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Time-Saving Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining - December 05, 2007
 | | Photo Courtesy of ARA |
The holiday season is here and if you’re among the millions who plan to entertain, you’ll be happy to know the latest trend in the industry is to make things easier on the host. No, that doesn’t mean a lot of people are going to start hiring party planners to handle all the details for them. They’re just being smarter about the decisions they make.
With families looking to spend as much quality time with each other as possible this holiday season, expect to see more kitchen and dining innovations that allow for entertaining as stress-free as possible -- but without giving up taste and style.
“While families still embrace traditions such as turkey or ham for dinner with all of the trimmings, they’re not interested in spending all of their time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning,” says Amy True of True Helpers Special Events. “They’re creating new traditions by spending more quality time together.”
Here are some of the key trends of the season True is anticipating, along with Montgomery Ward and Wards.com’s top picks for easy, stress-free entertaining style:
* Feed them all at once -- and keep it hot!
The key to any successful party is having a wide variety of great tasting foods available for your guests, but that doesn’t mean you have to slave over a stove to make it happen. This time of year, restaurants and even grocery stores offer prepared holiday meals you can just take out of the box and serve.
Or you can roast, bake, steam, poach or slow cook meat on your own in one easy step by preparing it in the Nesco Professional Stainless Steel 18-quart Roaster. This designer series stainless steel roaster is a versatile electric cooking appliance with adjustable temperature control that is ideal for large gatherings. It features a removable, non-stick cookwell that holds a turkey up to 22 pounds ($99.99). Its optional 3-section buffet server kit keeps three food items hot on the serving table ($34.99).
* Keep the coffee coming
A lot of entertainers find themselves constantly apologizing to their guests for the fact that the coffee pot is empty. Somehow, there just isn’t enough when you need it!
Problem solved if you have a DeLonghi Coffee Urn. Unlike most coffee makers that brew a mere 12 cups, this durable, mirror-finish stainless steel urn can brew from 20 to 50 cups at a time. It features a Freshness Indicator that is activated by the “keep warm” function and tells you how long the coffee has been standing and automatically switches to the warming cycle and keeps your coffee at the perfect temperature.
"On" and "Ready" lights tell you when your coffee is ready to serve. There’s also a level indicator that tells you how much water is in the unit, so you won't run out of coffee unexpectedly. A dripless spigot assures that there will be no messy leaks and drips. The device is UL rated for commercial or household use. ($199.99)
* Wow your guests with dessert!
And when it comes time for dessert, it’s true what they say. Presentation really is part of the charm. It is easy to create beautiful, professional-looking desserts with the help of the Original Nordicware Bundt Cake Pans Platinum Collection. There are three designs available and each comes with a gourmet cake mix that allows you to prepare a gourmet treat at a fraction of the cost of a bakery-made dessert.
The Cathedral Pan design features stately arches and columns, forming a sophisticated confection. It comes with a gourmet Sticky Pudding Toffee Cake Mix. The Bavaria Pan is accompanied by the Cinnamon Streusel mix, and the Tree Pan with Train Border comes with a Caramel Apple Spice cake mix.
The heavy cast aluminum bakeware provides extra-fine details and superior baking performance. The heat reflective exteriors allow for uniform browning. Unique designs make every cake a masterpiece. ($39.99)
Montgomery Ward and Wards.com has these and 50,000 more great gift and home accent ideas for the holiday season. Log on to www.Wards.com to view the store’s extensive catalog.
Courtesy of ARA content |
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