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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) - Feeling stressed just thinking about the upcoming holiday season? You’re not alone.
While most people love to reconnect with loved ones, the stress of entertaining and preparing those special treats that create memorable connections can be overwhelming. Yet the rewards of gathering around special foods of the season are more important than ever.
One way to kick back and have more time to enjoy family and friends is to leave the food preparation to someone else. You could hire a caterer or ask everyone to bring a dish to pass -- or better yet, order a delicious assortment of party foods by mail, phone or online. One woman sends a whole array of special foods in a box to her mother in another state for their annual family gathering. “It makes me feel like I’m almost there with them,” said Ginny Bean, a busy working mom.
Another woman threw a cocktail party and ordered everything by mail. “I love to entertain, but cooking -- especially for a party -- requires time and energy,” said food, wine and travel writer Madelyn Miller. “I’d rather just enjoy my friends.”
Miller first considered having her party catered. “Then I was looking through The Swiss Colony gift catalog and decided to have the whole thing delivered,” she said. Instead of cooking, all she had to do was get flowers, order the party food, and wait for the deliveryman, then relax in the company of friends.
Entertaining is all about connecting with family and friends, according to John Baumann, president of The Swiss Colony, a catalog company that’s been shipping fancy food gifts by mail for several decades. “Our customers tell us that parties and family gatherings are about creating a reason to be with the people you love,” he said. “And, although they’d love to plan and prepare everything themselves, sharing the burden of food preparation reduces the stress and increases their enjoyment of the event. That’s why we offer such a wide range of hearty snacks, fancy desserts and other festive foods to help them connect with loved ones across the miles.”
Here are some additional tips for entertaining success, designed to make light work of planning and preparation, so you can show up at your own party free from stress. One-to-two weeks out:
* Set the theme. It might be centered on a holiday, a football game, a time in history, a geographic location, a type of music or utter nonsense. A quick search on the Web can turn up hundreds of ideas that will enrich the experience for you and your guests.
* Decide if your party will be casual or elegant, dinner or buffet, or -- even easier -- just desserts or appetizers. Keep it simple.
* Determine date, time and place of the event and make up the guest list. Stick to a number you can comfortably accommodate.
* Invite guests by phone or e-mail to save time -- and always request a reply, so you know how much food to order.
* Compile a list of foods that would be festive and fun to serve -- and fit your theme. Check out online food sources, as well as food gift catalogs, which are a rich source of savory snacks, specialty meats and fancy sweets that people don’t get just every day. From your list, develop a menu, choosing flavors and textures that complement each other.
* Save time and effort by ordering foods by phone or online. Be sure to specify the date you want them delivered. Specialty foods from catalogs also make wonderful gifts when you’re a guest. You can even have them sent directly to the host ahead of time.
* Pull out your prettiest serving pieces, dishes, glasses, flatware and table linens -- or pick up paper and plastic tableware at your local store.
Day of the party:
* Do a quick sweep of the house -- clear the clutter, put away the toys, run the vacuum cleaner, position chairs in groupings to encourage conversation.
* Unwrap packages and arrange the food on serving plates or platters. Garnish a cheese board or tray with fresh grapes or other fruit. Pre-slice a roast beef or baked ham. Cut desserts into small or bite-sized slices or cubes to encourage guests to taste more than one.
* Set out a bucket of ice and your favorite beverages -- and let the fun begin.
For your next party, vow to simplify the preparation so you can enjoy the occasion as much as your guests. For loved ones with whom you cannot connect in person, send gifts of food for their own gatherings across the miles. Call (800) 804-5188 for party food advice or a copy of The Swiss Colony catalog, or visit www.TheSwissColony.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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