I’ve already been driving my kids nuts because: “The mooost wonderful tiiiiime of the year” is here! With Thanksgiving, the winter holiday season kicks off in earnest and I AM HERE FOR IT. I go all in: decorations, baking, holiday shows, Christmas carols – the whole nine yards. Starting in October, I’ve been scouring and clipping from the Thanksgiving issues of all of my magazine subscriptions and planning my menus. Of course, a big part of all of this whole holiday hoopla is the parties. I’m all about the holiday parties and gatherings but I am not a fan of stressful entertaining or overly complicated shindigs (unless I’m a guest at one, haha). So when the editors at Southern Living magazine asked me for my casual holiday entertaining tips, I was more than happy to oblige. In the December Holiday issues of the magazine distributed in the Southeastern region, I’m sharing two of my favorite tips:
Host A Toasting Party
Skip the big. fancy meal and complicated appetizers and have your guests celebrate by toasting to health and happiness! Setup a well-stocked bar with all the trimmings: cranberries, mint, rosemary sprigs, cherries and seasonally appropriate beverages such as apple cider, spiced rum, eggnog, and champagne. Hand-write a few menu cards with suggested mixed drink recipes and display them in small shiny frames. Finish with festive bowls of sweet and spicy nuts; holiday snack mix and a platter with cheese ball with crackers.
‘Tis the Season for Gift Giving
Sending your guests on their way with a little token of appreciation adds a thoughtful touch. Who doesn’t like getting gifts? The fabulous news is that these favors don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Some of my favorite parting gifts are: a single candle in a jar (bonus points if it’s gingerbread or pine-scented!); a coffee mug filled with chocolate candy; or a glittery ornament.
If you’re in the Southeast, pick up a copy! And no matter where you live, you can stay tuned for a fun project that I’m working on with Tervis. More on that soon – in the meantime, break out the pie recipes and the egg nog (it’s never too early for that).
