Your Christmas Dinner Gameplan

Yes, thisinsanely impressive Christmas menuis already secretly easy. But there's a way to make it even more effortless, my friends. Just follow this gameplan and you'll hit the finish line without breaking a sweat.

• Check with your butcher to see if they carry NY Strip Loin roast and special order one if necessary.
• Buy all non-perishable groceries, wine, and other beverages for your party.

• Buy all perishable groceries.
• Makesalmonrillettesand refrigerate.

• Make thechocolate-chestnut mousse. Refrigerate.
• Shave chocolate for topping mousse and set aside in a cool place.
• Peel the carrotsand wash/dry the carrot tops. Refrigerate wrapped in damp paper towel and sealed in a resealable plastic bag.
• Set the table (unless you need to use it before the party!).

• Removebeef roastfrom refrigerator, season with salt and rub with herb mixture and top with breadcrumbs.
• Make herbed butter, chill in the refrigerator.
• Cook the potatoes and assemble theluxe potato casserole. Let sit at room temperature until it’s time to bake it.

• Arrange racks on upper and lower thirds of oven and crank that beast up to 500 degrees.
• Removerillettesfrom refrigerator to bring to room temperature.

• Put roast in lower third of oven and turn the temperature down to 350F.
• Make gremolata topping for carrots.

• Bake luxe potato casserole in upper third of oven.
• Assemble salmon toasts so they’re ready for your guests to nibble as soon as they arrive.
• Set out bowls of spiced nuts or other snacks for your guests to snack on along with the salmon.
• Arrange cocktail fixings, set sparkling wine on ice.

• Cook the glazed carrots.

• Assemble and plate salad.

• Make whipped cream to go with mousse.
• Remove mousse from refrigerator.
• Make a pot of coffee (or espresso!).
• Put out bowls of nuts and clementines or any extra Christmas cookies to to eat with dessert.
• And, of course, don’t forget your favorite after-dinner boozy drinks!