Entertaining your guests and enjoying the holidays don’t have to be mutually exclusive! Chef Marilena shares some time-tested tips guaranteed to make your holidays joyful and delicious!
1. Decide on your menu, making sure you choose seasonal dishes and a few items that can be prepared ahead of time. Next, gather all your recipes and create a detailed shopping list.
2. Prepare the timetable of everything you need to cook. Indicate which dishes need to be made at the last minute, which ones can be made a few days ahead.
3. Buy all non-perishable items from your grocery list early.
4. Set the table and lay out serving bowls and platters with a post-it note in each server to indicate what goes where. Choose a simple centerpiece – lemons & oranges, cinnamon sticks and a few simple candles look great when grouped together.
5. Make room in your fridge for the groceries and the dishes you will prepare ahead.
6. Two days before, cook as much as possible: soups, casseroles, sauces, dips and most desserts can easily be prepared ahead of time. Prepare a simple dough for dinner rolls. Prep as much as possible: wash, peel, chop, grate and store in the fridge.
7. Allow an hour for cocktails and appetizers. Create a great display with all your antipasti gathered together, so your quests can help themselves: Make sure you include a combination of meat, starch, and seasoned nuts and olives, a few of them in the form of crostini toppings.
8. Work backwards from the time dinner will be served and decide when the main course should be ready. Allow for resting time.
9. Just before your quests arrive, put the bread rolls in the oven. There is nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread – your house will smell amazing!
10. Put some music on, pour some wine and relax! Your careful planning will ensure your party is successful and your quests will have a wonderful time!
