Hosting holiday meals every year has become a tradition for me. Seeing the joy expressed as people take their first bite of something delicious is what inspires me to continue. It has taken years of trial and error but this Thanksgiving, I successfully cooked a meal and prepared my home for guests while managing my three children, and the following tips are what helped me make it happen.
Plan ahead
At least a week before hosting a holiday, work with your family to plan your meal. There is a lot of comfort when cooking a traditional holiday meal that you are familiar with, but there is a special joy that comes with trying something new.
For Thanksgiving this year I planned a traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey, potatoes (sweet and mashed, of course), mac ‘n cheese, cabbage, cornbread and so much more. After many days of leftovers, I decided repeating this meal for Christmas was not ideal.
Instead, I asked my kids what their favorite type of meal is. We decided as a group, and by this, I mean that my oldest wouldn’t give up his idea that Asian-inspired food would be a Christmas meal. We worked together to make the menu, and this week we’ll go shopping for everything we need.
Prepare the night before
Once you’ve gotten your items and the day gets closer, the next best thing to do is prep what you can the night before so that the day of the meal can be smooth.
If your meal includes bread, have it ready the night before and warm it up when the meal is ready. When recipes call for chopped or diced veggies, chop them. If you are mashing potatoes, cube them up so the boil time lowers and place them in cold water overnight.
Skip the apps
One of the most time-consuming parts of my Thanksgiving meal this year was my charcuterie board and my chicken and wild rice soup (from scratch, I’d like to add). Although they were both tasty, everyone was focused on the glazed ham and the roasted turkey they’d been waiting for since last year.
My appetizers were left almost untouched, while I had nothing left but bones from the turkey afterward. That being said, I’d like to suggest spending your time mastering the taste of your main dishes and popular sides instead of worrying about ways to feed your guests while they wait for the main course
Allow people to help
A very simple but helpful tip is that you do not have to do it alone. Yes, you have the best mac ‘n cheese and you can handle the sweet potato casserole, but other people in your life know how to cook as well. Let them! Plus, them cooking something in their oven means there’s one less thing for you to fit into yours.
You can also ask a friend or relative who plans on coming to your home for the holiday to help with your children. Give them snacks, books or other activities to do as they keep the coast clear while you cook.
Relax
The most important thing to remember is to relax. Allow yourself to enjoy what you are working on. Wear your comfy sweatpants, play your favorite songs and enjoy every moment as you create a meal to bring people you love together.
