Quick Tips to Make Entertaining Easy

After several decades of party planning under our belts, we’ve become somewhat of an expert on the topic of entertaining large groups of people. And we’re here to share what we’ve learned with you so that you can enjoy every second of the holiday season possible – without making some of our past mistakes.

While most people love the holidays, we know that entertaining a big group of people can feel a bit… daunting. You’re handling different taste preferences, food allergies galore, and don’t forget about that crazy aunt that always brings up inappropriate topics! If we’re being honest, it can be downright exhausting at times.

If you’re hosting a holiday meal in your home, then here are six quick and easy tips we’ve learned that will help you make entertaining as smooth as that glass of eggnog you’ll be enjoying beside the fire. Enjoy!

QUICK TIPS TO MAKE ENTERTAINING EASY

PICK YOUR PLAYLIST

Music is the secret sauce to set your party’s ambiance. Whether you’re with a group that prefers holiday big band, bossa nova, or catchy pop tunes, think ahead of time about what your guests might like to hear.

If you’re creating a playlist from scratch, consider this structure to make your playlist sparkle – start with it being a bit mellow, building slowly throughout the evening, then starting to bring the tempo back down as guests are settling in and relaxing on the couch following their big meal. We actually built one holiday playlist that we listen to every year during our family’s Christmas celebration – it’s now become a bit of a festive, family tradition we all enjoy.

For those of you skipping the steps of making a mixtape, we get that it can be a bit time consuming. If you have a smartphone, free apps such as Spotify and Pandora host several holiday playlists that are pre-built to fit your crowd. You may hear a few commercials, but they shouldn’t dampen the holiday spirit too much at all.

PREP AHEAD OF TIME

While we’re big fans of foods that you can prep in advance, many people miss an easy opportunity to prep that’s sitting right in front of them. And it is… serving ware.

The night before your big function, set the table so that you don’t have to worry about that task on the actual event day itself. In setting our table, we love including as many tea lights on the table as possible, as they can be easily lit in a hurry to set the mood without fuss.

Additionally, feel free to get out any serving bowls or platters you might need well in advance so that you don’t need to dig through cabinets while you’re prepping the food. As a pro tip: We suggest using serving bowls and platters from different sets whenever possible so that they don’t match too much, which can end up looking like a catering hall.

REMEMBER THE RULE OF NINE

One of our favorite rules of thumb is what we like to call the “Rule of 9.” When you’re planning out the hor d’oevres you’ll be hosting for your large group, we suggest purchasing three items (cheese and crackers, vegetable tray, etc), making three items you’re familiar with, and making three items that are new to your repertoire. This will keep your appetizers fun and exciting, but will also keep you from going crazy trying to make everything brand new.

We know that this is a lot of food, so if your group is 12 people or less, you may want to transform it into a “Rule of 6” where you buy two, make two new, and make two you’re familiar with, just so that you don’t have a lot of food left over afterwards. (If you’re on the lookout for some new recipes, we actually have a class specifically for No Fuss Holiday Hors d’Oevres on December 20th. Click here to find out more details and to sign up!)

PLAN YOUR MAIN COURSE WELL IN ADVANCE

While you may not be able to purchase every ingredient well before your party, you can make the list ahead of time of what you’ll need. This will make shopping much easier when the time comes, helping you to avoid some of the crowds and stress that comes along with the grocery store.

Typically, when planning the menu, our primary rule of thumb is to use recipes that can be made in 45 minutes or less. This way, if we’re running late, we’ll quickly be able to catch up. We are also very conscious of picking recipes that don’t need ongoing attention so that we don’t have to spend all night in the kitchen. Sorry risotto, but now’s not the time.

When setting up our self-service bar (no need to serve each guest their beverage individually), we love to create a specific, pre-mixed beverage for the event. We’ll also consider what dishes we’ll be serving and pair them with appropriate wines that complement the flavor of the dish.

REMEMBER THAT YOU SET THE TONE

No matter who your guests are, you, as the host or hostess, sets the tone of your function. If you’re running around like crazy and are feeling frazzled about something not going as planned, then your guests are going to feel like an inconvenience.

We, instead, focus on feeling relaxed and helping to make our guests feel as welcome as possible, while showing them that we appreciate them being guests in our home. As long as you’re relaxed, your guests will feel comfortable and at-ease, too.

Especially if you’re having a large function, having all of the food and table set-up completed in advance may be next to impossible. If that’s the case, then don’t worry about having everything all ready to go. Instead, think about the three main elements guests might notice as they walk in the door. Our typical priorities include having the music ready to go, having a couple appetizers ready to enjoy, and being ready to offer a fresh beverage as soon as our guests walk in the door.

From there, we don’t worry much about having all of the details ready immediately as people arrive. Your guests will feel comfortable being a small part of the process.

CLEANING UP AFTERWARDS

While it can be tempting to want to clean everything the second the plates are piled up and the last guest leaves, we actually suggest otherwise. Don’t force yourself to keep cleaning until the early hours of the morning! Instead, we suggest that you get things prepped to clean the next day. Put everything in the sink and add soapy water to anything that might stick or stain.

The one exception we would suggest is regarding sharp knives and cutlery. We always recommend cleaning those sharp objects and putting them away so that you don’t reach into a sink full of dirties the next morning and cut yourself. Ouch!

Then relax for a bit. You worked hard and served your friends and family with love – each plate and glass will be a reminder of the fun night you just experienced. A few extra minutes of calm relaxation may be just what you need to fully enjoy the holidays.

On behalf of the whole The Seasoned Chef team, Happy Holidays!