Take The Hassle Out Of Hosting
Christmas is the perfect time to indulge in good food and even better company, but to ensure you aren’t stuck in the kitchen, here are some hacks to give you the chance to mingle.
Let them make themselves feel at home
Setting the mood is a great start and the easiest way of doing this is by putting on your favourite playlist and kitting out your home with a few extra inviting seating areas with the help of a well-placed throw and cushion combo. Now for the exciting bit: food! Help-yourself hosting is a great way to offer everyone the freedom to fill their plates with wholesome food to their heart’s content, whether it’s a little nibble or going back for seconds. If a hearty dinner is the aim, place a selection of plates and cutlery next to a slow cooker meal, and voila: an easy one-pot solution that can be paired with some warm tear and share bread.
Buffet the hunger slayer
Enjoy a well-deserved catch up with your friends and family whilst nibbling on some delicious finger food. Quick and easy to prepare and place on a table, a tasty buffet of foods such as cheese, cut veggies and dip, olives and even the classic sausage roll always go down a treat. Catering to everyone’s tastes while hosting isn’t always easy, so to make sure you don’t find yourself cooking enough to feed an army. A helpful alternative to this is asking everyone to bring a dish of their choice.
Christmas is thirsty work
Don’t forget to put out a variety of drinks too, and remember that slow cookers aren’t just for food, they keep a hot mulled wine or hot chocolate at the perfect temperature on the ‘keep warm’ mode. Setting up a drink station with toppings for the hot drinks and a couple of punch bowls is also a hassle-free way to keep everyone hydrated.
Play to win
Great for breaking the ice, party games will have you teaming up, laughing along and perhaps bringing out your (playfully) competitive side. Perfect for all members of the family, our new selection of games will bring everyone together and make a thoughtful thank-you gift to the host.
Oh, and if you find yourself with an excess of food when the night ends, a lot can be stored safely in the fridge for a tasty meal to enjoy over the next few days or given to friends and family in some trusty glass food storage tubs.
