holidays
Holiday cooking for a crowd
from Metro Creative
Anumber of things can be expected during the holiday season . Children will anxiously await visits from Santa and travelers recognize there is bound to be traffic on the roadways and crowds at the airport . And if you ’ re opening your home to guests , those visitors will be expecting some delicious food .
Meals are a big component of holiday entertaining , so much so that holiday hosts may spend weeks pondering what to serve guests . These guidelines can help simplify cooking for a crowd .
Plan make-ahead dishes
Simplifying holiday cooking comes down to spending less time in the kitchen on the day of the festivities . Make-ahead dishes that can be reheated or set in chafing dishes for buffet meals are preferable . There ’ s lots of dishes to choose from , including casseroles , stews , soups , and baked pasta dishes . Avoid fresh pasta offerings , like spaghetti and meatballs , for example . Leftover noodles will get mushy and will not reheat very well .
Ham is a good choice
Ham is a forgiving dish that is quite popular for holiday gatherings . Many hams come pre-cooked and pre-sliced , so producing a flavorful main course may be just a matter of dressing it up with seasonings or even using the glaze that often comes with such products .
Cater a meal There ’ s certainly pride that comes with offering guests a table full of home-cooked foods . But the expense , effort and time that goes into creating a masterful menu can be taxing . If a lot of people are coming for the holidays , hosts can find out which area businesses offer holiday catering packages and consider them . This frees up more time for mingling with guests . And food establishments often have experience knowing just how much food to have per person , reducing waste and helping hosts avoid having a refrigerator full of leftovers they may or may not eat .
Delegate some tasks It ’ s alright to ask guests to bring something to the holiday dinner . In fact , they may be eager to pitch in . If someone brings a salad , another an appetizer and others some desserts , then it is just up to the host to provide the main course and maybe a side or two . This removes a lot of the pressure .
Select familiar foods
Hosts may be tempted to try all of the delicious recipes featured in magazines or online around the holidays . However , sticking with familiar dishes that you have made before reduces the chances for error . Recipes that can be whipped up by rote will make holiday cooking tasks easier and quicker .
Cooking for a holiday crowd doesn ’ t have to be difficult , especially when hosts employ a few strategies to simplify meal creation . n
50 Valdosta Scene | December 2023