Bobby Flay and Lori are the spokespeople for Hellmann’s mayonnaise and
I met them last week in a cooking demonstration. They shared some of their best tips how to survive the Holidays, and how to plan a great Holiday dinner and include your family in the preparations too!
PLAN AND PRIORITIZE
Think through the menu and be sure to incorporate a couple of dishes that you know you can make in advance. For example, you can always make cranberry sauce, stuffing, and soups days before; soups and stuffing can be heated up that day. You’ll save time without sacrificing taste!
If you are decorating the house for a specific holiday dinner, remember that you can do all of that a day in advance. Make a schedule for yourself so that your house is ready for guests – table settings and all – the night before to make the next day more manageable … and food focused!
STICK WITH STAPLES
Don’t be afraid to make the same dish multiple times during the holiday season. If you have a recipe that everyone loves, most of your guests are probably hoping you’ll serve it when they’re visiting! For example, many people love stuffing – and have great recipes for it, too. Pair stuffing with more than just turkey. It works as well with any holiday main dish, including ham, pork roast or chicken.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
During the busy holiday seasons, the meals you’re most likely to eat (and prepare) have real, simple ingredients and are relatively easy to make, such as
Bobby Flay’s Blackened Chicken Breast With Mustard Herb Sauce.
Make simple desserts for everyone to enjoy. Package cookies, brownies and candies into a colorful gift bag with a creative tag for guests to take home.
GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED
If you’re planning a party, it’s a good idea to use a calendar and schedule times for every member of the family to pitch in and do what they can to prepare in advance.
Assign children to one course, so that they decide the dish they want to make and serve at holiday dinners – it’s a great way to let them feel more invested in holiday meals … and ensures you’ll have more clean plates at the kids’ table!
MAKE THE MOST OF LEFTOVERS
After a Holiday meal with family and friends, use your leftovers to make dinner for the next day such as Bobby Flay’s
Turkey Paella with Lemon-Smoked Paprika Aioli.
Have lots of leftover ingredients? Consider setting up a make-your-own-waffles station for your holiday dessert. Prepare the waffles in advance and leave them in the oven at a low temperature to keep them warm. To satisfy all dessert lovers, set out different toppings for people to choose from, such as: cranberries, whipped cream, ice cream, sliced almonds, raspberries, bananas, chocolate syrup and white chocolate chips.
For more holiday tips and recipes from Bobby Flay go to www.Hellmanns.com or www.BestFoods.com
