How To Host Your First Christmas Dinner

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These tips and tricks will help you pull together a fabulous celebration without losing your holiday spirit -- or your mind!

To complete this How-To you will need:

Adequate seating and tableware
All the family's favorite foods
Christmas ornaments or bunches of red and green grapes
Candles
A cleaning service (optional)

Step 1: Check logistics

Figure out if you have enough chairs, seating space, and tableware. Borrow from friends and neighbors to fill any holes. Or check out a thrift store; if you don't need or want it afterward, donate it back.

Tip: Throw some cushions on the floor around your coffee table and let little guests eat there.

Step 2: Call your guests

Call your guests so you have a handle on how many people are coming -- and an excuse to fish for contributions. People often want to contribute, especially if it ensures that their holiday favorite will be on the table.

Step 3: Ask for help

Don't be shy about asking for assistance before, during, and after. You'll need all the help you can preparing the food, getting your home ready, serving, and cleaning up afterward.

Tip: If your budget allows it, hire a cleaning service a day or two before.

Step 4: Have all the family favorites

Honor family traditions, even if you personally think that egg nog is nauseating and fruitcake isn't really dessert. If it's important to someone, serve it -- and let them take the leftovers home.

Step 5: Finalize your menu

Finalize your menu and go shopping. Figure out what you can make a day or two ahead so that the big day is not such a rush. And remember: Now is not the time to attempt a dish you've never tried.

Step 6: Don't pull any surprises

When it comes to dinner, don't surprise your guests with tofurkey if they've always had a Christmas ham. If you want to serve something different, make it in addition to, not instead of, the family favorite.

Tip: Plan on these per-person servings: One pound of meat, a half-cup of potatoes, half-cup of each vegetable side dish, two dinner rolls, an eighth of a pie or cake, and three of each kind of cookie.

Step 7: Make a simple centerpiece

Make a simple table centerpiece out of a bowl of ornaments in two colors, like gold and red, or a bowl filled with bunches of red and green grapes, perhaps surrounding a pillar candle. Line the table with votive candles. You're all set!

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HomeFamily
• hosting
• throwing
• party
• christmas
• dinner
• eve
• food
• guests
• giving
• setting
• preparing
• ready

[MinnesotaRejects]

I'm still waiting for the "how to breathe" video to come out

[mbstylo]

very handy...

[nunoyobiznis]

@BlueBajs not EVERY PLACE ON EARTH snows in winter. i live in florida and it NEVER SNOWS. EVER. not every place is the same.

[danie1177]

it's ok

[IvyTheBunny]

*makes all midgets sit at coffee table* HAHAHAHA howcast, ur accidentally racist.

[Rikigals]

OK I DON'T GET WHY EVERYBODY TROLLS ON HOWCAST! LIKE THERE JUST TRYING TO HELP!

[soappop]

Wait, What if someone's favorite food is something you never made.....

[insanitythesurfer]

M.I.L.F

[JaeJaezX1]

A bit late?

[chari911jose]

HOWCAST YOU SUCK ASS HAHAHAH LIKE IN 3 MONTH I UNSUBCRIBE

[Patty2579]

what was the point in that if put on youtube on boxing day?

[FightWithDevil]

my budget said NO!FUCK YOU!

[DuhEnlightenedOne]

I tried to do this but got stuck at #2 because I have no family and no friends.

[FiendsReunited]

YOU WILL NOT NEED TO: Nail a toad to your doorbell 0:26

[69JRocker69]

So what if your asian >;o

[thelovelyleaf]

@floralxserenade stop having a bitch fit

[floralxserenade]

... So what if it's light outside? Does Christmas only occur at night? And you've obviously never taken basic grade 7 geography because it doesn't snow everywhere-- especially around Christmas. In Australia it still feels like summer during Christmas.

[jsh78mang]

tip one no matter how long it last or what the plan is take motrin first. it helps LOL

[OXOXwebkinzOXOX]

this is good for my cousins.... lol

[101eminem101]

wow 228 views in 2 hours!!!

[MINISLASH0]

you know i typically imagine hell as a dark and dreary place, and the only light is from the acid flames, and fires.

[Mykal73UK]

0:45 FIT!!!!!

[BlueBajs]

Christmas? It's fucking light as hell outside in this video, and no snow.. Wtf?