Traditional Christmas dinner -three tips to simplify hosting itTip # 1 - Keep it simple! Keep the whole event as simple as possible. A traditional Christmas dinner can also be a simple dinner. Don’t plan elaborate menus with fancy gourmet side dishes that take hours and won’t even be noticed in all the excitement. Don’t plan elaborate table decorations that take hours to make and will be pushed out of the way to accommodate all the food that has to go on the table.
And truth be told, most of us want to toss sophistication out the window, because there is just so much to cram into the busy season. Presents to buy and wrap, parties to go to, traveling to relatives, putting up family or friends. And on Christmas day itself there is brunch to make, presents to unwrap, driving back and forth, and excited children to make happy. So put aside any ideas of practicing your décor and gourmet skills at Christmas. Keep it simple. Here’s Tip # 2: Use make ahead and ready made dishes for an easy Christmas dinner Christmas menu ideas that include lots of make ahead dishes add up to an easy Christmas dinner
Guests expect and look forward to eating a traditional Christmas dinner with comfort food like turkey and ham. They expect mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, Christmas pudding and cake, nuts and oranges. There’s no need to worry about impressing anyone with the Christmas menu ideas that are unusual or complicated.And you the host or hostess can make them happy without stressing yourself out. Just plan to buy some ready made dishes and plan to make as many dishes as you possibly can the day before. Then all you have to do is set out your ready to serve dishes and reheat your made ahead dishes. Every item in this list is ready to serve, or can be made ahead:
Get make-ahead turkey and gravy directions here
Yes you can cook that turkey the day before. You can even make it weeks before and freeze it in chicken broth to keep it moist when you thaw and reheat it. To get the delicious smell of roast turkey on Christmas day, just buy some wings and pop them in the oven to fill the air with the turkey smell. You can also use them to make extra gravy at the last minute. On Christmas day, you just reheat your made ahead dishes and cook some green or mixed vegetables. You're still serving that traditional Christmas dinner - but it's so much easier this way! Here’s Tip # 3 – Don’t fuss over the table Easy Christmas table settings
Tartan plaid tablecloths, Santa hats, pine cones for the table centerpiece, they all work. This is one time of year when flowers for the table take second place to traditional Christmas items.If you don’t have special Christmas table items, pull out that trusty white tablecloth. Then add some simple decorations to create your table centerpiece - the kind that instantly evoke Christmas. Here are some suggestions for your Christmas table:
If you follow these three tips for a simple and traditional Christmas dinner, you will be able to spend a lot more of your Christmas day having fun with your visitors and enjoying the children if your group includes them. And that’s a Merry Christmas! Back from Traditional Christmas dinner to the dinner party planning site Home Page
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This above all other times during the year is the time to go for simple and traditional. It’s the time to evoke childhood with the food and the Christmas table settings. Christmas is the time you can toss sophistication out the window.