Christmas is supposed to be a fun holiday, but the preparations for hosting a holiday dinner can be stressful. You are spending hours in the kitchen preparing and serving meals, and you still need to do the dishes later. What you want to do is relax and spend time with your loved ones.
Why not make it easier on yourself this year? There are ways to host a tasty dinner without doing all the work yourself. You can start by checking out this guide of ideas for hosting your holiday dinner.
Prepare Certain Dishes In Advance
One idea is to look into dishes that can be prepared several days in advance. This way, you only have to worry about the main course and dishes that need to be served fresh on Christmas. A few examples include Twice Baked Potato And Raclette Casserole, Classic Beef Stew, and Dairy-Free Chocolate-Raspberry Cake, which gives you the option for entrées, side dishes, and desserts. Preparing certain dishes in advance is a great way to reduce the amount of work you have to do on Christmas.
Ask For Help With The Cooking
It never hurts to ask for help if you need it, and this includes preparing your holiday dishes. Reach out to a few close friends or family members who are invited to dinner. They may be willing to lend a hand in the kitchen. Another idea is to look into a catering company that works on Christmas to prep and serve meals for a holiday party, but you want to ensure a caterer is in your holiday budget. If you are not hosting a big gathering, it may be best to ask peers for help before hiring a caterer.
Plan A Potluck Holiday Dinner
Another way to ask for help is to find out if your guests would be willing to participate in a potluck dinner this year. Everyone can prepare and bring their favorite dish to dinner. Why not set the meals out buffet style for everyone to enjoy? You can even provide cards for those who want to exchange recipes. Some guests may not be as confident in the kitchen, so be sure to let them know that store-bought meals and desserts are fine to bring as well. This way, everyone has the opportunity to participate in the potluck holiday dinner.
Order Meal Delivery and Prep Kits
Meal delivery and prep kits are perfect for reducing the stress of hosting holiday dinners. You can choose from several chef-designed meals that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. There are even extra options such as side dishes to add to your delivery, which is perfect for creating a tasty holiday meal. A meal delivery kit is ideal for a smaller gathering because it feeds everyone while giving you time to mingle with your guests. Of course, you want to ensure you are ordering the best meal delivery in Calgary for your holiday dinner.
Make Reservations At an Open Restaurant
If you want to skip cooking altogether, make reservations for everyone to dine at a restaurant. Several restaurants are open on holidays. You and your guests have the option of dining inside the restaurant or ordering the food for pick-up to enjoy at home. This gives you a break from spending hours in the kitchen on Christmas, and it also helps local restaurants and chains stay in business. It is no secret that you are going to feel tired later, and dining out also allows you to avoid doing the dishes. Remember, other families may be dining out, so it is best to make a reservation at the restaurant of your choice.
Everyone deserves a break during the holidays, and you deserve to spend your holiday opening gifts, playing with your children, and catching up with family. It is hard to enjoy the holiday if you are stuck in the kitchen all day.
Whether you are enlisting the help of your guests, ordering a meal delivery kit, or dining at a restaurant, avoiding the preparations, cooking, and dishes on a holiday is not impossible. All you have to do is find an alternative that works for you and your guests.
