Top 5 Tips To Make Entertaining Less Stressful
The fall entertaining season is just around the corner. The pressure of hosting soirees and entertaining family, friends and everyone in between can take a toll on even the most confident host. This fall, Americans with a case of entertaining anxiety can rest easy and take advantage of five expert tips for spicing up their kitchens while creating the best parties of the season.
Cook Smarter
Entertaining is for spending time with friends and family, yet hosts often complicate the process by preparing meals that require far too much kitchen time. Get out of the kitchen and spend time with your guests using multi-tasking tools like the Oster Roaster with High-Dome Lid. It roasts, bakes and slow cooks meals in one versatile vessel, accommodating up to a 24-pound turkey!
Hire (or Invest in) Good Help
Keep the drinks flowing! It's critical to the success of any party, but it's a demanding job. If hiring a bartender is out of the question, invest in the next best thing – an automatic bartender like the Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker. This party starter features an oversized ice reservoir – enough to make three pitchers full of frozen drink perfection.
Keep Things Neat & Tidy
After all the planning, prep work and cooking, make sure the food presentation is inviting! Guests will remember the food, ambience and company. Be more creative when displaying and serving foods at parties. With items from Crock-Pot Brand you can cook and serve foods from a single unit to make your presentation clean and savory. The brand's new Crock-Pot 6-Qt Lift & Serve Hinged-Lid Slow Cooker promises to keep things neat at the buffet table with its hinged lid that props open for easy serving. No more messy lids dripping all over the place! Plus, the removable oval stoneware is dishwasher-safe, as is the lid which detaches for easy cleaning.
Never Show Up Empty-Handed
When someone else is hosting, you should never show up empty handed. Whether its potluck or not, bring one of your trademark dishes as a "thank you" for the host and for guests to enjoy. An appetizer, side dish or desserts are perfect and Crock-Pot Brand has the ideal items to simplify feasts on-the-go. The new Crock-Pot 6-Qt Single-Hand Cook & Carry Slow Cooker can be easily grasped with a single hand, leaving the other hand free, and its secure-fit locking lid system promises no spills or messes along the way.
Theme It Up
No need to be a professional caterer to be creative! Just think of a theme, any theme, for future gatherings. It will help keep everything from food to mood very focused... a wine tasting, a Spanish fiesta, a southern BBQ, a Cajun crab boil, an Italian pasta feast, a mid-afternoon gourmet coffee party. Every gathering should have a beginning, middle and end – a theme will help – and the end should be memorable! Try providing a little "show;" whipping up gourmet café style Pumpkin Spice Lattes for guests using the new Mr. Coffee Milk Frother.