

This year we are without a kitchen, so we are going to visit family in Texas. We're traveling via train - which will be a first experience for me and I'm super excited.

Last week we spent a couple of days with my family at a resort with an indoor waterpark. My sister was selling trays of homemade Christmas cookies to raise money for a children's program at the historical museum she manages. I bought a tray and it was such a delight to have a variety of homemade cookies. She spent two days baking 60 dozen cookies and the other volunteers made 140 dozen. So thanks to my sister, even without a kitchen we were able to have wonderful cookies!