(NC) Are you hosting for the holidays this year? Don’t let the stress of preparing a big meal overwhelm you. Here are five holiday hosting hacks to ensure you enjoy the experience as much as your guests.
Check for allergies
When you invite your guests, be sure to ask if they have any allergies or other food restrictions. This will save you the awkward situation of not being able to offer one of your guests the main dish and scrambling to find an alternative to feed them.
Prep ahead
Try to prepare as much as you can the day before you’re hosting. If you’re planning on a formal sit-down meal, arrange the place settings a day or two in advance. You can also pre-cook and freeze or refrigerate parts of the meal and then simply reheat and serve. You should also take care of any essential house cleaning long before your guests arrive.
Ask for help
Just because you’ve offered to host doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. When you do send out the invites, most people will likely reply, “What can I bring?” Don’t be afraid to take them up on the offer. If your guests take care of appetizers and dessert, you can focus on your main course and sides.
Create a self-serve cocktail station
While you’re putting the finishing touches on the meal, you won’t have time to make sure all your guests have a drink in hand. Instead, set up a drink station where they can mix their own cocktails. Fill a cooler with refreshing beverages like pop, beer and wine so guests can help themselves.
Consider healthy ingredients
When planning your menu, think about ways you can reduce the amount of added sugar and fat in the mix. One simple trick is to replace certain ingredients in savoury or sweet dishes with pureed prunes. You can easily make it in advance by blending pitted prunes with warm water.
Prunes’ natural sweetness means you can swap out one-third to one-half of the sugar in a recipe. You can replace up to three large eggs in any recipe by using ¼ cup (60 ml) of puree for each egg. And reduce the amount of butter or oil a recipe calls for by using an equal amount of prune puree.
You’ll wow your guests while also providing them with a low-calorie source of fibre, potassium, vitamin K and other essential nutrients.
Learn more at californiaprunes.ca.
