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It Takes a Plan to Make the Holidays Stress-Free… Lifestyles by Estelia

December 17, 2013 by Estelia Mesimer

Lifestyles by Estelia… It Takes a Plan to Make the Holidays Stress-Free

Over the years we have all hosted family and friends for holiday gatherings. It’s especially challenging in today’s world of “gotta have it in a minute” whether it’s the latest news, fashion, tweet or twitter. With so many distractions pulling us in so many directions, we need a plan to pull off a successful, enjoyable and, yes, stress-free party.  Here are a few tips that I’ve learned – some the hard way – and would like to share with you.

  • Write out a menu.  This is a crucial step. If a recipe has a large or complicated ingredient list, forget it.  Think about what people eat – you can’t make a dish for each guest, but you do want a menu everyone can eat.
  • Skip complicated appetizers.  Just serve wine, cheese, crackers, good olives, etc.
  • Never test a “new” recipe on guests.  What you’ll get is a “recipe” for disaster!
  • Make a game plan and stick to it.  Take a large, blank sheet of paper and work backwards on your timeline.  For example:  If you want to serve the meal at four o’clock, the turkey has to go in the oven at noon, come out a three and rest of an hour.  Then look at your vegetables…. Can they be made in advance and reheated while the turkey rests? Mark that in your schedule.
  • Make an aisle-by-aisle shopping list.  Put all the vegetables in one column, dairy in another, etc.  This way you won’t spend time racing around the store helter-skelter.  Save perishables shopping (fruit, flowers) for a day or two before the event.
  • Prep as much as you can in advance.  For example: cut vegetables a couple of days ahead and store in plastic containers.
  • Set your table the night before.  The appearance of festive table is so important.  It says to each guest, “Welcome – stay a while and enjoy this gathering of good food and conversation”.  Take time to fuss over it… create a tablescape.*
  • Ask each guest to bring a dessert.  You’ll make them feel they are part of the team and will enjoy their favorite sweet – but most of all it will cut down on your work.

If you have a holiday tip (or recipe) you’d like to share, please let me know.

Related Links of Interest:

  • How to Create Tablescapes:  www.ehow.com
  • How to Design Budget Tablescapes that Look Expensive:  www.homeeverafter.com

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