Life In Pleasantville

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Stress-free Christmas Dinner? I Thought You’d Never Ask.

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I have a super secret method for keeping the stress down when I’m hosting Christmas dinner. I’ve been keeping this info on the down-low for years, but I just can’t watch people sobbing in the frozen turkey section of the grocery store anymore, so I’ve decided to share. The secret is…

Ask for help.

stress-free Christmas dinner

Christmastime is when family and friends get together. So I think it’s fair to assume that the people coming to your home to partake in your Christmas meal are either family or friends and not strangers off the street. Family and friends want to help. Well, maybe not all family, but if you have friends that don’t want to help then you need to find new friends. I personally love it when a hostess asks me to bring something specific. There’s nothing worse than showing up to someone’s house empty handed or being the person that brought pie number five to the celebration. I doubly like it when I get assigned an activity to do in the kitchen. It let’s me know that it’s a comfortable and relaxed affair and that I am a welcomed part of the group. Plus, the kitchen is where all the fun happens.

As the host/ess, your job is to be prepared when you send out your invite. This includes:

  • Planning a menu for the meal and noting what items are most portable. Those can be delegated to guests.
    • Think about who you are inviting and what is the best fit for them.
    • Green salads, buns, appetizers, and desserts are easy for people to bring.
    • Be flexible and let your guests decide the specifics of their contribution, but be prepared to offer a suggestion if they need it.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help with the preparation of the meal. For example, my sister-in-law has mad mashed potato skills, so I ask her if she will be in charge of this dish. I will peel and boil the spuds, but that’s it, then she takes over. It’s a win-win. She gets all the praise for her garlic mashed potatoes and I get relief from having to make, serve, and apologize for my potato glue soup.

When I’m not hosting, I’m always asked to bring my Apple and Cranberry Stuffing. In fact, I think there are times I’m only invited because of this stuffing. Give it a try this Christmas, you won’t be disappointed.

Christmas is a time for giving. Let your guests enjoy the season as well by giving to you. All you need do is ask and graciously receive.

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About Kelly Given Williams

Kelly is a freelance writer and mom to four kids. She’s working on her third degree black belt and eating humble pie in the process. She translates her karate lessons into life lessons, helping her become a better person and parent.

Kelly’s blog www.KellyWilli.wordpress.com is a place where ego comes to die. If you want to celebrate imperfection, this is the spot for you. It’s a blog about life’s little fails and all the good and funny that comes from them.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheri Akitt

    Good advice Jeni!

  2. Bill

    Right on Kelly. If it’s a small gathering (4 to 6) then you deal with it on your own but there should be help in the kitchen after. But the larger gatherings 8 and up myself and our friends always contact the host to see what’s required and then offer a dish. It just makes good sense and allows for a less stressful evening and again the clean up and dishes should be another area where the family or friends helps out. I think you’d see more people offering to host if they knew that that’s what friends or family would do. Merry Christmas to you all and hopefully you have a wonderful and shared evening. Uncle Bill

  3. Kelly Given Williams

    With our brood, it’s usually 16-20 people for regular gatherings. It’s a simple case of many hands make light work. You make a good point about clean up. I try to always help out with that too. Just a small courtesy that makes a huge difference. Thank you for your warm holiday wishes. Merry Christmas to you and Judy too!