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Tips for Making this Holiday Gathering the Best One Yet!
Special to The Truth
As most holiday hosts
know, it’s not unheard-of to spend the majority of your
party in the kitchen, while guests laugh together down the
hall.
But preparing in advance
can help you reduce stress, have more time to make the
moments special and still serve a delicious meal. Here are a
few hosting hints to make this holiday the best yet.
Snappy Sides
Make sides in a cinch by
doing any chopping, slicing or mixing in advance of the day
of your party. Certain sides can even be prepped ahead and
popped in the oven just before the guests arrive.
Or, consider making your
party a potluck festivity. This way, everyone pitches in on
the food, which leaves you time to mine Pinterest for simple
DIY holiday décor ideas that are sure to draw more than a
few wows.
Main Course
The centerpiece of your
celebration, the ham or turkey, shouldn’t involve a ton of
work or preparation. When your guests have traveled from all
over, why not treat them (and yourself) to a little taste of
home that provides the perfect presentation and effortless
preparation?
One easy way to serve
these home favorites without spending all day near the oven
is by picking up a ready-to-serve, premium option locally.
Classic options like those from HoneyBaked Ham come spiral
sliced so they are effortless to serve. Their handcrafted,
premium meats are smoked over blended hardwood chips and
finished with a sweet, crunchy glaze, giving flavors that
are evocative of happy holiday memories and home cooking.
The brand also offers
ready-made sides, like green bean casserole and herb
stuffing, as well as cakes, pies and other desserts, which
could potentially mean one-stop shopping for you. And, while
shopping in-store, you can join HoneyBaked Ham in supporting
the Gary Sinise Foundation by donating to help our nation’s
first responders.
DIY Drinks
All too often, hosts get
bogged down fixing drinks for guests as they arrive. Avoid
this conundrum by setting up a DIY drink station. You may
consider making a signature drink in advance and serving it
in a beverage dispenser or punch bowl, or giving guests a
few cocktail suggestions on a placard.
Don’t forget the little
ones. Set up a hot chocolate bar that includes marshmallows,
peppermints and whipped cream topping options. Ask adults to
help their children serve themselves.
You don’t have to get
sidelined in the kitchen at your holiday gathering in order
to serve a home style feast. With a few smart strategies,
you can be both the host of the party and the life of it.
Courtesy StatePoint
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