In planning a meal for the holidays, its easy to get wrapped up in grand ideas. This can cause more stress and anxiety about having guests. Think about your past holidays; what details do you remember about meals with family? I remember favorite foods that were served, being over stuffed, and the cutest decorations. These things (even the belly aches) are what makes the holidays special. Hosting a share of holidays, I have learned that there are ways to simplify your plan so that you can focus on the details.
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Simple Sample Menu
This menu is for Christmas Eve. Note that there is no meat served, but plenty of fish. Our usual holiday menu includes eating some tasty meat varieties on Christmas day, so this is a way to switch up the vittles for 2 days of eating and gathering.
Appetizers
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Cheese & Crackers
- Veggies and Dip
- Poke
- Calamari
- Oysters Rockefeller
Dinner
- Linguine and Marina Sauce
- Lobster
- Garlic Knots
- Green Salad with Olive Oil Vinegarette
Between Snacking
- Fresh Fruit Platter & Mixed Nuts
Dessert
- Bread Pudding
- Cookies & Milk
- Irish Coffee or Egg Nog
Make and Order Ahead
The details go into the planning. About a week or 2 before your gathering, hit up the local fish market and preorder what you’ll need. A day or 2 in advance call up or stop in to your local pizzeria. See the list below for specifics for this meal. If you don’t have access to a fish market to preorder, contact your local grocery or buy it fresh that morning. A last resort would be to buy frozen items, but I would recommend changing your menu up because some fish won’t be as tasty for the dishes listed here.
Fish Market Order
- Lobster
- Ahi Tuna
- Oysters
Pizzeria Order
- Tray of Calamari
- 12-24 Garlic Knots
Supermarket List
- Bag of Frozen Shrimp or Premade Shrimp cocktail tray
- at least 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes (for sauce)
- Linguine (1 lb per 4 adults)
- Fresh vegetables (or a premade vegetable tray)
- Fresh fruit
- White Bread (for bread pudding)
Other Staples
Everything else you need should already be in your refrigerator. If it isn’t, check your recipes before heading to the store. Know ahead of time what serving platters and plates you will be using and coordinate your table with similar colors and fresh flowers or other holiday centerpiece.
Planning
The Day Before
Prep your vegetable platter, fruit platter, and salad. Additionally, make the dessert. Make sure you have beverages. Keeping a pitcher of water on the table will keep people out of the way and out of the kitchen. Also, think about setting a bar up out of the way too.
The Day Of
Pick up your fish early and get prepping. Make Marinara sauce and prep the pot of water. Doing this will help streamline things. About an hour before the guests come, pick up your pizzeria items.
Final Thoughts
Don’t Forget the Drinks
- Wine
- Champagne – make it festive by adding a maraschino cherry
- Vodka & Cranberry, splash of lime and a lime wedge
- Something festive for the kids – Shirley Temple
- Non-alcoholic beverage options (other than water) lemonade, ginger ale, sparkling water
Memories are More Than the Event
The holidays are a great time for gathering and showing off your entertaining skills, if you enjoy that sort of thing. With planning and prepping ahead of time, you are setting yourself up for success. With this, don’t try a new recipe that day! If you think you want to make something new, try it a week or so ahead of time, even earlier if you can. Another tip, enlist the help of all household family members, aside from very little ones, all hands on deck! This in it of itself can be memory maker. I wish you lots of luck with your entertaining.
Happy Holidays.
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