How-to-Entertain-Over-the-Holidays-for-Less
December 20, 2012
•Emily Murray
•St. Louis
• 0 Comments
How to Entertain Over the Holidays for Less
Because of the continued existence of economic uncertainties in our society, many people would prefer not to make substantial commitments to large holiday entertainment budgets...buy who wants to cut down on fun? There are ways to do this without appearing miserly. The holidays are a great time to repay social obligations as well as catch up with busy friends and family members, so it's important that you host at least one event in your home. However, it doesn't have to make a painful dent in your bank account. Once the holidays have passed and you have more money in your pocket, you may also want to attend a cooking class at one of the many St Louis cooking schools in order to get some additional tips.
Have a Classic Cocktail Party
Classic cocktail parties held in lieu of full-fledged dinners can save money as well as provide guests with an enjoyable, festive time. No need to go overboard exists when hosting a cocktail party in your home. Several types of liquor and mixers, red and white wine and a small selection of beer are all that are really necessary for a cocktail party, although you may want to include appetizers among the offerings. Ordering an appetizer tray from a local deli or catering company is often less expensive than purchasing the necessary ingredients in a grocery store and preparing the appetizers yourself.
Old Money-Saving Standby -- the Potluck
If you are going to be hosting a holiday dinner for your family and friends this season, you might want to consider letting everyone know that it will be appreciated if they bring a dish. They don’t need to feel intimidated or like they need to take a cooking class to contribute, something simple and festive will be just perfect. This need not be mentioned as a personal budgetary concern but rather put into terms of time. People are more likely to be understanding about asking to provide potluck offerings if they are told that the reason is because you simply lack the time to prepare many different elaborate dishes. Everyone can understand not having available hours for massive food preparation chores.
Plan on Having Non-Traditional Meals
Instead of expensive hams, turkeys are lamb roasts, consider having a non-traditional meal for your holiday dinner. The ingredients for a Mexican fiesta, for example, as flavorful and cheap and can provide your guests with a splash of summer ambiance that can be refreshing for those living in cold-winter climates.
Take Advantage of Free Community Holiday Performances
Many communities have free concerts, theater performances and holiday festivals available for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. Your local newspaper should be able to provide a list of appropriate activities. For instance, you might choose to host a Tom and Jerry party in your home on a Saturday afternoon followed by a walk to a local park to enjoy a free holiday concert. Tom and Jerry's are easily prepared by mixing rum or brandy, sugar, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and heating. Eggnog is also an excellent holiday drink that is served hot.
Although it's an old cliché, the adage concerning spending time together with family and friends is more important than fancy holiday trappings, it remains the truth. Don't let lack of finances prevent you from enjoying the season by doing some entertaining in your home. You may be able to find more holiday cooking tips at your local St. Louis cooking school around this time of year as well.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis. Le Cordon Bleu College of
Culinary Arts in St. Louis offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/St-Louis for more information.
Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more atwww.chefs.edu/disclosures.
Le Cordon Bleu® and the Le Cordon Bleu logo are registered trademarks of Career Education Corporation. Le Cordon Bleu cannot guarantee employment or salary. Credits earned are unlikely to transfer.