10 Simple Hacks to Take the Stress Out of Hosting Family and Friends
There’s nothing more satisfying than hosting family and friends around the holidays– and there’s often nothing more stressful, too! My large Italian family loves to get together for Thanksgiving, tree trimming, Christmas, New Year’s…any excuse for a party! Over the years of planning and hosting events both personally and professionally, I’ve come up with my fair share of little tips and tricks to make things easier so you can stress less and enjoy the company more.
Below, you’ll find my 10 most helpful tips to make your next event go smoothly, from planning and decorating to cooking and entertaining. But my biggest recommendation is the simplest: Have fun! The reason for all these social events is to celebrate this magical season with friends and family, so don't let the stress of throwing the perfect party get you down. Years later, nobody will remember the little details that didn’t go exactly the way you wanted them to. As long as you enjoy the time with your loved ones, it's a success!
Flavored ice cubes keep your cocktails cold without watering them down.
Ice is a holiday party essential — nobody likes a lukewarm drink! — but it can also be the downfall of your carefully crafted cocktails. As they melt, ice cubes dilute the drink, watering it down while you're attending to your hosting duty. To prolong the life of your punch bowl or pitcher, try freezing cubes of complementary flavored fruit juice, soda, or even sparkling wine the day before the party — you can even add citrus zest or herbs to the mix.
Simmer a pot of holiday aromatics to make your home festive and inviting.
Scent is one of the first things we notice when we enter a new space, and it can have a powerful impact on our subconscious emotions. Give your guests a positive boost the minute they walk through the door with this simple trick: to a medium pot of water, add your favorite holiday aromatics (sliced oranges or lemons, cranberries, a few sprigs of pine or rosemary, cinnamon sticks, cloves, juniper berries) and simmer over low heat. You can leave this simmering for several hours to fill the house with the most delicious scent — just remember to check the water level occasionally so it doesn’t boil dry.
Use Post-It notes to label platters and serving utensils so you're never left empty-handed.
When you're cooking for a big dinner party or cocktail hour, it's always a scramble to find the right serving dishes and utensils as the clock ticks down. Instead of stressing about it when everything’s hot and ready to serve, pull out all of your serving ware the night before and use Post-It notes to remind yourself which dish will go where.
Don't drive yourself crazy trying to guess what people will eat — just ask!
If you're hosting a dinner party, there's no worse feeling than leaving one guest with nothing to eat because they're vegetarian and gluten-free and you've made an enormous lasagna bolognese! Avoid the discomfort for both you and your guests by sending around a quick call for dietary restrictions the week before. They'll feel better knowing they won't be walking into a dietary minefield, and you'll feel better knowing everyone will be well-fed. For cocktail snacks and larger parties, plan on having one vegetarian and one gluten-free option. Crostini is easily adaptable; just swap the bread with endive for a GF option everyone will love.
Keep an easy recipe in your back pocket and never stress about entertaining again.
For unexpected houseguests, last-minute potlucks, and other dinner emergencies, it's a good idea to have a foolproof, company-ready dish you can whip up in a hurry that won't let you down. My go-to is always a baked pasta — they're cheesy, comforting, and mostly hands-off. Try my baked bolognese, cheesy baked gnocchi, lasagna rolls, beef and cheese manicotti or baked lemon ziti.
Cook like the pros and serve a main dish that can be done the night before.
When I'm cooking for a large event or benefit, a braise is one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to put out something delicious without stressing over a hot stove. Low and slow centerpiece dishes like osso buco or pot roast can hang out in the oven or slow cooker the day before, and actually get better after a night in the refrigerator! It's one less thing you'll have to worry about on the day of the party; all it needs is a quick warm in the oven before serving.
Wreaths aren't just for front doors; they make a great centerpiece in a pinch, too!
A small pine wreath makes a deliciously scented centerpiece for a dinner party — just lay it flat on the table and place clementines, festively wrapped chocolates, and walnuts and almonds in the shell among the boughs. Add a few tall taper candles for dramatic effect, and don't forget to set out a nutcracker!
Put your slow cooker to work keeping soups, stews, and drinks warm and ready to serve while you entertain.
My slow cooker is my secret weapon for parties — I let it do all the heavy lifting so I can focus on enjoying the party with my guests. Not only can you cook a meal hands-free, but you can also use it to reheat things you've made in advance. And better yet, you can serve dishes and drinks straight out of the base so that everything stays warm throughout the party, and guests can help themselves without having to hover over the stove.
Turn your roast into a centerpiece with some herbs and a little decorative flair.
The difference between a main course and a show-stopping centerpiece fit for a holiday feast comes down to the garnish. To dress up your holiday roast beef, turkey, or ham, look no further than your refrigerator. Grab a bunch of rosemary or thyme to nestle around the edge of the platter, a few raw cranberries to set off the green of the herbs, or slice up a clementine to tuck around your turkey and give it a subtle citrus perfume.
Give guests a job to make them feel at home when they're in your home.
When you're hosting a dinner party, it's almost a kneejerk instinct to refuse help when your guests offer — even if you could use it! But most people aren't offering a hand out of polite obligation; they really do want to be part of the fun behind the scenes. Next time someone offers, give them a low-stakes but high-reward job like setting the table, pouring the wine, or helping you plate the food. They'll feel more invested in the party, and you'll have one less task to worry about. Win-win!
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