What “they” say is proving more and more to be true. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies to my planned appetizer tray for our small at home New Year’s Eve celebration. The crowd loved it at Thanksgiving so much it has been requested for our New Year’s Eve culinary celebration.
Simple works, and thank the entertaining gods it does! Seafood dip picked up from the deli, pita chips, white cheddar Melba toast, and port wine and pepper jack cheese balls will start the hors d’oeuvres ball drop. I found the recipe for Fireside Cheese Spread over at Taste of Home and it looks like it will be a delicious addition to the lineup.
We will be having a rather laid back celebration this year with good music and great company.
That’s our house blend. My crystal ball tells me the combination will go well with a pepper jack cheese ball, spiced pecans, dates and a newly discovered treat, sweet potato tortilla chips. What holiday cheers do we have here?
In cup, combine your juice with grenadine and set to the side. When you are ready to serve, pour mixture into a glass and top with champagne. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint
Here’s a celebration saver tip for when the bubbly isn’t so bubbly:
If the champagne goes flat it’s a raisin to the rescue! Before pouring, drop a raisin into the champagne bottle. The carbon dioxide adheres to the raisin and it’s Don Ho time. Tiny bubbles, get it?
The time is now to mull over the Thanksgiving dinner holiday checklist.
This most wonderful time of year that should be embraced for what it is- a time to eat, drink, decorate, table set, and celebrate with family and friends.
From kitchen to turkey to table, the more Thanksgiving dinner holiday checklist help I can offer, the merrier and less holiday rushed things will be.
A holiday checklist comes in holiday handy, and is the hostess gift that keeps on giving.
And away we holiday go…
3 weeks to go:
I’m sure to some extent you’ve been in recipe and menu planning mode already.
There’s no time like three weeks out from Thanksgiving to decide which recipes you want to make.
Narrow down what dishes you can realistically pull off without having a culinary nervous breakdown.
Adopt an out with the old to make room for the new. Clean out accordingly in order to make room for grocery items coming to a refrigerator, freezer, and pantry near you.
Begin picking up non-perishable items, spices needed, dry goods, and any kitchen tools or cookware while shopping.
Grocery ads are beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving dinner sales, and kitchen items are popping up on sale as well.
2 weeks to go:
Creating a handsome holiday table and finalizing the scrumptious dishes worthy of c’est si bon distinction is the objective.
Plan, tweak, adjust, set, and finalize the menu and the tablescape.
Delegate and Dish
Don’t be a holiday hosting hero.
Say yes to the offers of what can I do-what can I bring.
Make a list of who’s bringing what, and thoughtfully delegate and dish from there.
Take an inventory of the pantry staples, spices, seasonings, and required recipe ingredients you will need.
Make out your grocery list.
Bookmark store ads and coupons on your mobile device.
1 week to go:
Add the finishing touches to your selected tablescape theme.
I’ve been known to replace chandelier and table lamp light bulbs to mitigate any whatever can go wrong, will go wrong-Murphy’s law proactive holiday hostess issues.
Ready.
Set.
Go to the grocery store for the turkey and non-perishable food items..
When deciding on how big of a turkey to purchase, allow 1 to 2 pounds of meat per person
Make sure your roasting pan is large enough to fit turkey.
Easy hacks to take a cake or pie from store bought to homemade include a generous drizzle of caramel ice cream topping over a Dutch apple pie.
Top a pumpkin pie with mini marshmallows, sprinkle with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, and bake off in the oven until marshmallows melt.
Spike up the taste of a pecan pie by topping with bourbon whipped cream.
Bourbon Whipped Cream
Ingredients
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon bourbon
2 teaspoons maple syrup
Directions
In a medium bowl, add whipping cream. Beat on medium speed until mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add bourbon and maple syrup, and beat until stiff peaks form. Cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Aunt Myrtle’s disco decor days have gone the way of avocado green appliances, wall-to-wall shag carpet, and the Merry Mushroom dinnerware straight out of the housewares department at the local Sears.
Her get down tonight may not be able to get up today if she is forced to sit in the bean bag chair from the kids playroom.
Know your audience, friends.
Buy, borrow, or rent the extra items to meet your holiday hosting needs.
Clean and stock guest bedrooms and bathrooms with fresh linens and paper goods.
You know that lightly damp dishtowel left over from last night’s KP duty?
On your way to the laundry room with it, hit the holiday table and chairs dusting high notes.
Two tasks taken care of with one swipe.
Set out candles, arrange centerpiece, set table with linens, place mats, chargers and place cards.
1 day to go:
Peel and chop up onions, bell pepper, garlic, herbs, and root vegetables. Place in plastic storage bags or airtight containers and store in the refrigerator.
Set out dinnerware, glasses, serving pieces, dishes, bowls and platters.
Turn over or cover with dishtowels until next day.
The Big Event!
Preheat oven.
Take turkey out of refrigerator, season to taste, and place in roaster.
Approximate roasting time for a thoroughly defrosted 12-14 lb. unstuffed turkey is 3-3 ½ hours roasted at 325°F until done.
About a half hour before the turkey’s finished, take it out of the oven.
The turkey is done when the temperature with a meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the breast and 175°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
Allow the turkey to rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to saturate the meat evenly.
Chill beverages.
Prepare other side dishes, salads, and desserts while turkey is roasting.
It’s that time of year again to get the party started with summer outdoor entertaining tips 2.
Outdoor spaces of oasis dressed out for backyard grilling and chilling take center stage this time of year.
Here’s a few outdoor entertaining tips for getting the summer essentials prepped and ready to go.
Butcher Blocks and Cutting Boards
To deter bacteria from finding a home in the cracks and on the cutting surface, wash the block or board with mild dishwashing detergent and warm water.
Allow the butcher block or cutting board to completely dry.
Cover the butcher block or cutting board with a thin layer of coarse salt to draw residual moisture out of the cracks.
Wipe of excess coarse salt and use a clean cloth to apply mineral oil, rubbing with the grain.
Let dry overnight.
Searching for an easy and inexpensive grill degreaser?
Try baking soda and a steel wool pad.
Apply elbow grease and voilà!
Keeping Outdoor Cushions Neat and Clean
Keep the comfort and color, lose the mold, mildew, and dirt with a solution of 2 teaspoons borax, 2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid, and 2 quarts warm water.
Mix and pour solution in spray bottle.
Liberally spray each cushion down with solution and allow to sit for 15 – 20 minutes.
Hose off cushions with water hose and hang from clothes line or stand up to dry.
Flavored Ice Cubes
The heat and humidity will melt those ice cubes soon enough, but with flavored ice cubes watered down beverages retain their deliciousness.
This is so simple- fill ice trays 3/4 full with the beverage of choice and freeze.
Take the taste to the next level by adding fresh mint to iced tea or punch cubes, rosemary sprigs to lemonade, pearl onion or halved seasoned green bean to Clamato for bloody marys, or a blend of cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and strong coffee for iced coffees.
Grab the blender (or food processor) and purée watermelon slices or fresh strawberries for a summer kick over watermelon or strawberry flavored ice cubes.
Weeds between patio pavers, bricks, and deck boards are unsightly summer sights.
Let the sun shine in and down on weeds that have been sprayed with a solution of 1 gallon white vinegar, ½ cup of dishwashing liquid, and 2 Tablespoons salt.
Fill a spray bottle with the mixture, set to stream, and spray the mixture on the weeds.
This works best on a warm and sunny day as heat from the sun aids in the process.
Mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus They Carry
Talk about buzz kill!
Keeping these pesky uninvited guests away is outdoor priority number one.
Citronella candles, tiki and table top torches, and decorative lanterns come in a wide assortment of styles, sizes and price points.
Is That a Bee in Your Bonnet?
No, it’s a dryer sheet!
Strategically placed in an apron pocket, under table linens, or pinned to the corners of a tablecloth, dryer sheets help to keep bees at bay.
Freshen Up With a Twist
Enjoying the summer good life can get messy, sticky, sweaty, and smelly.
Hand sanitizer and wet wipes work well, but I also like to make individual “freshen up with a twist” packs.
For hands:
Place two damp paper towels in a Ziploc bag – one with a trace of liquid soap (I love the fresh scent of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lemon Verbena Liquid Soap) on it for cleansing, and the other for rinsing. Include a slice of lemon for an extra twist of fresh.
Lemon softens your skin and is a natural odor eliminator.
I’ve tried almost every brand/every scent of facial cleansing towelettes on the market, and I invariably come back to the Equate Beauty Rose Water Cleansing Towelettes. The scent is divine, and the cleansing is gentle.
Refrigerate towelettes package a few hours before outdoor living party time, and when fun in the sun or evening things heat up simply put summertime beat the heat survival kits consisting of chilled towelettes and a travel size spray bottle in color choice filled with Dickinson’s Enhanced Witch Hazel Hydrating Toner with Rosewater.
Place individual packs into a larger Ziploc bag, seal it tight, and place it in a lunch tote or outdoor fridge to keep them nice and cool until ready to distribute.
Stress free holiday entertaining ideas put the merry in a holiday good time.
From the planned casual holiday soiree to the not so planned we saw your lights on holiday surprise drop-in, these stock items can cut the stress, welcome guests, ward off the holiday bah humflubug, and make things festive.
Traditional Home
Let me share with you some of the staples I keep on hand and filed under tried-and-true stress free holiday entertaining ideas.
Mingle responsibly.
It’s not only the holidays, but the cold and flu season as well.
Lest we forget Covid-19.
Won’t we all be glad when we can!
Votive candles instantly add that cozy and homey feel to the setting.
I don’t know if it’s the warmth they exude or the soft glow, but votive candles create a relaxing atmosphere.
Stock up on these home decor and entertaining staples.
The package sells the product, and a festive presentation impresses the harshest holiday critic.
My darling maternal grandmother taught me through her gracious example.
She loved Lady Borden Vanilla ice cream- her signature dessert offering.
She lived alone, and with single serving sizes not yet on the market, the large container ice cream would often fall victim to freezer burn.
What the ice cream lacked in taste was more than made up in serving presentation.
She always served two scoops of Lady Borden Vanilla in a glass sherbet dish accompanied by a sterling silver spoon.
A simple coffee or decorative holiday mug from the dollar store filled with hot cocoa and garnished with a peppermint stick and marshmallows or red hot apple cider garnished with a cinnamon stick is holiday comfort in a cup!
I recommend preparing this recipe for homemade marshmallows while listening to the ever fitting Christmas classic “A Marshmallow World” performed by the ever cool Dean Martin.
Marshmallows (French Laundry)
Ingredients
3 envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin
½ cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups corn syrup
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Confectioners’ sugar for dredging
Directions
In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for 10 minutes.
Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes. Add vanilla and incorporate into mixture. Scrape into a 9 x 9-inch pan lined with oiled plastic wrap and spread evenly.
(Note: Lightly oil hands and spatula or bowl scraper).
After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, take another piece of plastic wrap and press mixture into the pan.
Let mixture sit for a few hours. Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners’ sugar and cut into 12 equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef’s knife. Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners’ sugar.
Yield: 12 large marshmallows
Baby, it’s cold outside.
I pick up inexpensive fleece throws when I find them on holiday special.
This little touch of homey and cozy is a big hit with our guests as we celebrate the holiday moments of our lives.
Tie them up with raffia, attach a holiday gift tag, and place them in a basket.
The inexpensive fleece throws make a nice holiday “from our home to yours” parting gift.
Hand them out to your guests to ward off the chill while watching a classic holiday movie or hanging out listening to holiday music.
Let’s not forget that a holiday playlist queued up and ready to shuffle is always a hit.
Holiday get-togethers as well as the unexpected drop in visit often turn out to be a stress free and fun time.