As you guys probably already know, we are HUGE lovers of hosting things. Big parties, small parties, kid parties, adult parties- you name it- we like it! Because of that love for hosting, we have the honor of hosting both of our families every year for Thanksgiving. I don’t know if you are from a big family or not, but if you are- then you know what a big deal it is to have that honor! This past Thanksgiving was our fourth year hosting, so I like to think that we have learned a thing or two from the past years to make it easier. A huge thank you to Sears Home Appliances and Services for sponsoring this dinner party tip post!
Every time we host this dinner there is anywhere from 18-30 people there! That is a lot of people, eating a lot of food, needing a lot of things! So here are some of our best tips for hosting a large group this holiday season:
- Use ‘nicer’ paper plates and plastic silverware. YES, you heard me right. I know this may seem like such a faux pas, but trust me! When the party is over and you aren’t having to stand at your sink for HOURS on end doing all million and one dishes, you will be so happy. We got nicer than normal plates and silverware, and you know what? Not one person complained about it not being the real deal. And the plates held up just as well as a real plate would have!
- Set the table a day in advance if possible! Depending on the year, we hold our dinner inside or outside. When its held outside, I can’t fully set it a day early because of weather- but I at least have everything that will go on it all set aside together ready to go. If you’re you’re looking to make it seem that little bit fancier, you can always put up a canopy over the table to help with any wind or the sun beating down on your guests. It definitely adds an aesthetic to your dinner too, and there are plenty of sites like CanopyTentReviews.com to get one. If inside, have everything possible set! Have candles on the table? Have a lighter beside them ready to go! Even have the water glasses on, just upside down so no dust gets in!
- • If at all possible, have people bring dishes of food as well! It is SO nice to be able to just focus on a few dishes for the meal, rather than every single thing! You can ask your friends to follow a simple taco or dabeli recipe, and bring it over. This will keep some pressure off your shoulders and you can focus on other things as well.
- If you don’t have a lot of people willing to bring food as well, then prep as many dishes ahead of time, freeze them, and pop them in real quick before everyone arrives! One thing that is awesome about the Kenmore Pro Double Wall oven, other than the freaking fact that you have two ovens, is that it can take food from 100% frozen to ready to eat in 40% less time than normal, and no pre-heat required!
We probably learned this trick a long time ago when we discovered that restaurants use similar techniques to store food. In fact, the restaurants also transport frozen food from one location to another by taking the assistance of Chilled Transport Companies. Furthermore, knowing the temperature ranges for the shelf life of foods can reduce the risk of food spoiling en route. When transporting temperature-controlled commodities and perishables, the expertise of the shipper, 3PL, and carrier could significantly reduce loss.”
- Don’t skimp on the desserts! Some people think that you can go light on desserts if you are serving up a large meal, but don’t! People save room if they know the desserts are going to be killer! And take it up a notch and offer coffee, espresso, or even a nice port to accompany the food! Yum!
- Relax! Nobody likes a stressed host, and whilst you might have a lot to do and you want it to be perfect, your guests would rather you enjoy yourself, even if that means having a few hiccups. If you have a tendency to get anxious whilst hosting, why not buy shrooms online as a way to maintain inner calm. You’ll be amazed at how much more you’ll enjoy the evening when you let your cares drift away!
- Finally, run that dishwasher with all of your prep dishes before everyone gets there! The last thing you want is for the party to be wrapping up, have someone offer to help with the few dishes you have {because remember- you use throw away dishes so you don’t have a ton!} and your dishwasher be full! Run it early, and have it empty as the party starts! If you don’t have enough for the whole thing, you can select the Top Rack only option or the Express with the Kenmore Pro dishwasher and make it quick and easy!
If you follow these tips, I guarantee you will have a fabulous dinner party this holiday season! Oh, and one more tip- when hosting I always like to have a glass of wine while getting ready right before guests arrive. Obviously not required, but man is it nice to have something slow you down and relax before the madness begins:) Just try not to have your dinner party end up like this one!
So tell me- what was your biggest hosting fail or success?!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sears Home Appliances and Services.
I agree that when hosting a dinner party you should try and see if you can get people to bring some of the dishes. In fact making sure a few people are in charge of dessert helps ensure that there is no dessert skimping going on. However, depending on how much you are willing to spend you might also consider having the party catered. If you are anything like me, sometimes you just can’t make all of the food, life happens.