Are you planning to host a dinner or a party this Holiday Season? If you are, don’t stress out about it. You can use these tips to make your hosting as stress free as possible.
#1 Put together a plan
Getting together a plan for your party will buy, help you know what you want to do, how it needs to be time, what you need to, and when you need to start the cooking.
#2 Choose a drink of the night
If alcohol is on the menu, select a cocktail you can make ahead of time. That will be the drink of the night, making it easy to prepare and serve. It will also keep your alcohol costs under control.
#3 Determine your timing
With your plans laid out, you can start putting together a timeline. When do you go shopping? When do you send invitations? When do you start cooking ahead of time? When do you order things? Knowing your timeline will make the party go smoothly
#4 Fix a favorite recipe
If you have a recipe that you are known for, make it the centerpiece of your menu. Choose a family favorite. Doing something you are familiar with will take the risk out of a culinary failure. If you want to try a new recipe, have a trial run before the party.
#5 Pre-make and buy ahead
Pre-make as much of the food ahead of time as possible. That way, the day of the party won’t be filled up with cooking. Buy food items ahead of time such as Smithfield ham or sides.
#6 Make sure you have serving platters and utensils
With your menu in mind, make sure you have serving platters and utensils. You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute on party day. If you find yourself short, ask friends or family to borrow what you need.
#7 Plan a salt water bath to cool drinks
Putting canned soda into a salt water bath cools it down quickly. Use a cooler or large bowl as drink central.
#8 Ask someone to help the day of the party
Having an extra set of eyes on your drink cooler, snack tray, or appetizer bar will ensure it remains filled.
#9 Serve buffet style
A sit-down dinner involves a lot more work than a buffet, especially for a large gathering. Serving buffet style lets people get food as they want it. You can fill it as needed from items kept in the kitchen.
#10 Lay everything out the night before
Getting things set up the night before will take to-do items off your list for the day of the party. Get your serving platters and utensils out. Label them if you need to.
Each of these tips will help you host the best gathering with the least stress possible. Let us know the tips and tricks you use for your parties this Holiday Season.