How to Plan a Christmas Dinner

Dinner parties are a lovely way to show your appreciation to your family and a special way of celebrating Christmas.

There is something very rewarding about eating together a special and memorable moment. The simple tips below will help you to prepare for a Christmas party and make sure you get the most out of your experience:

Once you know who you want to invite, how many guest you’ll have, when you would like to have the party and where want to have it you can start to prepare for your Christmas party worth remembering by:

Inviting your guests either by telephone and checking with them to learn about any food allergies or dislikes. This is a good time to ask about your guests favorites too - it adds a personal touch to your menu.

You should compose your menu at least one week ahead of time as well. Plan for each person to eat between one and two pounds of food.

Making a list of groceries you will need for food preparation. Do this using your menu plan, to save time and ensure your don't forget anything. When you prepare for a Christmas party you should always be as organized as possible.

Deciding on your table setting, theme, party favors and table decorations. Set the table with red, green, white, and gold linens. Choose candles to illuminate the room during the party or meal. Also, select Christmas music to play during the festivities.

Making a trip to the store to get all your ingredients. Do this 2 days before the party as this will make sure all your ingredients are fresh and allow you to concentrate on meal preparation rather than running around searching for last minute ingredients. Try to get everything on your list in one trip.

When you prepare for a dinner party, you might wish to set the table few hours before the party. Doing it ahead of time also allows you to examine it and improve it if needed. Cover the setting with a light cloth to avoid dust from settling on your tableware.

Peel and cut all vegetables two days before. Carrots and potatoes can be stored in ice water in the fridge; onions, celery and other vegetables must be kept dry and wrapped well.

Plan on serving some food that doesn't need to be cooked, like salad, cheese and crackers, vegetables and fresh fruit.

Make as many dishes the day before as you can. Prepare and chill desserts, make seasoning mixes and make or start accompanying sauces.

Consider serving the meal as a buffet if you have a lot of guests. Set the table against a wall near the kitchen and use it as the serving area.

The meal should be prepared as close to dinner time as possible but make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to bathe and dress without rushing.