5 Important Tips for Holiday Preparedness
Try as I might, I am never completely ready for the holidays, no matter how much I plan. There is always something I overlook or, more likely, don’t anticipate. Like that time our friends stopped over to chat and we ended up having an informal dinner party. Or the time our neighbors’ furnace broke and we took them in for the better part of an evening. It is always fun when people come by, but it is important to be prepared so you don’t greet them with an empty kitchen and a glass of tap water. In order to help you be properly prepared this holiday season, I’ve assembled some easy tips to ensure you’re ready to entertain at the ding of the doorbell.
1) Stock your kitchen so you are ready to entertain in an emergency cocktail hour situation with:
– 1 block of Arla Dofino Havarti
– 1 block of flavored Arla Dofino Gouda (cracked pepper, chili-lime, or jalapeno are
current favorites)
– 1 box of water crackers
– 1 box of baked crisp or unusually flavored cracker
– A container of cocktail nuts
– A bag of dried apricots and dates, or similar preferred dried fruits
– Toothpicks for serving cheese cubes
– A couple varieties of wine
With these ingredients at the ready, you can assemble a fruit and cheese platter and pour a glass of wine within minutes. In fact, you can even put together the cheese platter while your impromptu guests chat with you in the kitchen. It is that easy and it never fails.
2) Keep an emergency bar stocked: Cocktails go hand-in-hand with holiday visitors. I always keep a bar stocked for visitors at all hours. It is not about expensive beverages, it is about having the right drink at the right time. Here’s my go-to list:
– 1 bottle chilled white wine like Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
– 1 bottle chilled Prosecco
– 1 bottle red wine like Merlot or Pinot Noir
– 3 bottles sparkling water (1 chilled)
– A selection of chilled beers and liquors depending on what you know your friends
like to drink.
– We like to have all the makings of a Moscow Mules on hand.
– Fresh lemons and limes
– Juice boxes or similar kid drinks for when families come over
3) House cleanliness: Keeping your house clean during the holiday season is a Sisyphean task, but it must be done. Anywhere a guest may venture should be kept neat and tidy. Ask kids to put away toys in baskets, bribe them if you have to, and keep jackets hung up in coat closets. Make sure the powder room is always scrubbed and smells clean. Stock it with fresh hand towels, tissues and toilet paper.
4) Kitchen utensils should always be clean and at the ready. During the holiday season, it is especially important to be swift about emptying and reloading the dishwasher. You want your utensils and glassware sparkling and stocked for when people stop by. Keep the kitchen swept clean and stocked with your cocktail essentials like cheeseboards, wine glasses and nut bowls within easy reach.
5) Keep a stash of hostess gifts: Sometimes the tables turn and you are invited out to a party or family gathering. Have a stash of hostess gifts on hand so you are always ready to grab and go with the perfect thank you that the host will appreciate. Here are my favorite items to stock up on:
– Variety pack of great smelling lotions
– Cheese board with a wedge of Arla Dofino Gouda
– Scented candles
– Cute cocktail napkins
– Sets of wine glass charms
Being caught off guard and unprepared is never easy, so preparing ahead is vital, especially when time seems to move so quickly at the end of the year. What do you like to keep on hand for your guests?
(Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Arla Dofino, a longtime sponsor with a mission I love. The opinions and photographs are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make The Naptime Chef possible.)
