I usually break out the exact same specialties every time I host. No frantic Pinterest searching. No attempting a new recipe day-of. No buying a set of dishes for every dinner party.
Simplify. Just be ok with simple.
Here's what I know people want/expect/love at a gathering:
Something delicious, something pretty and enough wine to go around.
1. Cheese Board
It doesn't matter if everyone ate dinner before coming over. Everyone will hit the cheese board. (Even the vegans will enjoy the grapes and pecans.) Create a system for your cheese board, and do it the same way every time. I shop cheese board goods at Trader Joe's and Kroger, because it's cheaper and still delicious!
Pick a soft cheese, a hard cheese and a fun or funky cheese. I usually grab a brie, a cheddar or manchego or gouda, and a cranberry stilton or blue cheese or porter cheddar.
Accompaniments I love: Simple Truth fig + thyme crackers, Back to Nature stoneground wheat crackers, rice crackers, grapes, pecans, chocolate covered almonds, candied figs. Yummmm!
Arrange on a board or tray so that it's pretty and cheese can also be accessed to cut. This is my typical set up that you can just copy!
2. Flowers
Don't panic. I'm talking $5-10 of flowers, tops. Grab one bunch of flowers and one bunch of greenery. Stick it in a vase OR, my new favorite, lay them out like a faux garland. So pretty and easy. Ok, that's it! You're done with flowers.
3. Drinks
Grab a bottle of red and a bottle of white. I prefer wine, so I may even ask my beer-drinking friends to bring a 6 pack with them. And around the holidays, I love having champagne or something bubbly. Place a little bowl of raspberries, strawberries or cranberries next to the bubbly to dress up the drink station. Or make a batch of mulled wine or sangria for a cloud-pleasing signature drink.
That's all. Three steps! What do y'all think? Feeling more confident about holiday hosting?? Find the combo that works for you, pull it together and actually enjoy your event. xo
