Tips for Successful Holiday Entertaining | Cookbook

The Holiday Season

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Holiday Entertaining Tips

A great part of any company dinner can be prepared the day before. If you have room in the freezer you can prepare a lot of dishes well in advance, freeze them in plastic containers and use them when needed. First thing to do is to select your menu and make a list of the principal dishes. With each dish have a list of the vegetables, sauces or other things to be served, and the time for serving. This will insure the dishes being ready at the proper moment. If you are serving formal dinner, have the plates and other dishes counted and ready to warm -- and, by the way -- if you can arrange to have these and the silver washed where the noise cannot reach the guests. If you decide to do self-serve buffet, you can also use paper or plastic plates, cutlery and cups with pretty holiday decorations or in seasonal color of your choice.

Did You Know?

Most of the cakes with cream can be baked, filled and decorated a week before. They will even taste much better than the ones you are baking last day.

Cookies and small cakes can be prepared and decorated four or five days before.

When serving appetizers, offer cold and hot options available! Most cold appetizers can be prepared in advance. Plan for an average of 3-4 appetizer pieces per person.

If you are preparing your own salad dressing, make it ready couple days before and store in the fridge.

Balance the number of dishes that are made ahead and those with last minute preparation and don't forget to have vegetarian and gluten free options available.

The vegetables can be prepared washed and put in plastic containers or plastic bags and refrigerated day before your party.

The game or meat could be marinated day before and ready to put in oven or ready to cook on the way you desire.

The meat or seafood for croquettes and salads can be cooked the day before.

The jellies, creams and cold puddings can be made day before and refrigerated.

If a clear soup (and that is always best) is to be served, it also should be made day before.

If you are serving tea or coffee after the dinner, it is supposed that the coffee or tea will be served in medium size cups with saucer. Although it is usually drunk clear, milk, cream and sugar should be offered with it.

Stale rolls may be made light and flaky by dipping for a moment in cold water, and placing them immediately in a very hot oven to be made crisp and hot.

If you are using microwave for food preparation only use microwave-safe dishes or bags made to withstand boiling or baking temperatures. Never cook food in styrofoam cups, food storage bags and other items abound, these materials are not intended for cooking and may melt – particularly if fat is added to the food. Some materials may also diffuse unwanted chemicals into the food.