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Meal Planning

Stress-Free Meal Planning for House Guests

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Filed Under: Entertain, Meal Planning, Organizing For The Holidays & Gift Guides

Stress-Free Meal Planning for House Guests Tips to help you prepare for your guest so you can enjoy them! And a handy checklist to help you be the hostess with the mostess.
Do you love having visitors, but always worry about what to feed them? If you’re having several people over, meal planning is a must. You may not please everyone because of different tastes, but with a clear plan in mind, a grocery list, and some cooking skills, you can enjoy yourself and be a much happier host!

If your guests are staying for the weekend, for example, your best bet is to prepare fast, flavorful, easy meals and snacks and prepare as much ahead of time as possible. This not only helps you save time, but it is also be something you can replicate for future house parties!

Make a List and Check it Twice

The first thing you need to do is to prepare a detailed list of each meal you plan to cook and all necessary ingredients. Always include enough snack foods and treats to keep your guests satisfied between meals.

Check your pantry and make a checklist of menus and ingredients, how many you’ll have to feed, who will be in charge, and who will clean up.

If your guests are staying with you for a couple of days, you can include dining out options, call for delivery, or ask your guests to plan and prepare a meal or two!

One very thoughtful thing you can do is to ask your house guests if there is anything, in particular, they are craving or want you to make. Surely you will want them to anticipate meals, happy at the thought of their favorite dishes served to them! For example, my sister loves my husband’s vegetarian dishes and when visiting from Brazil, she will ask him if he could make them again.

What to Cook

You’ll want quick and easy meals so that you have time to do other things, but these meals don’t just happen, they do take some planning. When you have guests around, the last thing you want to do is to worry about what to eat next!

Grilled-meals, slow cooker dishes, and a DIY bar are three great choices for house guests. I personally LOVE grilling. I prepare a big pot of Brazilian style black beans that goes perfectly with white rice, a meat, and grilled vegetables.

Look for some awesome grilling recipes, slow cooker recipes and for your DIY bar – just choose your guests’ favorite – a salad bar, sandwich bar or taco bar!

Shop Early, Chop Early

With a checklist of ingredients, hit the grocery store days early. Maybe you can purchase food gradually over two to three shopping trips, to help spread the cost. Doing this will also give you ample time to go back for forgotten ingredients. Once you finish your grocery shopping, get your prepping, chopping and sealing of ingredients done.

When you do this in advance, you’ll have more time on your hands to spend with your beloved guests!

 

Yummy Holiday Meals on a Budget?

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Filed Under: Christmas & New Year, Meal Planning

Saving Money on Holiday Meals

How to save on holiday meals.
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The concept of frugal holiday meals may sound like an oxymoron, but it really isn’t as impossible as it may seem. Even though holiday meals express the great value of abundance, you can still avoid stretching your finances beyond their capabilities.

How to Save on Holiday Meals?

There’s nothing stopping you from serving up delicious holiday meals without destroying your budget in the process. The key to saving money on holiday meals is planning and forethought. When you put time and effort into planning your holiday meals, the results are nearly always positive.

Follow these strategies to save money on your holiday meals this year:

1. Consider Your Portions

Consider your guest list to ensure that your portions match how many people will be eating. Limit waste by only buying and cooking what your guests will actually eat. If you want to have generous leftovers, simply figure them into the math as well.

2. Remember the Leftovers

Plan out your leftovers so you use them effectively and nothing goes to waste. Package your leftovers in portions sized for meals and store them based on when you plan to serve them. Meat and many side dishes can be frozen, so consider how you will use your leftovers to promote frugality and prevent waste.

3. Know When to Shop

The day after Thanksgiving is ideal for stocking up, especially if you plan a repeat performance for Christmas. Turkeys, hams, and many of the fixings from Thanksgiving will be available at a steep discount the day after the holiday. Stock up on anything that you can freeze or store to cut down significantly on Christmas holiday meals.

* Turkeys often go on sale for as little as 25% of their original price, and hams are often sold in a similar fashion. If you plan to cook something similar for Christmas, make some room in your freezer and take advantage of this sale to cut costs for your upcoming holiday meal.

4. Know Which Conveniences Matter

Some conveniences are worthwhile and will save you money while others will not. Canned sweet potatoes cost less than fresh, for example. Pre-baked rolls are often less expensive than making your own during the holiday season. Plan ahead to learn which convenience items will help you save money in the long run.

5. Cook From Scratch

When it’s possible to do so, cook from scratch. Stuffing and gravy are two staples that you can create at home more cheaply than you can buy them. Boxed mashed potatoes are cheap, but the real thing costs even less and tends to store well.

* Start on your stuffing ahead of time, since you can use the heels of bread loafs or leftover stale sandwich bread. Let the bread dry out on a cookie sheet and you can use it as breadcrumbs in your homemade stuffing.

* Your guests will appreciate your from-scratch cooking.

Holiday meals are meant to be enjoyable. You and your guests will enjoy the meal all the more when you’re not stressed out over the cost. Plan ahead, cut costs where you can, and have a wonderful holiday meal that fits within your budget.