Entertain in Stress-Less Style this Holiday Season
It's easy for busy hosts to serve up a memorable holiday gathering - with minimal worry - using a few simple tips and smart entertaining solutions.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) November 10, 2007 -- A bustling kitchen, rooms bursting with relatives, and the ever-popular kiddy table are a few of the joys - and challenges - of holiday entertaining. Whether hosting a family gathering or contributing a culinary delight to the neighborhood potluck, a little preparation and the right tools can greatly reduce the stress of the season.
Krista Fabregas, founder of SimplySmartLiving.com, offers holiday chefs and party hosts these simple tips for hassle-free entertaining with memorable results.
Make holiday planning a pleasant task --
Advance planning is key to beating holiday party stress, so make a 30-minute date with yourself to get inspired. Turn on some holiday tunes, brew a soothing drink and get a notebook to jot down ideas and must-haves. Take stock of entertaining and serving essentials on-hand - from platters and gravy boats to tablecloths and napkins - note your needs and shop to fill in any missing items at least one week before the occasion.
Don't go for "broke" --
Hosting a crowd? Eliminate the worry of broken glass and china during busy gatherings by switching to attractive plastic tableware. Styles abound, from formal crystal-like stemware, to glasses in dazzling colors, to beautiful serving pieces. In dishes, durable melamine adds elegance with looks that mimic ceramic and china. For worry-free serving, plastics are certainly worth considering during the holidays -- and beyond.
Serve up the coolest appetizer, or the hottest dish --
Serve foods at their ideal temperature throughout your affair with serving trays and casserole dishes designed to keep the heat in -- or add a chill. Look for serving pieces like the versatile Appetizer-on-Ice and the Insulated Server to help keep foods cold and crisp or hot and appealing whether serving at home or on the go.
Breathe easy when serving wine --
Serve holiday wines at their peak with clever tools that make the most of your selections. When serving chilled wines, use iceless chillers to keep wines cool and tabletops dry. No time to breathe? Use the innovative Final Touch Wine Aerator to enhance the bouquet of just-opened bottles as you pour.
Make the kids' table the best seat in the house --
Take a tip from busy restaurants. Supply kids with holiday coloring sheets and crayons to make their own placemats. Or, cover their table in butcher paper and let them decorate it before and during the meal.
Party cleanup... made easy --
Banish after-dinner cleanup chores and enjoy your guests this year. High-end disposable tableware lets you serve in style with minimal cleanup, especially if hosting a large gathering. Disposable dishes made from paper, plastic and even eco-friendly bamboo offer myriad designs with festive appeal. Plastic dishes and drinkware do provide the most formal look and a sturdy feel, so look to plastic disposables if hosting a dressy affair -- plus, they're recyclable in most areas.
Visit http://www.SimplySmartLiving.com for a full selection of entertaining solutions and cleverly designed products to help you create memorable occasions -- with style.
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