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The holiday is nearly here and you’ve decided to host the gathering at your place this year. If you’re new at this, you’ll find out that if you don’t plan ahead, you’ll end up like many have, scrambling just hours before the meal, frazzled. And your kitchen will look like it too. That’s when you might also find yourself wondering just how your grandmother or aunt was able to do it and make it look simple. Don’t worry, you can do it too with a few simple planning tips no host or hostess could do without.

The first step to surviving making this dinner with your sanity intact will be proper planning. There is more to a successful holiday dinner than just cooking it. Where will everyone eat? Do you have enough dishes, glasses, silverware, and serving pieces for the meal? Make a list of what you need, and then acquire it. Take into account which guests are coming. Your friends probably will be happy to sit on the floor on pillows and eat on mismatched plates, while your grandmother-in-law might be a little picky.

Next it’s time to start thinking about the menu options. Many people have sentimental attachments to their favorite family dishes. Some might be hoping you’ll make their favorite cornbread stuffing, others are expecting a delicious sweet potato pie. Hopefully you’ve kept the guest list somewhat small for your first holiday meal, so you shouldn’t be expecting to cook everything for a crowd normally associate with the big holiday dinner.

If you’re hosting for the first time, it’s very wise to not try to handle too many dishes at once. Review your list to see if there isn’t a dish you can do without, that or perhaps have someone else bring it. And while it’s a nice idea to make a few sentimental dishes for your guests, focus on keeping it simple. Think quality rather than quantity, you’re guests will enjoy themselves quite nicely and you’ll certainly breathe easier. Review your supplies one last time and make sure all of your kitchen tools are on-hand.

After you have acquired all of the cooking and serving equipment you need, it is time to consider the food. Make sure you have written down EVERYTHING you need on your shopping list. Consider your main dish. Do you want a special turkey or ham? You might need to place a special order. Buy pantry staples (flour, sugar, anything canned) about a week or so before the holiday. A few days before buy the turkey or ham. Then buy the perishables. Don’t forget to check your staples. Do you really have enough salt, pepper, coffee, and sugar?

A week ahead of time, you’ll want to prepare your home and especially the kitchen. Do a thorough cleaning including a good scrubbing on countertops and sinks for a sparkling clean kitchen. Try to avoid buying too many foods not related to the holiday so that you’ll have the room you need in the fridge and the cabinets. Place the things you’ll need the most in easy reach of your cooking area the day before the holiday.

To keep the stress out of the holiday, review your recipes the night before and double-check your ingredients. If there are some dishes that can be prepared in advance, take care of those too. These simple steps will assure you a much smoother start to your holiday cooking. Try to make a schedule with cooking times and temps on your remaining dishes and keep that handy for the big day. And remember it’s your holiday too, so make sure you take the time to enjoy it and the food.