Around the holidays (before a pandemic), we would fill our home with lots of friends and family during the months of November and December. We loved a cozy home filled to the brim with good food, good friends, and an abundance of laughter. Certainly this year is different, but I wanted to share some of my best tips for entertaining a large group! Maybe in a few months, we will all be back to a bit more normalcy!
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1) Choose a menu that has room for extras. The thing about a big dinner party of celebration is that sometimes extra guests show up. Whether they changed their mind last minute, or someone brought along a “plus one”, it’s nice to be able to pull up an extra chair and welcome them in without stressing about how much food you have. Recipes like pasta and soup are safe bets, and can be easily stretched just a little bit to accommodate more mouths to feed. If you’re doing something fancier, such as a ham, turkey, or intricate side dishes, aim to make at least 2 extra servings or plates, to allow to surprise visitors. If you’re struggling to increase your main dish, try bulking up your sides (think carbs) that can fill up more plates.
2) Consider accessibility when seating: If you have a dish or meal that requires getting up and down a lot (things with toppings, or things that require a few trips back to the buffet for butter, sauce, or gravy), make sure you can allow your guests to easily refill their plates or add their sides. If your seating is cramped, put toppings or sides onto the main table so they are easier to reach, and remember to seat the elderly or those who may need additional assistance in places where they won’t have to be jostled or moved repeatedly during the meal.
3) Make as much as you can ahead of time: This really applies to any dinner party, but when you’re feeding tons of people, you want your prep work to be done ahead of time because of the volume. Chopping things like onions and vegetables can decrease the amount of time you have to be in the kitchen, and also lower your risk of running behind on the day of because you didn’t realize how much time it would take. Salads can be pre-made and set in the fridge without dressings, and sides can be made and put into warming trays or crock pots until your guests arrive.
4) Remember it doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful: Even if you’re serving something simple like spaghetti, it’s okay! Light candles and set your table beautifully to add ambiance, and remember that your guests likely are not there for a fancy dinner, but rather for great company. If you’re inviting lots of people with small children, remember that they may be more frazzled or need to eat fairly soon after arrival, and try to be more relaxed with the timing. Simple is okay, and is always appreciated, because the effort and invitation matter the most.
I can’t wait to be cooking for a large crowd again!