Deck the Halls (and the Table): Your Guide to Effortless Holiday Entertaining

 The holidays are a time for joy, family, friends, and of course, delicious food! But between the gift shopping, decorating, and travel, hosting a holiday party can feel overwhelming. Fear not, fellow merrymakers! With a little planning and these tasty recipes, you can throw a stress-free and festive gathering that will leave your guests raving.

Appetizers: The Art of the Finger Food

The key to effortless entertaining is serving appetizers that are easy to make and eat. A beautiful platter of cheese and crackers is always a crowd-pleaser, but why not add a touch of holiday flair? Consider whipping up some bacon-wrapped sweet potato bites for a sweet and savory twist, or try elegant grape, walnut, and labneh crostini drizzled with spicy honey.

Don't Forget the Classics!

For those who crave tradition, there's always room for classic hors d'oeuvres. Deviled eggs get a festive makeover with a sprinkle of paprika or a dollop of caviar. Miniature quiches filled with sausage and cheese are a hearty option, while crostini topped with pesto and cherry tomatoes offer a burst of fresh flavor.

Here are some tasty holiday appetizer ideas to try. Click thru the links to find the full recipe. You will want to pin a few to your holiday party board.

Now, let's get cooking! Here are some recipe ideas to get you started...

Filet Mignon Skewers with Rosemary by Give It Some Thyme

Fried Crab Claws by The Cagle Diaries

Lemon Asparagus Tart by Barth Bakery

Zucchini Pastry Cupcakes by DIY Candy

Lentil Stuffed Mushrooms by Cook Eat Live Love

Cream of Sardine Tapas by A Taste For Travel

Chicken Liver Mousse with Bacon Jam by Went Here 8 This

Creamy Asparagus Puffs by Ketchup with Linda

Potato Roses by Curry Trail

Pesto Toast with Cannellini Beans and Potatoes by The Pypers Kitchen

Spicy Pork Tenderloin with Lima Crema Crostini by Cook What You Love

Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini by Tao of Spice

Mississippi Sin Dip by Spend with Pennies

Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Appetizers by The Castaway Kitchen

Baked Pears with Gorgonzola by Happy Kitchen

The Main Event: Make it Merry and Make it Easy

For the main course, you have options! A slow cooker is your best friend during the holidays. Toss in a roast with vegetables and let it simmer while you decorate or wrap last-minute gifts. Stuffed shells or a vegetarian lasagna are great crowd-pleasers, and can be prepped ahead of time.

Think Outside the Box (or Casserole Dish!)

Feeling adventurous? Offer a selection of international flavors! A platter of hummus and pita bread with various toppings is a crowd-pleaser, and pairs well with festive cocktails. For a heartier option, consider a sheet-pan curry with roasted vegetables and chickpeas.

Sweet Endings: A Delicious Tradition

No holiday party is complete without dessert! Opt for a classic like chocolate chip cookies or sugar cookies cut into festive shapes. Mini cheesecakes or a cranberry crumb pie add a touch of elegance, while a simple fruit salad with a drizzle of honey is light and refreshing.

The Final Touches: It's All in the Details

The key to effortless entertaining is creating a festive atmosphere. String some fairy lights, put on a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes, and light some scented candles. Don't forget to set out festive napkins and plates – even small details can make a big impact!

With these recipes and tips, you're well on your way to throwing a holiday party that's both merry and manageable. So relax, gather your loved ones, and savor the delicious memories you'll create together!

Find my favorite holiday posts here:

Mickey Mouse Gift Tags

Holiday Breakfast Recipes

Christmas Cheesecake Recipes

Christmas Gnome Craft

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

The holidays are a time for giving, and what better way to show your loved ones how much you care than with a homemade gift?

Homemade gifts are personal, thoughtful, and often more meaningful than store-bought gifts. They also show that you put time and effort into creating something special for the recipient.

If you're looking for some inspiration for homemade Christmas gifts, look no further! Here are 15 ideas to get you started:

Soy Lotion Bars by Bitz N Giggles

Crochet Cats by Red Ted Art

Painted Mason Jars by Mommy Made That

Bacon and Whisky Maple Syrup by A Country Girl’s Life

Lavender Loofah Soaps by Earth Friendly Tips

Wine Cork Snowman by Then It Dawned on Me

Mickey Mouse Rope Baskets by The Everyday Mouse

Easy Knitted Blanket by The Frugal Family

Chocolate Mug Cakes by In the Kitch

Honey Roasted Cashews by The Home Intent

Marble Tiled Coasters by Making it Manzanita

Infinity Scarf by Swoodson Says

Reading Pillows by The Happiest Camper

White Chocolate Liquor by Aubrey’s Kitchen

Vanilla honey Lip Scrub by The Soccer Mom

Find more DIY gift ideas here

Ribbon Charm Bookmarks

Ipad Stands

Mouth Watering Meringue Cookie Recipes

If you need a special cookie to make, then let me suggest meringues! They are so much fun to bake and share, and there are so many ways you can make them! Who knew there were so many tasty recipes out there?! 

After looking up these recipes from some of my favorite bloggers, I knew I had to share these with you! Click thru the links to get the full recipe and start baking some tasty treats for yourself. While you are here you might want to check out some of my favorite cookie recipes.

Everyone loves these Golden Graham cookies! They are so easy to make and taste even better than Crumbl!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bar Cookies are perfect for a crowd.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies come from a cake mix and have a great crumb!

Now, onto these mouthwatering meringues!

Meringue Hearts by Centsless Meals

Christmas Tree Meringues by Sunny Little Kitchen

Christmas Kiss Chocolate Dipped Meringues by xoxo Bella

Chocolate Chip Matcha Meringues by The Unlikely Baker

Pink and White Meringues by Sugar Pursuit

Mocha Meringues by Honest and Truly

Mermaid Meringue Bites by The Typical Mom

Granny’s Meringues by Spend with Pennies

Simple Meringues by This Mom Is On Fire

Coffee Aquafaba Meringues by Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream

Hazelnut Meringues by Earth Food and Fire

Hershey Kiss Meringues by Ottawa Mommy Club

 Keto Snowman Meringues by Real Food RN

Meringue Pops by Fun Cookie Recipes

Strawberry Meringues by Fearless Dining

Which of these recipes would you make first? I think the snowman ones would be perfect to make and gift at the holidays! Aren't they the cutest?

You can find more cookie recipes here.

Happy Baking! 

Homemade Boozy Butter Cream Candy

Last year, I made several tasty vintage candy recipes for the holidays, to the delight of my family. It was fun, but this year, I decided I wanted to do something different.  That is where these decadent butter cream cake vodka candies came into play. 

I made homemade butter creams last year, and they were so good that I didn't even offer the kids the chance to lick the bowl after I scooped them out. I hid in the pantry and enjoyed it myself. HA! So, this year, I started on the butter creams but decided to do something wickedly decadent. I added cake vodka to the mix. And Holy Cow, they were amazing!

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces of softened cream cheese

5 to 6 cups of powdered sugar

½ cup of cake vodka

For coating

½ teaspoon of crisco

4 ounces of almond bark or milk chocolate

Directions:

Combine butter and cream cheese until well blended.

Add cake vodka and blend for 30 seconds.

Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar and begin stirring.

Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and stir until you have a thick cream.

If needed, add the remaining powdered sugar.

You want to have a consistency that is very thick!

Begin scooping out the buttercream and dropping it on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Freeze the butter creams for 1 hour.

When the butter creams are completely frozen, melt the chocolate or almond bark with a ½ teaspoon of crisco over a double boiler.

When you can stir the chocolate smooth, remove from heat.

Working quickly, dip the butter creams into the melted chocolate, place them back on the baking sheet and put them back into the freezer for 15-25 minutes to harden the chocolate.

These are best stored in the fridge or the freezer until they are ready to be served.

 

These are an awesome and unique gift from the heart to share. They are sweet, have a little kick from the vodka, and will certainly offer a boozy treat that will set off the holidays just right for grown up friends.

As these are boozy, it would be a good idea to put a little warning on them before sharing. 

I am going to be serving these at my Christmas party; I think I will also make a batch in white chocolate.

If you like cocktails, check out some of my favorite recipes:
Night King Cocktails
15 Amazing Wine Cocktails
Bomb Pop Cocktails
Blueberry Vodka Lime Sorbet

How to Save Money for Christmas

 

Photo by Joslyn Pickens 

When the Christmas season rolls around it is a time for gift-giving. However, before you go ahead and start spending, it is a good idea to try to save. 

With inflation rising, it's best to try to keep spending as minimal as possible. Here's a closer look at how you can control your spending this holiday season.

Create a Budget

The first step to saving money is to create a budget for the holiday season. First, write the names of all the people you want to buy gifts for and then decide how much money you want to spend on each of their gifts. 

This is an easy way to immediately control your spending. Once you have finished allocating the amount you want to spend, you can then calculate your expenditure. 

It might also be a lot more fun to try to fit the gifts you buy into the amount that you set for each person, instead of the other way around. Remember that getting gifts is simply a way to help us learn about the true meaning of Christmas. In the end, it's the thought that comes.

Use a Tracker

If you always have your phone with you a good idea will be to start using a tracker to keep your spending down this holiday season. It can be easy to say that you will think about how much you are spending in January. 

However, when January rolls around you will likely regret that you have spent so much. Getting an app on your phone to assist you with keeping track of your spending in real-time, is a good idea so that you can avoid regrets.

Start Shopping Early

One of the best things you can do is to start shopping as early as possible. The earlier you start shopping the less likely it is that you will overspend. 

Don't wait until the week of Christmas or the day before Christmas to start trying to find gifts. You are likely to end up having to buy things at more expensive prices. Take advantage of Black Friday deals and cyber week sales.

Combine Orders

If you decide to shop online you should consider combining your orders to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money. Buying all your gifts at one time and then getting them shipped out at once is the best way to avoid high shipping costs when you are purchasing gifts online.

Stay Off Your Credit Cards

Another thing you can do is try to stay off your credit cards during this time. Try to use cash instead. 

This is where making a budget becomes critical. You can then pull all the cash that you need at once.

Once that cash runs out your spending is done. Do not carry your credit cards with you when you go shopping. This will make it even easier for you not to use them if you run out of cash.

Set Up a Dedicated Christmas Account

If you typically have a lot of people you need to give gifts to at Christmas, you can set up a dedicated Christmas account. You can start putting funds in it from January so that at the end of the year you will have a good stash of cash ready to buy Christmas gifts. 

The good thing about having a separate account is that you get a debit card for that account. It helps you to separate your money. Even if you don't save in the account every month, you can decide on your budget for Christmas spending, put all the money into that account and then use your debit card. 

Shop All Year

Yes, you are trying to save money, but if you start your Christmas shopping a little bit every month by the end of the year you will already have a special gift ready for everyone.

Take advantage of all the sales that happen throughout the year and purchase something whenever you can. By the end of the year, you will have saved money and avoided the Christmas shopping rush.

Get the Gifts You Need

Getting gifts for the people you love at Christmas is critical. You don't want to disappoint anybody. However, gift-giving can rack up some very high bills. It's always a good idea to be as prepared as possible so that you can save as much money as you can for the new year. 

Reasons Why Wine Is Still A Good Gift Option To Consider

 Reasons Why Wine Is Still A Good Gift Option To Consider 

The festive season is approaching us in a month or two. Thus, it's a good idea to think about some thoughtful gifts. Such circumstances are common to lead us to the dilemma of picking wise gifts for our relatives, colleagues, and friends. You may look through multiple options, but deep down, the solution is with the cellar. 

The connection between a cellar and gift items - 

It may interest you to know that wine is acknowledged as an ideal gift. The ancient Greeks considered it as a gift from the Almighty. In their culture, the Ancient Egyptians were common to bury their loved ones along with a handful of supplies to ensure they remained happy afterlife. 

Now you may be considering 'wine' as an outdated gift option, but when waking up to the realities, you will realize wine is a sophisticated and wise gift item. If you still don't believe us, surf through these legit reasons to change your perspective. 

#1 - Picking the right wine for the right person - Most people in your circle may be in love with sipping wine, but not all of them would love to go for the exact wine. From vegetarian wines to something unique like Sauvignon Blanc, there are many wines to choose from. This gives you ample options to select a safe and thoughtful gift. 

#2 - Wine for all occasions - No matter if it's Christmas eve or a gift for your friend's achievements, remember there is a wine type for everything. For instance - most people prefer Champagne and sparkling wines for special occasions, whereas others prefer Domaine Leroy Musigny for a plush home warming. All in all, you won't run out of options made just for you. 

#3 - It's a way of honoring someone you admire - Wines are considered an ideal way to honor someone who has achieved a remarkable feat in life. Countries like Argentina, U.S., and South Africa are considered the maximum for regional wines ensuring an authentic wine experience. 

#4 - Adorable packaging options - When it comes to gifting, its packaging plays a crucial role in impressing the receiver. And that's when wines work as an ideal gift for you. The markets are loaded with many wine bottle decoration items or boxes to make this job easier for you. All you need is to surf through the suitable options. 

#5 - Online platforms to assist you - Many online platforms are helping you choose the right wine type. Such platforms make you undergo a wine quiz and discover and display relevant results to have the most suitable wine for yourself. For this, you can consider joining a monthly wine club enriching your knowledge about the best tasting wines available in the market. So, what are you waiting for?

The last word - 

Choosing a thoughtful gift for your friend or close ones can turn into a significant challenge, primarily when you have been revolving around some selective gift options in your life. Here, wine works as a progressive gift option strengthening your bond with the one you are gifting it. But make sure you are reaping enough knowledge about the best wines available around. 

If You Must Clean out Your House in The Winter, Read This

 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/house-field-and-tree-covered-with-snow-near-body-of-water-3375674/

Decluttering in winter sounds like the craziest idea anyone could have. However, it actually is the best time of the year after fall. For some reason, there’s a huge hype about spring cleaning. You don’t have to clean out your house in spring because it’s a traditional time to do so. Moreover, junk removal services like Jiffy Junk are often completely booked in spring. If you did your decluttering in spring, you’ll likely end up on a waiting list. Take advantage of the cold season and be already all set and done when spring comes around.

Perfect Time To Organize Seasonal Items

Now that summer is over all of your garden furniture is probably back in the garage or the basement. But those aren’t the only items in your home you’re only using on a seasonal basis. Take your wardrobe, for example. Not only do we usually not wear 80 % of the clothes we have. Almost half of our clothes are seasonal items. No one wears a thick jumper in summer. As you’re organizing your home bit by bit, it’s the perfect opportunity to arrange seasonal items. Anything you find of no further use for you might be just the right gift for someone else. You could sell or donate unwanted items. It’s the season of giving after all and you could make a couple of poorer people happy. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-color-translucent-glass-containers-1148450/

Create a Stress-Free Zone

Especially during the winter season, people are more likely to be stressed out. On the one hand, there’s all the planning for the holidays. On the other hand, the darker season of the year can bring about low moods. As a matter of fact, clutter can contribute to depression and other stress-related mood swings.

The more you have, the likelier you may experience symptoms of stress. It even affects your sleep to have lots of clutter accumulated. Researchers found that if you lots of clutter piles, your brain can’t switch off during the night. Piles of clutter give you a sensation of an unfinished To-Do-List.

You can actively keep stress at bay as soon you take care of all the clutter in your home. Do a thorough junk removal to make you feel more relaxed in winter.

Everyone Can Help

Given the fact that life happens mainly indoors in winter, the whole family can help with the decluttering process. Surely, your children will run outside into the garden and play in the snow, but they are unlikely to spend the entire day outside. Neither is there a lot of BBQs or pool parties happening. 

Everyone automatically has more time. The more you are to tackle junk removal from your entire home, the sooner you’re done. It’s best if every family member tackles his own area. You won’t end up with someone crying because you did away with your child’s sentimental value. Turn the process into a contest. Whoever is done first with his area gets to decide what’s for dinner or ice cream. 

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How to Best Clean Out Your House in The Winter

Now all of that being said, you’ll only need a plan to start with junk removal. You don’t build a house without a blueprint. Each project requires organization.

1. Set yourself a goal

If you started junk removal of your home but had no time frame, you may never finish it. Therefore start with setting yourself a goal until when you’d prefer to be done with it. As a rule of thumb, it’s always best to plan as long ahead as possible. The more you have to go through, the more time you will require. It might not be a good idea to decide to clean out your home a week before Christmas. Considering all the holiday preparations you’d end up adding more stress to your plate. 

2. Do one room after another

You can’t do junk removal in all rooms at once. Tackle one room after another and split those rooms up into four parts. It provides you with manageable chunks and won’t overwhelm you. Take care of smaller rooms or those where you know you don’t have much to go through first. Leave larger rooms with lots of stuff for a day when you’ve got more time. Don’t do those in a week you know you’ll be very busy. 

3. Take out the garbage first

The easiest approach to junk removal from each room is to take out the obvious garbage first. Take a bin bag and stuff it with any garbage you find on the spot. Sweet wrappers, empty bags of chips, old papers, and notes can go without being looked at. Once the superficial garbage is out of the way, you’ve got more space to organize each area. If this is a much bigger job than you anticipated, you can look towards a company that offers skip bin hire sydney, or skip bin hire near you, so you have some assistance with excess waste! 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-teenager-choosing-clothes-in-bedroom-4545966/

4. Take three boxes

Next, you best take three boxes when you tackle each area of a room. One box is for things to keep, one for selling or donating, and the latter for junk to toss. Don’t forget to also sort seasonal items in this method. You may want to keep winter clothes and seasonal decorations. But chances are, you’ve already not used some of those items last year. If you haven’t used it last year you’re unlikely to use it again. Only keep clothes and decorations you truly love. Throw anything else out. Also, throw out anything you’ve got doubles of. No one needs several baking tins with the same mold. Don’t forget to also check rags and furniture.

And Finally, Arrange The Junk Removal

At best you’d arrange a garage sale with items you could sell, but winter is probably not the best season for garage sales. You could try to sell unwanted items online though. Since the winter weather can make 

it’s hard to bring donations to a charity, you might want to rely on a junk removal service. You’ll need to schedule a collection for your unwanted items anyway. Most junk removal services have partnered with charities. They will bring any items from a collection that are still in good shape directly to a charity. Two birds, one stone, and the most convenient way to perform a junk removal.