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Holiday Window Shopper: Holiday Articles
Top Five Ways to Cut Holiday Entertaining Stress
(ARA) - If the thought of holiday entertaining creates more stress than satisfaction, here’s help. Cut down on holiday hassles with these five timesaving tips for simple but sensational holiday cooking.
Plan and shop wisely. Forget about shopping 'til you drop. Develop your menus (or at least a list of dishes and impromptu snacks) ahead of time. Then pick up everything non-perishable at the same time, eliminating those last-minute treks to the grocery store. To save even more time, order ingredients online. For example, Frontier Natural Products Co-op (www.frontiercoop.com) carries more than 1,800 culinary items, including natural and organic spices, seasoning blends, baking flavors, mixes and other cooking ingredients and supplies which they will ship to you within a few days of your order.
Dress up everyday favorites. Special dishes don't require hours in the kitchen. Make your easy-to-prepare favorites and dress them up with special, festive seasonings. Try distinctive blends like curries, lemon pepper, and ethnic seasonings (Italian, Greek, Cajun, Oriental, etc.) for a gourmet touch. For example, simply add a liberal dose of a spice (like oregano, basil, or marjoram) or seasoning blend along with some garlic and Parmesan cheese to your usual mashed potatoes, and you'll instantly serve something outside everyday fare.
Take smart shortcuts. For enticing flavor without fuss, keep a supply of natural dressing and dip mixes on hand for fresh, homemade appetizers and snacks. Add a dip or dressing mix, such as creamy dill, French onion, guacamole, or ranch, to equal parts of low-fat cottage cheese and non-fat plain yogurt and mix in a blender or food processor until smooth. Serve with fresh veggies you can buy already cleaned and cut up at the store. For flare, put the dip in a hollowed out green or red pepper or small round bread loaf.
Accept help. When your mother-in-law or other guests ask if they can bring anything, say yes! Ask them to bring something you don't especially enjoy preparing or something you know is that person's specialty. Or have each guest bring a dessert or appetizer, so you can focus solely on the rest of the meal.
Offers to help are gifts, so allow guests to assist if they offer. Even children can do simple things like put out napkins, fetch ingredients or toss a salad. Working together can add to the holiday fun.
Make it healthy -- and don't overdo. While that glossy magazine photo may look fantastic with its 20-pound turkey, ham and myriad of side dishes and desserts, the best meal you can offer your guests is a delicious and healthful one. Provide great-tasting, nutritious dishes that go easy on salt, fat, sugar, and other potentially unhealthy ingredients and your guests will fondly remember your hospitality -- and keep coming back for many more years to come.
Here's a great example of a healthy, festive dish that's easy to prepare!
Simple and Natural Homemade Stuffing
Ingredients:
2 cups whole-grain bread cubes
2 tablespoons Simply Organic Grilling Seasons Vegetable Seasoning
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/8 cup finely diced celery
2 tablespoons Frontier Chicken-Flavored Broth Powder
2 cups water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Toss together all dry ingredients.
Slowly stir in water.
Spread mixture in a shallow 2 quart casserole baking pan.
Bake, covered, for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven, fluff with fork, and serve.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 8 servings of 100 grams (1/2 cup) each.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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