Last Minute Holiday Party Tips!

Posted by Deana Gunn at 12/23/2009
Categories: Announcements Fun and Contests,Favorite Products
Tags: holiday parties entertaining
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Having a holiday get-together in the next couple of days or next week?  Don't let your fun holiday party stress you out or keep you in the kitchen all night long. Take advantage of some of our easy recipes and Trader Joe's products to create fast and easy appetizers and meals.  Instead of slaving over the stove, join the festivities and enjoy delicious and interesting food without breaking a sweat in the process.  Here's how:
 
1. Plan ahead of time and shop early. A few days before the party, figure out your menu and pick up all the ingredients.  Trader Joe's has great party-friendly foods from appetizers to desserts - the Trader Joe's holiday guide has some great ideas. 

2. Keep drinks simple.  Fancy up plain water by adding raspberries or slices of cucumber to the pitcher.  Make sparkling spritzers by combining juice with sparkling water.  For an elegant touch, garnish the glasses with lemon or pomegranate seeds.  If you want alcohol, pick up bargain wines from Trader Joe's.  There are many good choices for $4-5/bottle.  Our friend Jason at Jason's Wine Blog shared some of his favorite TJ wines under $10 with us this year.

3. Tasty appetizers. Have a great selection of appetizers including cheeses, crackers, olives, and breads.  Try the Apricot Baked Brie recipe from our cookbook, or the recent Pear Baked Brie we featured recently on the blog.  Have you tried TJ's Grilled Artichoke Dip (in the refrigerated section)?  Dump two containers into a small oven-safe baking dish, top with some crushed pecans and bake until bubbly on the edges.  Yum!

4. Cook ahead of time.  Think of meals that you can prepare ahead of time and serve at room temperature, so you're not trapped in the kitchen worrying about timing and synchronizing dishes.  Even a dish like salmon can be prepared ahead of time and served at room temperature or cold.  Pair salmon with peanut sesame noodles or an Asian slaw, two dishes that keep well when made ahead of time.  Dishes like lasagna or roast chicken are also great because they can be prepped ahead of time and simply stuck in the oven at the right time.

5. Use inexpensive ingredients to create sophisticated meals.  Pasta is an elegant yet economical way to feed a large gathering of guests.  Stir in some arugula or basil, add vegetables, and complete the dish with fancier items such as pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, or a sprinkle of goat cheese.  

6. For dessert, keep things simple and concentrate on presentation.  Choose a dessert you can make ahead of time such as mousse (the South Seas Chocolate Mousse in our cookbook is my go-to make-ahead dessert!), brownies, fudge, or cake. We recently covered a few easy holiday favorites here. Top the dessert or individual servings with Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Stars for a festive touch.  Coffee and tea are inexpensive and provide a relaxed ending to a great evening.
 
Here's wishing you a very happy holiday!
 
Deana Gunn & Wona Miniati
Cooking with Trader Joe's

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