Holiday Hosting Tips
The holidays can be a beautiful time of year; full of making memories and spending time with loved ones, but hosting can often leave you feeling overwhelmed and burned out! Over the years I have discovered some hacks that have made hosting more manageable and enjoyable.
Create A Menu That Suits The Season: Choosing food items that are in-season can make a huge difference; they are easier to find and usually much tastier when eaten at the right time of year. Also take into consideration the dietary restrictions of the guests in advance so you can prepare accordingly.
Get The Timing Right: Write down how long everything takes to cook so you can coordinate your schedule and prep things enough time in advance, but not too far that it isn’t hot and ready when the meal begins. I like to write it down in a notebook that includes all of the recipes I will be using so it is all in one place!
Prepare What You Can In Advance: Prepping the day before can make such a difference! Whether it is seasoning meat, preparing sauces, or chopping veggies, it can significantly reduce the stress on the day of and make things run more smoothly.
Entertain The Kids: Hosting is a task that can be demanding of your attention so it is important that the little ones are entertained and having fun so you can focus! I recommend having a space dedicated to the kids with arts and crafts and even a classic holiday movie in the background. It is also nice to have a kids area set up so that you can engage with and catch up with family and friends.
Serve Smart: Passing food around the table can be very inefficient. Instead, use buffet-style service to simplify the serving process and use electric warming mats if needed to keep things hot.
Elevate The Tablescape: Decorating the table can significantly enhance your guest’s experience, it can be fun to incorporate food or treats into the tablescape to give them something to snack on as they wait. I also recommend using place cards at the dining table as it can make it feel more personalized for each guest.
Garnish The Food: One surefire way to impress your guests is by simply garnishing the food; it makes it look fancy and picture-worthy without having to put in too much extra time! Using herbs like parsley, rosemary, or even orange slices and berries can make food more colorful and appetizing.
ASK FOR HELP: As much as we’d like to believe we can do it all, everyone needs a little help every now and then. Whether it is an extra set of hands to help tidy the house or to help prepare a few dishes, it can make all the difference. Most people are more than willing and especially eager to help out, especially those you love! No need to “be a hero” and do it all on your own.
Take Deep Breaths: Lastly, and most importantly- don’t forget to BREATHE! Even though it may be considered the “most wonderful time of the year,” the holidays can be stressful. Be sure to take care of YOU so that you can take care of everyone while hosting, whether that means taking a moment for yourself and taking a deep breath or having a glass of wine; be sure you are in a good headspace!
I have linked some Holiday Hosting Essentials HERE!
