It’s that time of year again! Whether you’re hosting a dinner party for local friends or out of town house guests, here’s a meal plan that will take the stress out of cooking for a crowd.
Having loved ones in your home can be a blast if you plan ahead of time. Here’s an easy and delicious meal plan to help you enjoy your guests and not be stuck in the kitchen the whole night!
Starters
Pick up your favorite bottle of wine, or try this 3-ingredient Cranberry Vanilla Mimosa as a fabulous cocktail option!
Looking for a healthy starter? These adorable Cucumber Tomato Santa Hats are made with cucumbers, grape tomatoes and a mixture of Ranch dressing, cream cheese and mayonnaise. Prep the dressing the day before, and assemble these the day of your party and keep refrigerated until your guests arrive.
Want a hot appetizer for your guests? Try heating up Martha Stewart’s Spinach Dip or this delicious Baked Brie Recipe with pita chips or whole-grain crackers.
To make the Baked Brie, spread your favorite jam on top of a wheel of brie. Next, wrap in uncooked crescent rolls, and bake on a pizza stone or baking sheet. You can even put these appetizers in your toaster oven if you’re running out of oven space.
The Main Course
Next, chop your Brussel sprouts and prep your roasted thyme carrots to roast in the oven and mix up the seasoning for the pork tenderloin. Cook the brown rice on the stovetop or rice cooker to go with the dinner.
While the tenderloin is cooking, put the Brussel sprouts and carrots on their respective baking sheets. Then, put them in as soon as the tenderloin finishes cooking.
While the vegetables are roasting, the tenderloin should be able to rest so that the meat stays juicy and moist. After 5 to 10 minutes, slice the pork tenderloin and dish up the Brussel sprouts and carrots. Enjoy your easy, fabulous meal with your guests!
The Grand Finale
Finish the night by celebrating with a satisfying dessert! Make sure to make dessert the day before your party or earlier that day so that it will be ready when it’s time for dessert.
Serve the simple, yet festive Eggnog Pie or the stunning Chocolate Peppermint Holiday Cake (use meringues from Trader Joe’s or your local grocery store to cut down on the prep time, or leave them out all together!).
