|
 Family
and friends gathered 'round the dinner table, with a sumptuous
feast (prepared by you) set before them - does anything say "holidays"
more than that? What guests often don't realize are the hours
of prep and, perhaps, stress the host endured to achieve this
festive celebration. You, however, don't have to be one of those
crazed hosts.
With the holidays quickly approaching,
you can make a stress-free holiday meal with some handy tips
from celebrity chef and expert entertainer Cat Cora, the first
and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's Iron Chef America.
"When it comes to holiday
entertaining, planning ahead and having the right tools and equipment
help prevent poor performance and high stress levels," Cora
says. Here are her tips for stress-free holiday entertaining:
- Start out with the best tools
and equipment you can afford. If you've been thinking about replacing
your old, energy inefficient refrigerator with something better,
more convenient and worthy of your skills, the holiday season
is a great time to do so. "A good refrigerator, with the
right features, can make meal organization and prep much easier,"
Cora says. For example, refrigerators like LG's four-door model
offer lots of storage room with nearly 28 cubic feet of capacity,
including double freezer drawers - the top drawer for items you
access the most and bottom drawer for larger items or longer-term
storage. The freezer drawers automatically open and close at
the touch of a button, so it's like having an extra hand in the
kitchen.
- Take advantage of the convenience
of the microwave, some of which now feature a warming lamp, to
help keep dishes hot until mealtime.
- Shop early and stock up on perishables
weeks before your holiday event. Chop veggies and prepare hors
d'oeuvres a day before, and take advantage of the great fresh
desserts available at your local grocery store or bakery.
- Clean as you go - it makes a
big difference and you can enjoy your meal even more knowing
a sink full of dishes doesn't await you when you're done. New
dishwashers with steam technology now offer cycles that allow
you to thoroughly yet gently clean fragile items such as fine
china and stemware.
- Enlist friends to come over
an hour or two before the party to help set up the drinks, appetizers
and a children's table complete with crayons, puzzles and games.
- You don't have to bust your
budget in order to host a memorable event. If a full-blown four
course dinner is beyond your budget, consider a single-course
affair such as a cheese tasting, dessert party or appetizer buffet.
- Mix up serving pieces. Instead
of the traditional bowls and plates, try unusual presentations
like serving dessert in a martini glass, appetizers in a shot
glass or serve the meat course on a cutting board.
- Edible and functional garnishes
are a great way to add color and verve to any dish. Items like
orange or lemon wedges, radish roses, slivers of carrot, toasted
nuts or grated chocolate work well as quick, attractive garnishes.
- "Never forget to be original,"
Cora says. "While we all love traditional holiday fare,
get creative with a couple special dishes that will add flare
to your dinner party."
 Try this creative recipe from Kristine
Snyder, of Maui, Hawaii, chosen as "America's Top Amateur
Chef" at LG's "Taste of Something Better" cooking
competition judged by Cora. Snyder will represent the United
States in LG's 2009 Global "Life Tastes Good" championship
in Bangkok, Thailand, in November.
Soy-Glazed Mahi Mahi with Cilantro Butter
Shrimp
Courtesy of ARAcontent.
Return to Read the Articles
|
