Get Ready for the Holidays

Get Ready for the Holiday…

Psychologists report that planning a party and entertaining family and friends actually makes a person happier. So – let’s get started! Use these party-planning tips to help get you ready.

Holiday Entertaining Tips – Repeated by Popular Demand from Last Year’s Newsletter

As we start making our “To-Do List”, think about adding this to yours: Every time you complete a task, add something new to your list that is an act of kindness. That’s what this time of year is all about, thinking of others and doing kind things for them. You will soon find that your “To-Do List” shines with the true spirit of the holidays – and lifts your own spirit as you check off each item.

Invite 20% more than the number of people you want to attend your gathering. The rule of thumb is that during the holidays, only 70% to 80% of your invitees will be able to attend.
Plan your shopping in a couple of trips so you can start with food preparation that can be done weeks in advance. Stay out of stores on weekends. Shop after 10:00 a.m. so the fresh produce is in and before 3:00 p.m. when others are shopping for dinner. It saves time you’d otherwise waste maneuvering through aisles and waiting in long lines.
Plan a menu around a variety of dietary needs. Be sensitive to guests, so many of whom have food allergies. This can include nut allergies, gluten free needs and even dairy intolerance. Look for balance in planning meals. At Cuisine Unlimited, for an hors d’oeuvre party, we always plan at least one beef, poultry, fish and many vegetarian menu items, always keeping those special dietary needs in mind. We want everyone to enjoy.
Plan a menu that is simple and will not require a lot of last-minute preparation. Heat and serve or platter-to-table are the kinds of foods to include – not those frozen or box-store packaged, but high-quality items you have prepared or ordered from a caterer. Food made with love makes a difference!
Keep guests happy and awake by keeping carbohydrates to a minimum towards the end of the evening. High-carb intake can make people sleepy, so stop serving these items about two-thirds of the way through your party. Replace them with lighter foods and lots of vegetables.
Be mindful of food safety by keeping platters small, and replenish them often. Our rule in catering is that food held outside of temperature, either hot or cold, must be used within two hours or discarded. So, that seafood on the buffet cannot be there all evening.
Don’t feel like you need to prepare all the food yourself. Choose your favorites and order some items to take the stress off of you.
When serving alcoholic beverages, add a new selection of food to the buffet later in the evening. Food helps absorb alcohol before it reaches the intestines. We encourage that bars be closed 30 minutes before the end of the party and that hot to-go non-alcoholic beverages are introduced at that time.
Recycle everything possible. Think “sustainable” even in your decorations.
Enjoy your own party. Look into having your party catered- or perhaps you provide the dessert or your family favorites and entrust a caterer to provide the rest of the food and service. It’s important that you be able to have fun at your own event!