Here is a great article by Debra Delaney, owner of Memorable Entertaining (www.MemorableEntertaining.com).
Holiday Entertaining Tips
by Debra Delaney
I know for me, I always look forward to the impending holidays with equal parts of joy and dread. Excitement about spending time with friends and family, the pleasure of seeing that special smile on someone’s face when you’ve chosen just the right gift, the unique energy and bustle in the air that only comes with the holiday season.
Then I look at my already ‘filled to over flowing’ schedule and wonder – “How will I find time to prepare for the holidays?”
MemorableEntertaining.com created with you in mind, for just these types of situations!
Here are some quick and easy tips to help make your holiday entertaining stress free, whatever your budget or experience as a host or hostess.
- The holidays are a busy time. Send invitations out 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
- Select a combination of make-ahead appetizers that can be frozen or made one to two days in advance.
- Opt for one-meal dishes, such as stews, pot roasts, pastas. This eliminates the need for multiple side dishes. One-meal dishes have an added plus because most can be made a day in advance and taste better!
- Pair your one-meal dish with a stand out salad, which acts as your vegetable.
- Bake holiday goodies that will last the season, such as peanut brittle, fudge, toffee, ginger snaps and biscotti. Most cookies or cookie dough can be stored in the freezer up to 6-months.
- Out of town guests: Set up a ‘breakfast bar’ before you go to bed. Include mugs, plates, bowls, napkins, sugar, tea bags, hot chocolate packets, jellies, cereals and packets of instant cereal. All you have to do in the morning is turn on the coffee pot and put out a selection of breads, such as muffins, bagels, English muffins, etc. and pitchers of milk and juice. Let your guests serve themselves.
- Create holiday centerpieces with versatility in mind. Opt for centerpieces that can remain on your dining room and kitchen tables throughout the holiday entertaining season and complement both formal and informal table settings.
- Use fruits, vegetables, nuts, pine cones, feathers or different sized glass cylinders filled with holiday ornaments.
- Preserve holiday greenery: soak overnight, re-cut stems, use a mixture of one-part glycerin, one-part water to keep greens pliable, avoid direct sunlight, place away from heat ducts and mist lightly with water. Spray greens with an anti-transpirant to seal in moisture. Select greens such as Western Cedar and Fir, which hold up better over time.
Wishing you the magic of the season!
Then I look at my already ‘filled to over flowing’ schedule and wonder – “How will I find time to prepare for the holidays?”
MemorableEntertaining.com created with you in mind, for just these types of situations!
Here are some quick and easy tips to help make your holiday entertaining stress free, whatever your budget or experience as a host or hostess.
- The holidays are a busy time. Send invitations out 4 to 6 weeks in advance.
- Select a combination of make-ahead appetizers that can be frozen or made one to two days in advance.
- Opt for one-meal dishes, such as stews, pot roasts, pastas. This eliminates the need for multiple side dishes. One-meal dishes have an added plus because most can be made a day in advance and taste better!
- Pair your one-meal dish with a stand out salad, which acts as your vegetable.
- Bake holiday goodies that will last the season, such as peanut brittle, fudge, toffee, ginger snaps and biscotti. Most cookies or cookie dough can be stored in the freezer up to 6-months.
- Out of town guests: Set up a ‘breakfast bar’ before you go to bed. Include mugs, plates, bowls, napkins, sugar, tea bags, hot chocolate packets, jellies, cereals and packets of instant cereal. All you have to do in the morning is turn on the coffee pot and put out a selection of breads, such as muffins, bagels, English muffins, etc. and pitchers of milk and juice. Let your guests serve themselves.
- Create holiday centerpieces with versatility in mind. Opt for centerpieces that can remain on your dining room and kitchen tables throughout the holiday entertaining season and complement both formal and informal table settings.
- Use fruits, vegetables, nuts, pine cones, feathers or different sized glass cylinders filled with holiday ornaments.
- Preserve holiday greenery: soak overnight, re-cut stems, use a mixture of one-part glycerin, one-part water to keep greens pliable, avoid direct sunlight, place away from heat ducts and mist lightly with water. Spray greens with an anti-transpirant to seal in moisture. Select greens such as Western Cedar and Fir, which hold up better over time.
Wishing you the magic of the season!
*I was no compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit and entertainment of my readers.
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