Preparing the menu for Christmas….. Yikes! But if you start to plan now, then the week or so before Christmas is going to be a whole less stressful… in some ways.
You need to firstly ask yourself if you are preparing for lunch or dinner? And are you having a theme?
Is it seafood? BBQ? Mexican? Or an outdoor Christmas? A picnic Christmas even?
And then pick recipes you can enjoy cooking, feel confident cooking and know your guests will enjoy too.
But no matter what cuisine, theme or time of day, there are some really simple and easy recipes out there.
Think about what nibbles and finger food you want to have for when your guests arrive. Is it a selection of dips? Cheese platter or meat balls with dips?
Or these reindeer cookies for the kids…
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Then go to your mains. What salads are you going to serve?
And if you are having a picnic and travelling with food, think about how you are going to do this. You don’t want anything too saucy and too messy that may leak everywhere in the car. Simple pre cooked schnitzels, sausages, chops or roast chicken will work a treat.
If you need some more inspiration why not check out these places I love and always go to for inspiration:
Or
These Santa Strawberries are just too cute! Cut the top off, place some cream inside, put the top back on and add a few extra dots for the eyes and the jacket. Too easy!
Once you know what food you are going to eat, start your shopping list. And give it a few days of preparation too, because we all know we add a few extra items on at the end. Look in your pantry first to discover what you do already have.
There are so many fabulous easy and scrumptious and decadent recipes out there. Don’t make it more complicated for yourself then what it needs to be. Sometimes a yummy fresh chicken salad with pomegranate, pine nuts, mint and lemon juice is just what everyone wants and loves.
Why not buy your christmas pudding? Order it from your local deli or cafe that do catering too. And did you think about starting to cook now? Cakes can be frozen. So why not make one now, pop it in the freezer, take it out the night beforehand and simply frost it on the day. No one will know!
Just remember, Christmas is about joy and celebration. Minimise the stress where you can so you can enjoy the day just a little more.
What are your Christmas menu planning tips?
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This post is part of the Christmas Celebration Series. If you have missed the last few weeks check them out here:
Holiday Table Arrangement Ideas
Baby and Children’s Gift Ideas
Have you seen the amazing XMAS Giveaway Extravaganza? Check it out and you can win some awesome stuff!
