18 HOLIDAY HACKS FROM ICONIC CHEFS AND CELEBRITIES
Butternut Squash + Sweet Potato Macaroni And Cheese
Aka the perfect play on a classic for an awesome side dish.
When I think of the holiday season, my mind immediately goes to warm memories of hot chocolate, festive feasts with my family and joyful times. But behind the scenes, the holidays can actually be a super stressful time. From deciding what side dishes you'll be creating, to the Instagram-worthy center piece decor you'll set on the table, and keeping guests and relatives entertained, there's a ton to keep track of if you're hosting a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas party.
To help keep the stress levels low and the holiday spirits high, my friends have gathered some great tried-and-true holiday hacks from iconic chefs and celebrities that I had to share with all of you Coffee And Champagne readers to make sure your dinner party goes off without a hitch. I know I'll be taking a page out of Gordon Ramsay's book and treating myself to a glass of champagne - how about you?
Photography & Linked Recipes By Michelle Williams
ROASTED ACORN SQUASH CAPRESE
The side that’s going to wow your guests with the quintessential Fall flavors.
FOOD PREP HACKS
Giada De Laurentiis, Food Network host
Lay all of your plates and platters on the dining table, and label them with sticky notes describing which food will go on that plate. This will help you from second guessing yourself come serving time!
Andrew Zimmern, Travel Channel host
You can make your gravy ahead of time — as much as a week early — and freeze it. This way, you don’t have to rush to make it while the turkey is resting.
Geoffrey Zakarian, executive chef and Food Network judge
Let your turkey sit in the fridge uncovered the night before you start cooking. This allows the skin to dry out, which makes it crispier when it’s cooked.
Gordon Ramsay, world-renowned chef and restaurateur
Be sure to get a good night’s sleep, delegate tasks and side dishes to others, and treat yourself to a glass of champagne when all is said and done.
Jamika Pessoa, Food Network personality
To avoid some of the typical stresses that come with cooking a feast, prep as much as you can in advance. Freeze casseroles and pre-season your meats, then pop them in the oven when you’re ready!
COOKING HACKS
Ryan Hardy, executive chef
Once the turkey comes out of the oven, let it rest for about an hour. When you slice it, the juices won’t run all over and you’ll end up with a super tender turkey!
Ground Turkey Stuffed Mushrooms
For that Thanksgiving flavor in every bite.
Bobby Flay, celebrity chef and restaurateur
After carving the bird, put it on a tray and covering it in hot chicken stock. This ensures your turkey is hot and juicy!
Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef and television personality
Cut large potatoes into chunks and place them under the turkey as a roasting rack — they’ll get a delicious flavor from all the turkey drippings and you’ll save space!
Ryan Scott, chef and television personality
Once you’ve finished making your gravy, store it in a thermos until it’s time to eat. This not only saves you reheating time, it also ensures your guests enjoy a delicious and warm gravy.
Sunny Anderson, Food Network personality
If you’re a fan of both sweet and savory, try making an easy glaze with jam, stock and herbs that creates a mouthwatering sweet exterior for your turkey.
Lidia Bastianich, television host and bestselling cookbook author
To get a photoshoot-ready turkey, brush your bird with balsamic vinegar 10–15 minutes before pulling it from the oven.
Maple Glazed Banana Walnut Bread
The fan favorite recipe that guests will still be talking about when Thanksgiving is over.
Honey Balsamic Baked Brie
In case you want to skip the cheeseboard this year.
CLEANING HACKS
Devin Alexander, chef and cookbook author
Similar to sous vide cooking, cook your turkey in an oven-safe bag to make cleanup easy. Bonus: it also helps make your turkey more tender!
Devin Connell, restaurateur and Food Network Canada host
Don’t wait until everything is finished to begin cleaning! Wipe down your work station as you go, and keeping a garbage bowl for scraps and peels to make cleanup a breeze.
Croissant Stuffing Bites
A new take on stuffing. Also, my go-to for Friendsgiving.
HOSTING HACKS
Ali Larter, actress
While you’re busy preparing the feast, take some extra stress off yourself by creating a make-your-own cocktail station for guests. Not only is it one less thing to worry about, it also allows your guests to make their drinks exactly how they prefer.
J.J. Johnson, award-winning chef
Hosting your relatives for a holiday dinner? Add a personal touch to your table decor by using childhood photos of each family member instead of name cards. Then reminisce about your favorite family memories!
Kristen Bell, actress
It’s totally okay if you opt for some store-bought items for part of your meal! Just replate these items on decorative platters to make the dishes that aren’t homemade a bit more festive.
Tiffani Thiessen, actress
Kids’ tables are great during mealtime, but it’s important that your young guests are entertained throughout the duration of your party. Consider setting up an arts and crafts table to keep them occupied!
Gwyneth Paltrow, actress and author
Before your guests arrive and the chaos of the party begins, have a playlist ready to go. Music is an important factor in setting the tone of the party, so make it festive!