10 Secrets To De-Stress Your Holiday, Part 1

November 17, 2016December 22, 2016 Rachel Sherwood

1. Make-ahead meals and no cooking required appetizers
2. Planning a workable menu and advance preparation
3. Decorate for less
4. Setting up for success
5. Get what you really need

I love this time of year! There is something magical about the holidays with all the food, parties, and presents. It is such a special time sharing the joys of the year, being thankful for all we have and creating memories together.

As much fun as the holidays are, there always seems to be so much to do and so little time to do it. Many clients share with me how they dread all the stress that comes with the holidays and worry about it being perfect.

We have all been there – guests arrive late, the turkey gets overcooked, you drop the side dish, you didn’t set enough places at the table, you worry about having enough food or dealing with family drama. It is enough to make anyone want to hibernate for the winter.

Yet some of our best memories are baking cookies with that special someone, preparing that favorite family recipe and sharing in the fun and laughter of gathering together. We make memories as we sit down to a beautiful feast with our most loved family and friends.

For me, food is more than just a delicious meal, it brings people together. Have you ever noticed at the holidays, no matter how big or small the house, people always gather in the kitchen? There is a reason for this. They come for food, but what really matters are the stories shared and memories made. The greatest gift I can give someone is a meal in my home. Not only is it a delicious, nutritious meal, but it is the gift of my time, a display of love and sharing that really makes it special. Food fills the physical need of hunger but being in community with others fills the need to belong and be loved.

So this year, I am sharing my top 10 secrets to help simplify and de-stress your holidays. In this holiday entertaining series, this week’s top tips include Make-ahead meals for busy nights & unexpected guests and no-cooking-required appetizers that are amazing.

1. Make-ahead meals

Make-ahead meals are essential for easy dinners all year, but holiday time makes them perfect for impromptu parties and welcoming last minute guests. Note that these are not crock-pot meals that can take up to 8 hours to defrost and 6 hours to cook. The key to efficient make-ahead meals is packaging them in small or individual portions, locking in the best flavor to feed as few or as many as you need, quickly and easily. Use recipes that are complete meals including a protein, vegetable and starch option all in one so when the dinner time is near, there is no extra work required.

One of my family favorites is Italian stuffed shells that can be filled with cheese, vegetables and meats. We get together and make a party out of it, making hundreds. We all have a good time and go home with a few meals in hand.

(Italian stuffed shells packaged for the freezer)

Find more Make-Ahead Meals here!

2. No-Cook Appetizers

Sometimes I just don’t have the time or energy to cook but people still need to be fed. For simple stunning party food, cheese plates are my go-to appetizer. They are perfect for the holidays as they can be made ahead of time, require no cooking, and can please any diet with the right accompaniments. Keep a variety of hard cheeses and cured meats on hand and pair them with crackers, nuts, fruits, vegetables, or preserves. Create a beautiful and tasty platter that can serve as first appetizers, first courses and even desserts.

Need help knowing what pairs well together? Get the Pretty Plate Cheese Guide to learn the 3 no-fail cheese plate combinations and a variety of tasty accompaniments that pair well. This guide is also a perfect stocking-stuffer or hostess gift.

You can also get one of my favorite kitchen tools, the Magic Cheese Knife, to make cutting cheese a breeze!

Happy Entertaining!

How to Build a Perfect Cheese Plate in 3 Simple Steps

December 24, 2014February 10, 2015 Rachel Sherwood

From my research I have found that the most common reasons people don’t invite others over is because of time, money, and know how. Don’t let this stop you from celebrating and enjoying your loved ones! Entertaining is easy when done with cheese plates. Here is how to put together a beautiful tasty cheese plate. All will be sure to please even the most picky eaters. After a lot of tasting and research I did all the work for you creating The Pretty Plate Cheese Paring Guide that lists no-fail paring for cheese and accompaniments.

I just love cheese plates for so many reasons. Did you know it takes no longer to put together a cheese plate then it does to set out chips and salsa? And it is more creative, and delicious. Cheese plates can be done in advance to let you do other things before people arrive. You can make it fit for any diet or appetite, and party budget by choosing the perfect accompaniments and can serve the plate as appetizers, a first course and even desserts. Here is what you need to know to be a success.

Cheeses come in a wide range of price points. Cheese can be very simple and or sophisticated and still be stunning and delicious. Putting it together is simpler than you think! You don’t need to know all the 1,000 varieties of cheese – they all fit into 6 simple categories.

6 Cheese Categories

Fresh:

Very soft and delicate; Easily spreadable
Mild and can be slightly sweet
Not aged – should be consumed quickly once open for best flavor.

Examples: Cream Cheese, Ricotta, Fresh Mozzarella

Soft:

Easily spreadable, may have a white/creamy rind, which is usually edible and tends to have stronger flavor then the interior. They are usually buttery and savory even sometimes bitter or earthy.

Examples: Brie, Camembert, Goat Cheese

Semi-Soft:

Are smooth, mild buttery to slightly sharp; can be slightly acidic. This category has the widest variety of flavors.

Examples: Fontina, Montery Jack, Harvarti and Muenster

Firm:

Slightly salty, nutty, getting more complex and drier with age, Some have a non-edible wax rind.

Examples: Gouda, Edam, Gruyere, Cheddar

Hard:

Pleasantly sharp and salty, sometimes Crumbly, Usually “grating cheeses”

Examples: Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Manchego

Blue Veined:

Firm and crumbly, can be pungent, sharp, salty and earthy

Examples: Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort

*Note the factor that will move a cheese from one category to the next is age. The age of a cheese deepens the flavors and changes the texture. You can have aged goat cheese and cheddars for example that will move up to the next level or young Swiss cheese that can move down.

A great eye-catching plate has these basic elements: color, shape and texture:

There are endless combinations of cheeses; accompaniments colors, shapes and textures to play with so you may fall in love with one particular combination that you serve all the time or each time it may be different.

You can do this! And you may even already have the items you need in your house. Get your Cheese Paring Guide for simple delicious no-fail pairings.

Here is how to make an eye-catching and delicious cheese plate:

Step 1 – Pick Your Cheese:

Select 3 cheeses from any variety of the cheese categories: For example you may choose a Soft, Firm and Blue cheese for one plate or Semi-soft, Firm, and hard cheeses for another.

Step 2 – Pick the Accompaniments:

Accompaniments are all the little extras that pair with the cheese. Try picking 2-3 accompaniments to go with 3 cheeses. When choosing your accompaniments keep color, shape and texture in mind. The best thing about accompaniments are that most of them are shelf-stable.

Oil and Vinegar: extra virgin olive oil, flavored oils or aged balsamic vinegar
Nuts: almonds, pistachios, spiced walnuts
Syrups and spreads: honey, maple syrup, fruit chutney, savory jellies and mustards
Fruits and vegetables: both fresh and dried items work here, grapes, apricots, roasted asparagus, marinated mushrooms
Bread, cracker, and cookies: Variety of crackers, rustic breads, crostini, shortbread, ginger thins
Meat: Prosciutto, salami, ham, mild peperoni

Step 3 – Putting it on the Plate:

Choose a large plate or even a nice cutting board to display your cheeses. Nothing with too many designs on it as this will take away from the beauty of the cheeses.

Feel free to leave the cheese in manageable wedges or slice or crumble a few pieces to make it easy for guests to enjoy quickly. If the cheese is crumbly or very soft like some blue cheese and brie leave it whole with a cheese knife beside it and let the guests do the work.

Place accompaniment around cheese to create a colorful edible display. Remember, a great eye-catching platter has color, shape and texture. Use the color and shape of the cheese and accompaniment to add accents and interest as well as flavor. Want a little assistance? Get your Cheese Paring Guide for simple delicious no-fail pairings.

Lastly have appropriate cheese knives or spreaders and spoons if necessary readily available for serving. A great option would also be to label the cheeses so your guests know what they are tasting or you can explain them as well.

Party in an Instant, Pantry Essentials for Easy Entertaining

July 25, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

Having a well-stocked pantry means you can have a party in an instant. The summer is always a special time for casual gatherings. In addition to my everyday pantry I like to keep a few of these special summer treats ready for an impromptu get together. It is easy to have confidence in the kitchen when you know you already have what you need on hand to make quick, easy, delicious meals at home.

Quick Breads: Banana bread in the beginning of summer and zucchini bread for the summer-end and into fall are perfect for a simple breakfast or snack on the go with fresh fruits and yogurt. You can make multiple loaves one for now and one to keep frozen for when you need it later.

Cheese: Cheese is wonderful for simple grilled cheese sandwiches, addition to green or pasta salads, simple snacks or my favorite for entertaining cheese plates. Cheese plates are the best, no-cooking-required entertaining appetizer, first course or dessert. Get your Cheese Wheel Paring Guide to easily choose delicious pairing combinations.

Out of Hand Snacks: For on-the-go snacks or putting together a simple elegant cheese place for appetizers keep a variety of cheese, smoked sausages, crackers or chips nuts and dried fruits available.

Pizza Dough: You can get this already prepared, in 5-min mixes or make your own. Pizza dough is so versatile! Use it for pizza with any topping or as flatbread with dips and spreads. In the summer I love to grill it and keep all the heat outdoors.

Citrus: lemons, limes, oranges add flavor and freshness to water, make lemonade and easily mix up a batch of lemon curd for dessert or breakfast.

Canned Beans: Beans are great to have at any time of the year to quickly mix up a bean dip like hummus or a spicy black bean dip for appetizers or a side dish. They are also a quickly prepared and inexpensive protein source to mix in with fresh vegetables for salads, tacos, quesadillas, or salsa.

Fruit: especially melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. These are great for breakfast with yogurt and granola, snacks, side dishes and even dessert with a little ice cream. Melons in the summer are sweet and large, which makes them perfect for many people to share.

Something Special: Everyone loves a little sweet in the summer and if you have a campfire s’mores are a must have. I like to keep the fixings sealed in mason jars to have a party in an instant. This is a nice approach for a DIY snack. The jars keep ingredients fresh, clean and easy to handle and they are quite darling if you want to wrap with scraps of fabric or ribbon to match a theme.

Other freezer treats: like Ice Cream or Popsicles for children, and a batch of Brandy Smash for the adults are sure to please a summer crowd.

Pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.