Having a holiday get-together in the next couple of days or next week? Don’t let your fun holiday party stress you out or keep you in the kitchen all night long. Take advantage of
some of our easy recipes and Trader Joe’s products to create fast and
easy appetizers and meals. Instead of slaving over the stove, join the
festivities and enjoy delicious and interesting food without breaking a
sweat in the process. Here’s how:
1. Plan ahead of time and shop early.
A few days before the party, figure out your menu and pick up all the
ingredients. Trader Joe’s has great party-friendly foods from
appetizers to desserts – the Trader Joe’s holiday guide has some great
ideas.
2. Keep drinks simple. Fancy up plain water by adding
raspberries or slices of cucumber to the pitcher. Make sparkling
spritzers by combining juice with sparkling water. For an elegant
touch, garnish the glasses with lemon or pomegranate seeds. If you
want alcohol, pick up bargain wines from Trader Joe’s. There are many
good choices for $4-5/bottle. Our friend Jason at Jason’s Wine Blog shared some of his favorite TJ wines under $10 with us this year.
3. Tasty appetizers. Have a great selection of appetizers
including cheeses, crackers, olives, and breads. Try the Apricot Baked Brie recipe from our cookbook, or the recent Pear Baked Brie we featured recently on the blog. Have you tried TJ’s Grilled Artichoke Dip (in the refrigerated section)? Dump two containers into a small oven-safe baking dish, top with some crushed pecans and bake until bubbly on the edges. Yum!
4. Cook ahead of time.
Think of meals that you can prepare ahead of time and serve at room
temperature, so you’re not trapped in the kitchen worrying about timing
and synchronizing dishes. Even a dish like salmon can be prepared
ahead of time and served at room temperature or cold. Pair salmon with
peanut sesame noodles or an Asian slaw, two dishes that keep well when
made ahead of time. Dishes like lasagna or roast chicken are also great because they can be prepped ahead of time and simply stuck in the oven at the right time.
5. Use inexpensive ingredients to create sophisticated meals.
Pasta is an elegant yet economical way to feed a large gathering of
guests. Stir in some arugula or basil, add vegetables, and complete
the dish with fancier items such as pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, or a
sprinkle of goat cheese.
6. For dessert, keep things simple and concentrate on presentation.
Choose a dessert you can make ahead of time such as mousse (the South Seas Chocolate Mousse in our cookbook is my go-to make-ahead dessert!), brownies, fudge, or cake. We recently covered a few easy holiday favorites here. Top the dessert or individual
servings with Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Stars for a festive touch.
Coffee and tea are inexpensive and provide a relaxed ending to a great
evening.