Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Dinner

If you’ve ever been involved in cooking a holiday meal, you know that time is precious and getting a head start makes for a much more enjoyable day! Save the essentials for the day-of and get ahead on the sides with these easy make-ahead dishes.

Here are a few of our tips for making your holiday dinner run smoothly:

• Plan out your menu! There are plenty of resources (like this one) out there to help you know what to cook, when. 
• Get your family involved- we think it’s true that when you pitch in, the food tastes even better!
• If you have picky eaters in the house, ask them to find a dish they like and make it together
• Plan a “happy hour” a bit early so that everyone is already gathered when the food comes out. No one likes cold food! 
• Choose dishes that can be made ahead, like these:

Apple Charcuterie Board

Assembling a charcuterie board is an act of TLC. Don’t get caught slicing apples last minute while your meat overcooks! With our nonbrowning apples, you can assemble your platter and keep it covered and cool until it’s time for cocktail hour. 

Holiday Stuffing

Stuffing is one of those things that gets better as it sits. We like to assemble the night before baking and let it sit in the fridge overnight for the bread to soak up all the liquid. The next day, all you have to do is pop it in the oven and serve warm! 

Candy-Cane Chocolate Apples

These adorable treats are both festive and easy to make a day or two ahead. Plus, they’re a fun activity to get your kids involved! Dip and decorate to your heart’s content, then keep refrigerated until you’re ready to enjoy. 

What’s on your holiday dinner menu? Share your recipes and tag us on social media!