Hosting the holiday meal can be stressful, especially if you’re new to the game. If you need a helping hand, look no further! These five simple Christmas dinner tips are the easiest way to make your meal merry and bright.
Christmas Dinner tip #1: More butter!
There’s no denying that fat makes food delicious (seriously—it’s science). From the second it touches your taste buds it provides not only the creamy mouthfeel that everyone loves but also enhances the other elements of your meal by breaking down volatile compounds. Unfortunately, outdated health advice and overzealous calorie-counting have led to all-out warfare on my high-fat hero—butter.
This fear of fat in the holiday season leaves me infinitely frustrated for one simple reason: It’s Christmas!
If there’s one day to set aside your nutrition plan, mark your calendars because it’s December 25th. Don’t skimp on the butter and olive oil for the sake of your waistline – one meal isn’t going to throw off your progress or send you up a dress size. What’s more, butter is the secret to perfectly browned turkey. Just rub a generous serving between the breast and skin.
Best. Turkey. Ever.
Tip #2: Make your own cranberry sauce.
Please? For me? Just try it! If you hate it, you can go back to the weird can-shaped stuff with the ridges that makes the oh-so-appetizing *slop* sound as it slides into the bowl. If nothing else, it has some entertainment value when it jiggles. Why does it jiggle though? Sauce shouldn’t jiggle…
Homemade cranberry sauce is deceptively simple and looks beautiful on the table. Recipes have as few as three ingredients (cranberries, water, and sugar), and instructions are often included right on the bag. If you want to get a little fancy, try adding some fresh minced ginger and orange zest (a pinch of salt wouldn’t hurt either).
Tip #3: Pick up some fresh herbs.
Subbing fresh herbs for their dried counterparts is one of the easiest ways to make your meal merry and bright. It is, however, essential to note that since fresh herbs are less potent than dried ones, you have to add them at an approximate 3:1 ratio to get the desired result.
To make an herb spread for the table, add a mixture of fresh minced garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and lemon to softened butter.
Tip #4: Let the turkey rest.
You and your turkey have something in common. You. Need. To. Rest. Leave that poor bird alone for at least 30 minutes after you take it out of the oven. It took 4 hours for it to get up to temperature, so I promise it won’t be ice-cold by the time it gets on the table. In fact, the temperature continues to rise even after coming out of the oven.
By letting the bird sit before carving, you allow it to reabsorb all its delicious juices, which would otherwise dribble out, leaving the turkey sad and dry. Instead, give your bird a break and use the oven space to brown and warm your other dishes.
Christmas Dinner Tip #5: Delegate and relax.
If you only listen to one of these Christmas Dinner tips, let it be this.
So maybe the potatoes won’t turn out the way you wanted, and the gravy is a little lumpy, but that’s life. Ask your loved ones for help in the kitchen so you can spend more quality time together. No matter how delicious the meal is, family bonding is infinitely more important than culinary perfection (well…maybe not infinitely).
In any case, if you’re looking to step-up your hosting game this holiday season game check out this post on How to be the Hostess with the Mostess.
