7 Holiday Entertaining Shortcuts You Should Know
I have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InspireWithCheese
Entertaining during the holidays is ironically, my favorite time of year! You would think the stress of just one more thing to do on an already long to-do list would be daunting. Not for me; getting ready to see friends and family always gives me a rush of adrenaline and I can’t wait to have a houseful of people, enjoying the decor and fabulous food and drink. But then again, not everyone is like that. That’s ok because I’m sharing seven great holiday entertaining shortcuts…because you can do it all…but don’t want to.
Fake A Clean House
Spot cleaning is the key. Make sure the guest bathroom is clean and has toilet paper…everywhere else, hide it all! Grab a big box or bin and clear off every counter and tabletop of stuff. You can deall with it all later, the container will keep it all together. Then, use a scented cleaner to give everything a good clean. Run the vacuum over those high traffic areas. Spot cleaning, check!
Simple Decor
I love my reusable party decor like honeycomb balls and paper fans because they are easy to hang up and make a space feel festive immediately! Hang a few over your party table or on the walls and you are set.
Ditch The Complicated Recipes
I know, you expect your holidays to have elaborate, multi-course meals and desserts. Says who? Consider easy (and store-bought) appetizers and desserts instead! A trip to Safeway makes it easy to find everything I need to make a tasty appetizer and buy the rest. Kaukauna® is the perfect entertaining partner with their cups, logs, and balls, delicious by themselves or in a recipe….remember last year’s recipes? This time around, we are making Bacon Mac And Cheese Bites with Kaukauna® Spreadable Cheddar (100% real cheddar by the way!), a delicious and easy entertaining solution. Save some time and make it the night before; warm up when ready to serve!
Bacon Mac And Cheese Bites
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- 16 oz. cavatappi noodles, cooked and drained according to directions; also called cellentani, amori, spirali, tortiglioni, or fusilli rigati.
- 6.5 oz Kaukauna® Cheese Spread Cup in Sharp Cheddar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup finely shredded cheese in Mexican Style blend
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 cup Panko style breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper
- 30 pieces precooked, thick cut bacon strips – you can find pre cooked bacon at your local grocer near the sandwich meat section.
- Return the cooked, drained noodles to the pot.
- Return the pot to the stove, and over a medium heat, add the cheese spread, butter and shredded cheese to the noodles, stirring until melted.
- Add a 1/2 – 3/4 cup of milk until desired sauciness. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a greased standard muffin pan with slices of precooked bacon.
- Fill the bacon ‘cups’ with macaroni and cheese, carefully pressing the macaroni and cheese into the bacon cavity and filling as much of the space as possible. This will allow the cheese and noodles to bake together and hold its shape when cooked. You may have some macaroni left…
7. Sprinkle each macaroni cup with about a 1/4 teaspoon of breadcrumbs.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and allow them to set and cool in the muffin pan before removing them.
9. Repeat these steps if you only have one or two muffin pans until all bites are made.
I also picked up a few other appetizers and a veggie tray to round out our meal. Which leads to my next tip…
Repackage and Replate Everything
Even if it is takeout from your favorite spot, or a pie from your boss bakery, toss the boring packaging! Place everything on platters, cake stands and bowls. Take those veggies out of their tray, pour crackers in a pretty bowl, you get what I am saying? No one needs to know you didn’t make it all yourself. Spend less time in the kitchen and more with your guests.
Set up a Beverage Area So You Don’t Need To Be A Bartender
Set up a simple beverage area with a side table or bar cart. Add a few glasses and various beverages and garnishes so guests can help themselves. Make any drink more festive with a few skewered cranberries. Don’t have specialty glasses? You can purchase plastic versions or your own clear tumblers will do just fine…
Pull Off A Chic, Insta-worthy Table Without Really Trying
Instead of a fussy floral centerpiece, head to the floral department for evergreen clippings or eucalyptus leaves and create a natural runner for your table. If you are lucky enough to live near an evergreen wooded area, head outdoors and pick up a few clippings. Do this a few days before and give them a good shake before bringing the clippings indoors…because bugs. Finish the look with a few ornaments and unscented candles! Layer some lovely and disposable serveware….who says it has to be the good china and silverware? Less dishes to wash and it’s recyclable! The world’s easy place card? Tie a chocolate ornament to a tag. Voila, your Instagram-worthy table is ready.
‘Twas The Night Before The Party…
The biggest key to less stress before a party…set up as much as you can the night before. Rearrange your furniture, hang up decorations, set the table! Learn to delegate…you don’t have to do it all yourself! Get your partner or kids to help you out, from emptying trash cans to hiding said clutter.
The best tip of all…just win everything you need! For a chance to win prizes through a Kaukauna® sweepstakes, you can either share a pre-written tweet, visit the social hub, visit Kaukauna®’s Facebook page, or visit Kaukauna®’s Pinterest page! Four lucky winners will win an “entertaining basket” that includes a $250 Visa gift card, apron, oven mitt, kitchen towel, Kaukauna® cheeseboard, and serving platter.
Ten lucky winners will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and fifteen lucky winners will receive either a $25 Visa gift card, a Kaukauna® cheeseboard, and an oven mitt or apron! Sweepstakes entry dates are 11/15/2017 12:00am ET to 12/31/2017 11:59pm ET. See Official Rules: http://cbi.as/a10gz
#InspireWithCheese #Sweepstakes (11/15 to 12/31)
Meanwhile, take advantage of this Ibotta offer; Save on any Kaukauna® Cheese product now through 12/31/17 (or until offer expires).
I hope these holiday entertaining shortcuts have inspired you to host your own event. Remember it’s not about being perfect but being happy!
