Even if you are having just a couple of family members over for your upcoming holiday gatherings be it Christmas, New Years, or any other holiday, you want simple, stress-free, but delicious food for them to eat.
Holiday gatherings are about celebrating together and sending the year out (please!) on a good note. One of the best ways to do that is with amazing, eye-catching, and tastebud pleasing appetizers.
I wanted to give a couple of tips for making the food at your holiday gatherings of any size a success.
Don’t overwork or over plan!
The time-consuming canapes you may dream of doing are going to be eaten just as quickly as the crockpot meatballs. Choose simple recipes that don’t require a lot of your time and don’t spend a lot of time overthinking the menu.
Prepare pastry type appetizers in stages
You can even do the dough or bread component of these earlier in the month and freeze them to be completed later. You can even prep entire tapas if possible and thaw them to be served later. This will save you time and stress as you’re trying to get ready for the rest of your party.
Look at the display
People eat with their eyes then, with their tastebuds. Find pretty or seasonal tablescapes with matching accessories at your local craft shows or store. You can use anything from paper goods to real China! Just make sure the presentation is nice and looks well-put-together.
Plan foods that don’t need to be served immediately
You know the dishes I’m talking about! The ones where if your family or guests don’t eat it pretty much right away, the taste and look starts to be less than fresh. Not making a bunch of items that have to be prepared right before the event starts will greatly reduce your stress. Cold dips can be done earlier and placed on the table as guests are arriving. Soups served in espresso-sized cups with cheese straws can be kept warm in a crockpot and are so fun!
What holiday gatherings do you have planned?