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Hosting this season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’ve decided to host last minute, or are opting for a no-fuss, low-key holiday with your nearest and dearest, these holiday hosting hacks offer a stress-free, how-to guide for pulling off a memorable holiday dinner with minimal effort. From quick prep tricks to simple decor wins, here’s how to stay calm, organized, and actually enjoy celebrating with your guests.
Tip 1: Keep the menu short, intentional with foolproof-yet-delicious recipes
A few great dishes are better than a sprawling buffet. Less cooking means less stress. You can plan ahead and aim to prep in advance (ideally the day before) if you have the bandwidth. Chop veggies, make sauces, bake desserts, or assemble casseroles a day or two before guests arrive. For an even easier hack, lean on HelloFresh to do that legwork for you.
HelloFresh is bringing back its popular Holiday Bundles, featuring 6 delicious recipes, including a main, sides, and dessert – perfect for hosting your gathering. The thoughtfully-packed bundles deliver straight to your door to 95 per cent of the Canadian population and include easy how-to recipes and pre-measured ingredients from a selection of tasty options. They cut shopping, planning (and yes, stress), making holiday cooking faster and foolproof.
Past years have included offerings such as the Classic Turkey Holiday Box or the Gourmet Beef Striploin Roast Holiday Box (both serving 6 or 10 people).
Additionally, if you’re serving fewer than six people, you can also choose from their festive menu items.
- Classic Roasted Turkey Dinner with Cranberry Spread and Gravy
- One-Pan Ground Turkey Stuffing Bowls with Cranberry Sauce
- Tenderloin Steaks with Easy Scalloped Potatoes with Herby Mushrooms and Brussels Sprouts
- Squash Ravioli and Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Spinach and Parmesan
- Creamy Mixed Mushroom Risotto with Bacon and Fried Sage Leaves
- Rosemary-Pecan Crusted Salmon with Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans and Butternut-Potato Mash
- Fig-Maple Chicken with Broccoli and Garlicky Roasted Potatoes
And there are even kid-approved menu options:
- Frosty the Mashed Potato Snowman with Meatballs and Glazed Veggies and Cranberry-Spiked Gravy
- Snowman Shepherd’s Pie with Peas and Corn
Simply go on the HelloFresh website, select your preferred menu options options, sign up and go from there.
Tip 2: Set up a self-serve drink station
Set up a bar cart, beverage tub, pre-mixed large-batch drink or warm beverage corner for hot cocoa, coffee, tea or even mulled wine, so guests can help themselves and you’re not playing bartender the whole night.
You may also like:
Porcelain Fluted Mugs – $35.99
Rattan Round Place Mats – $49.99
Stanley Quencher H2.0 Insulated Tumbler – $59
Shark Handheld Vacuum – $92.99
Tip 3: Use disposable or easy-clean serveware
Elegant-looking compostable plates, or oven-to-table bakeware, save major cleanup time. For compostable plates we like this bamboo option from Amazon or this palm leaf set.
Tip 4: Go to oven-to-table bakeware (like ceramic or glass casserole dishes)
With fewer dishes comes easier clean-up. For simple, oven-to-table bakeware, we like this Staub option in classic white or blue.
Tip 5: Delegate one or two tasks to each guest
Ask a guest to bring a dessert, a bottle of wine, or help with music or clean-up. People love to contribute in meaningful ways. Set up an easy-to-identify waste section for seamless cleanup. We love this divided, large-capacity trash can. Not only is it adjustable (you can either use a single large trash bag or divide it into two compartments for easier sorting (bonus: it’s Canadian-made and designed to withstand the outdoors, so you can repurpose it for summertime hosting as well).
Tip 6: Focus on the vibe not perfection
Sure, candles, background music and warm lighting go a long way. But your guests ultimately care more about the vibe than perfect plating. Remembering that the holidays are meant as an opportunity to connect and ideally help us recharge can remove some of the pressure. If easy holiday hosting for you means a smaller number of guests to host, then do that. If it means dressing casually, do that. And if it means simple, easy-to-prep holiday decor, do that. And you don’t have to go all out. Focusing on a few key areas, like the table, to place decor can go a long way.
We like this table runner from Walmart or this tablecloth from Simons.
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Absorbent Sink Vanity Tray – $13.99
Muso Wood Acacia Salad Servers – $19.99
Sharpal Kitchen Chef Knife Sharpener – $21.99
Pillow Slippers for Women and Men – $39.99
Keurig Milk Frother – $49.99
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