14 Easy Holiday Entertaining Tips

Christmas and Hanukkah are just a few days away.  Today I am sharing a round-up of some of my most popular and easy holiday entertaining tips.

Holiday Entertaining Tips

The holidays can be a little intimidating, even for those that entertain on a regular basis.  If you have a large family, you may have more people than normal to seat at your table.  Besides cooking, there is holiday decorating and gift wrapping.  Yes, holiday entertaining is so much more than just throwing a normal dinner party.  I hope these holiday entertaining tips help make it easier.

Style Your Buffet Like a Pro

If you are hosting a crowd and serving buffet style, you can up your game by creating a few different levels and covering them with pashminas. Read my post How to Style a Buffet for this easy tip.

Tip for Using Placemats

If you are using placemats and need to squeeze a few more at your table, flip your placemats vertically.  Visit my post Tablescape Inspiration for more ideas.

How to Add Seating at a Round Table

I purchased table pads (that are meant to protect a dining table) to convert my 48″ round table to a 60″ round table.  My seating capacity increases from 4-5 people to 8-10 people as shown in my post Seafood Boil Tablescape.

Use Pashminas as Table Runners

I hate ironing tablecloths, don’t you?  That’s why I love using pashminas as table runners as shown in my post Casual Yet Elegant Holiday Table Setting,  My pashminas are washable and come out of the dryer wrinkle free!

Use Folding Chairs

Our dining room chairs are large and bulky.  We invested in some more narrow folding chairs so we could fit more people around our table.

Add Evergreen Clippings to Grocery Store Flowers

We’ve all been there.  We have grand ideas for holiday centerpieces and cooking and holiday prep get in the way.  This easy tip will make your grocery store flowers look festive.  Just add some evergreen clippings from your yard to your flowers for a holiday touch.  Visit my post Casual Yet Elegant Holiday Table Setting for more inspiration.

Antipasto Skewers

I’m all for easy appetizers when I am hosting a large dinner.  These Antipasto Skewers can be made in advance.

Pesto & Bread Sticks

Another easy appetizer is Pesto and Breadsticks from my Trendy Appetizer post.  I use store bought pesto (I love the Costco Kirkland brand) and serve it in shot glasses with breadsticks.  For a Christmas touch, add a red pimento.

Deviled Eggs

We love deviled eggs in my house but I used to dread making them because I had a hard time peeling the eggs.  This Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Egg Tip is one of my best tips ever!  The shell will slide right off!

Fool Proof Beef Tenderloin

My Fool Proof Beef Tenderloin Recipe is one I have been making for over twenty years.  It’s also one of my most rewarding posts.  I have received many emails from readers thanking me for making their dinner party a success.

Easy Horseradish Sauce

I wasn’t kidding when I said these tips are easy!  My favorite horseradish sauce consists of two ingredients.  Yep, just two ingredients.  Reddi Wip in a can and horseradish from a jar!  It’s delicious!

Fresh Herbs for Garnishing

Don’t forget to pick up some fresh herbs in your produce department.  They are a must for garnishing your platter of meat.  That little bit of color makes a big difference!

Last Minute Gift Tags

Wrapping some gifts at the last-minute for your guests?  If you have run out of gift tags, you can create your own from Christmas cards.  It just takes a few minutes to Recycle Christmas Cards Into Pretty Gift Tags.

Overnight French Toast

This Overnight Company French Toast is so easy to make and so delicious.  Best of all, you prepare it the night before!  It’s perfect to serve on Christmas morning.

Those are my easy holiday entertaining tips to make your family celebration a little easier.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah my readers.   You have brought me great joy with your kind comments over the last three years.  My best wishes for a blessed holiday season and a new year filled with love, good health and peace.  I will resume my writing after the holidays.