Whether you’re five, forty, or ninety-two, there’s no denying the magic of the holiday season full of snowball fights, gift-giving, carol singing, tree trimming, family gatherings, cookie making, sleigh rides, and more. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind season filled with love, laughter, and timeless memories.
And don’t forget the mouth-watering food – turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, and of course, dessert! Yes, hosting a holiday dinner can be overwhelming and daunting. After all, there’s a lot of planning to take care of, from deciding your holiday cooking menu to being wary of dietary restrictions to cleaning your house. But good news! Holiday entertaining can be made stress-free by adopting a few simple techniques that will make everything, including your delicious holiday cooking, that much easier.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Whether you’re making a turkey dinner with all the fixings or something more low maintenance, like appetizers or a pasta buffet, your guests will surely enjoy themselves. After all, they are there to spend quality time with you and not for a deluxe three-course meal. It’s okay to keep things simple.
Speaking of pasta…
Click here for some holiday cooking inspiration using our delicious line of all-natural non-GMO, and gluten-free tomato sauces. We offer three varieties to choose from:
- Our sweet and earthy bold tasting Siciliana Sauce made with authentic Italian red plum and sun-dried tomatoes
- Our bold, intense, hearty, and flavourful Puttanesca Sauce, made with olives and capers, and first served in a popular nightspot in Ischia, Naples
- Our robust and spicy Arrabiata Sauce, aptly named after the Italian word for “angry” because if you aren’t enjoying it, that’s what you’ll be!
Ask for help (and accept it!)
No one expects you to do it all. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that’s delegating certain holiday cooking dishes to guests or asking for help putting up decorations. Plus, asking your guests to help with a party-related task makes them feel more involved, so it’s a win-win all around.
Prep what you can ahead of time
One of the best parts of holiday cooking is that much of it can be done in advance, whether that’s prepping, making dips and dressings, or pre-cooking items and then freezing them to be reheated later.
Let someone else do the cleaning and grocery shopping
If having someone else to give your house a good once-over cleaning before the big hosting duties commence would help alleviate your holiday entertaining stress, then we say go for it. Spend the time doing what you enjoy instead, whether that’s the holiday cooking, setting up an eye-catching holiday light display, or just sitting curled up in a blanket with a good book and a glass of eggnog.
Speaking of time, save yourself even more by ordering groceries online for curbside pickup or, better yet, have them delivered straight to your home.
Crank the tunes
There’s something about blasting good old-fashioned holiday carols and singing along at the top of your lungs that makes your cares melt away. So, crank those tunes and get holiday cooking! You never know – a kitchen dance party might just break out.
We hope these tips help to make your holiday cooking and entertaining a little less stressful and that your holiday is full of laughter, good food, and unforgettable memories. From all of us at Nonna Pia’s , we wish you the happiest of holidays.
