It's the most wonderful time of the year! With the holidays comes a steady stream of of events to keep us busy all month long. Whether you love to entertain or just need to make through your event. We have some helpful ideas for you.
Entertaining Hacks
- Make a cooking schedule. Download our free printable Holiday Dinner Timeline to help guide you.
- Make side dishes ahead of time; and keep warm in a crockpot.
- Use crockpot bags to make clean up easier.
- Set the table the night before to alleviate the stress the day of.
- Pick out serving platters ahead of time and make labels the day before.
Ingredient substitutions
- 1 Tbsp fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs
- 1 tsp baking powder = ¼ tsp baking soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup unsalted butter = 1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp cream of tartar = 2 tsp vinegar OR lemon juice
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tbsp lemon juice OR vinegar; + enough milk to make 1 cup
- 1 cup bread crumbs = 1 cup cracker crumbs
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed) = 1 cup white sugar + ¼ cup molasses; decrease liquid in recipe by ¼ cup
- 1 cup fats for baking = 1 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger = ½ teaspoon ground dried ginger
Last-minute Entertaining Tricks
When you find yourself hosting guests without a lot of prep time, try these tips and tricks to easy, stress-free entertaining!
- Keep frozen cookie dough on hand. Simply preheat and pop them in the oven! Yummy treats in just a few minutes for your guests.
- Simmering apple cider adds a wonderful aroma to your home. Check out our Christmas Scent recipe to take it to the next level.
