Entertaining for the holidays

Melissa Douse, Contributor

The holiday season is upon us,
the time when we usually have family and friends over. It's time to
start preparing. These tips are very important if you have friends or
relatives that pop in with minimal or no notice at all. So if the phone
rings, or worse, your doorbell, and they just happen to 'be in the
neighborhood', here are some ideas of what you should always have on
hand to host an impromptu but stylish get-together as well as those
planned events.

Hopefully, you will find these tips useful and they will help you get through the holiday season with style and grace.

Send questions or comments to Melissa Douse at mycraziefoodie.net. Email mycraziefoodie@gmail.com.

1. Glassware

Ensure that your home is well stocked with glassware. Ideally, every kitchen should at least have four sets of glasses - rock glass, cocktail glass, wine glass and a tall glass. Have all your glassware clean so they will always be ready to go.

2. Music

The music you play can make or break the mood. Load up your MP3 or iPod with a few playlists that are ideal for different party settings. The last thing you want to be doing is shuffling through your iPod while guests are waiting.

3. Cocktail Napkins

Have some paper cocktail and dinner napkins on hand. I recommended you buy some that match your living/dining room colour, decor, or add a pop of colour.

4. Silk/Sari Fabric

Buy a piece of shimmery silk sari fabric that you can throw or use as a table runner. Find a gorgeous, rich shade so your everyday plates and glasses will take on a new look.

5. Candles

Have candle pillars in various heights, shapes and widths. Candles are perfect for last-minute centrepieces.

6. Alcohol

Purchase a few bottles of wine and other spirits so that you can have them available on hand. Not only are they handy to have if friends and family come over, but you will have a fabulous bottle to bring to a party, as the last thing you want is to show up empty-handed.

7. Stocked Pantry

Having a few key items on hand for the holidays is essential. Gourmet crackers, hummus, a variety of cookies, a selection of cheeses, and a good savoury jam are all staples for the holiday season. So if you have visitors who just pop in, you can whip up some appetisers in a flash.

8. Telephone numbers

Forgive me for this one, as I know the holidays are supposed to be all about home-cooked meals, but you need to have on hand a list of your favourite restaurants that do delivery and/or take-out. Make a list based on different cuisines and keep it near the phone. Trust me, you will be happy you did. Sometimes, after days of entertaining or attending parties, you may not be in the mood to cook and appetisers or leftovers may just not be enough.