How to Accomplish Your Very First Holiday Dinner

So, this is your very first time doing a holiday dinner. You've always gone to someone else's house for the holidays and you really aren't sure how to pull this off on your own. Fear no more! By the time you finish reading this article; you will have everything under control and will be ready to put on a fabulous holiday dinner everyone will enjoy.

Hors d'oeuvres and Appetizers

Hors d'oeuvres or appetizers add so much to a holiday meal. Finger foods are loved by everyone. The first thing to do when deciding which appetizers to serve is to consider adding known appetizer favorites for the family and friends attending your holiday dinner.

Some simple ideas, to get you started, are veggie platters, fruit platters, crackers and cheese, seasonal nuts, pickles and olives. Some more involved ideas are sausage cheese balls, mini quiche, spinach or other dips, meatballs, little smokies, stuffed mushrooms, sushi, spring rolls and deviled eggs.

There are literally hundreds of recipes for hors d'oeuvres and appetizers out there. You can find many more ideas on the internet at places like allrecipes.com, cooks.com, holidays.cdkitchen.com, southernfood.about.com and finedinings.com.

Appetizers should tease and please the appetite, but not so much that there is no room for the main course!

Main Course: Ham, Turkey or Something Else?

This is the most important decision you need to make when preparing your very first holiday dinner. Many families do turkey on Thanksgiving then opt for ham on Christmas and Easter. It's really a personal preference, so consider what you and your guests like and make your decision from there. You should consider one pound of meat per person as a guide for how much meat to purchase.

If you decide to go with turkey, you have a few options:

a. Butterball turkeys are mass-produced and factory-farmed, but they are also one of America's favorite turkeys and easily purchased at all grocery stores.

b. Heritage turkeys are free-range and aren't given growth hormones. These are often sold at grocery stores, but you may need to visit a specialty store as well.

c. D'Artagnan sells certified organic, pastured turkeys. You may have a specialty store near you where you can purchase these, if not, you can also check online at places like igourmet.com and lobels.com.

d. Wild turkeys, gotten by hunting, are also very popular. If you have a family member that hunts, you might ask them to help you in this endeavor. Otherwise, you can visit places like exoticmeats.com and localharvest.org.

If you decide to go with a ham, you also have a few options:

a. There are several places you can get a ham that has already been seasoned and baked like the grocery store, hickoryfarms.com and honeybaked.com. All you have to do with these is heat it up and serve.

b. Organic hams, akin to Organic Prairie, can be found at specialty food stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats. You can even visit their web site at OrganicValley.coop to find a store near you.

c. Wild boar hams can be found through specialty stores and websites like brokenarrowranch.com or if you have a hunter in the family, you can ask them to help you.

Some things to remember when purchasing any meat: purchase the freshest date available, don't purchase anything with odd or bad smells and don't purchase anything with leaky or punctured wrappers.

Though many families opt for either turkey or ham, some families choose to go with roast duck, roast goose, lamb, veal or even a nice beef roast. By visiting your local grocery stores, specialty stores and searching online, you are guaranteed to come up with the best choice for you and your family. Don't be afraid to be different, but do make sure you understand how to cook and present the meat you choose for your holiday dinner.

Side Dishes: Create the Perfect Compliments to Your Main Course!

Okay, now that you have made your choice of ham, turkey or some other meat, it's time to move on to side dishes. This is my favorite part of any holiday meal. The first thing you want to consider when deciding which side dishes to include is tradition. Most families have recipes that have been passed down and are traditionally included in all the family holidays. Get with your family and your spouse's family and pick at least one recipe from each side so both families feel included. This can also turn into a wonderful learning experience if one of your relatives wants to teach you how to make a treasured recipe.

Now, because this is your Holiday dinner, be sure to add side dishes you find pleasing. There are many recipe web sites on the internet. You can find absolutely anything with just a few clicks of your mouse!

Some recommended web sites are: allrecipes.com, epicurious.com, bettycrocker.com, recipesource.com and foodnetwork.com. Skim through the offerings and pick approximately three recipes. If you have two traditional recipes from your relatives, this will provide a total of five side dishes; which will offer plenty of choices for your guests.

Dessert: Homemade, Traditional and New!

Again, you want to make sure you check with your family to see if there are some traditional desserts that are always looked forward to and included in holiday dinners. Mom's banana pudding, Cousin Vickie's red velvet cake and Aunt Frances' chocolate cake can add a whole new element to your Holiday dinner. People associate memories with food. Having family favorite desserts will ignite those memories producing a warm, fuzzy feeling we all hope to experience on the holidays.

If you are doing all the desserts, be sure to visit those recipe web sites I shared in the previous section. You can find tons of ideas within those pages. You can make the desserts exactly as they are written or you can tweak the recipes with your own additions to create something wonderful and unique. The sky really is the limit.

Also, don't be afraid to purchase your dessert already made. There are many stores and online stores that sell dessert delicacies. Shaving off some of the time you must spend cooking is always a good thing!

Beverages: Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic?

Some families enjoy alcoholic beverages with their holiday meals while others do not. Make the decision yourself or casually poll your relatives and then decide which one you will offer at your Holiday dinner. There are several yummy beverage recipes out there in both courts.

Traditionally, families have hot cocoa, coffee, tea, iced tea, milk, eggnog, mulled cider, mulled wine, wassail, wine and soda.

Many people take this time to utilize that beautiful punch bowl they keep for special occasions. There are absolutely tons of wonderful punch recipes online. You can find what you are looking for at places like seasonalrecipes.com, cdkitchen.com, recipegoldmine.com and razzledazzlerecipes.com.

Decorations: Easy and Inexpensive.

I won't go into a lengthy description of decorations here. I will, however, suggest some materials to use.

Natural items like cranberries, oranges, apples, squash, pumpkins, pomegranates, real tree limbs, pinecones and fall leaves can be used to create stunning displays. Yarn, ribbons, candles, glitter, bows and lace can also be used to create beautiful decorations.

Just use your imagination and whatever materials you have available. Remember to keep it simple so you don't get overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Well, now you have a good idea of how to pull off the perfect holiday dinner. Remember to include your family's traditional recipes as well as your own, unique, recipes. Combining traditional and fresh ideas will guarantee a successful holiday meal. Also remember to keep things as simple as possible. Don't be afraid to use recipes that call for canned food or other items you can find already prepared at your grocery store. Remember to check out online specialty shops; they can offer treats you can't normally find locally. Don't overwhelm yourself. Do ask for help if you think you'll need some. Enjoy yourself and have fun!