The following tips are techniques for relieving stress that have an added bonus: You'll get more respect from those who have taken you for granted. The key is to retrain yourself for creating buffets instead of holiday meals:
1. Start early. That turkey or ham doesn't have to be roasted holiday morning, while you fret without showering. Make a delicious white sauce for the bird. Turkey marsala or ham in raisin sauce is heavenly reheated.
2. Shop for a new roaster. Look for one with a hanging rack that holds three deep pans. Clear your countertops, make your menu and buy what you need to heat and serve each dish.
3. Set up a drink station with everything guests will need to serve themselves. Include coffee, filters and a rag so guests can wipe up after themselves and their children.
4. Re-think the number of side dishes, and don't forget soup. A huge crock pot of split pea soup with homemade bread is filling and delicious. Any veggie soup is more elegant with a dollop of sour cream on top, or you can run it through the blender. Made in advance, it gets thicker and more luscious in a day or two. For an easy side dish, try something canned, but add creole, Southern, Asian or Indian spices.
5. Get a bread machine. Since the bread takes three hours and doesn't need to be basted or watched, you'll have time to primp. You can mention that bread is "homemade this year," not the usual "brown and serve."
6. Display dessert(s) on the table with cake stands. Along with your centerpiece, they make the table festive, and now that other food is on the buffet, there is room for them (and handy dessert plates) to tantalize guests throughout the meal. If guilt overwhelms you for making everyone get his own food, stand up now and serve dessert without a trip to the kitchen. (Your nails will be beautiful, and that's a stress eraser in itself.)
7. Get the family involved. Most hubbies and even teenagers can make something special. Just insist that they do it in advance. Cookies and many other items can be frozen and thawed in minutes, and that's all your family needs to feel that they are involved in the preparation. When you are the only one agonizing, then you are the outsider.
Tell family your new rule: "No cooking or baking in this house on holidays, except for the bread!" You'll get rave reviews as hostess from those who've not noticed before just how impressive you are. Besides, you can make more special, time-consuming recipes now, as long as you make them in advance.
 | Do you need help coping with holiday stress? Here are a few holiday stress erasers to help lower your stress and increase your cheer during this holiday season. |
 | Follow these tips on time management at the holidays to help save yourself from unnecessary holiday anxiety and stress. |
If there are weeks between you and December 25 and you're already stressed out, you may be in need of a more down-to-earth Christmas. Here's tips on finding ways to slow down and take care of yourself. |
Many of us might not consider recruiting our kids to help deal with the stress of the season. With all the supervision children need, wouldn't it just make things more stressful? |
The mind and body are intimately connected. Holiday stress and anxiety often comes with entertaining, gift buying, cold weather, decorating and shopping. How can you enjoy the holidays while still doing all of the holiday prep work? |
