Smart hosting

Christmas and New Year is one of those times when everyone wants to cozy up and spend time with family and friends. A nice little celebration is just what everyone needs for a fresh new start. But does the thought of hosting people leave you feeling overwhelmed? Have you recently found yourself putting off inviting people because you know it involves a lot of cooking, cleaning and everything in between? 

But house parties are so much fun. It also gives you a great chance to bond and foster intimacy, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t have people over whenever you can. But how can you host a party without wrapping your nicest of carpets in bedsheets (which, we at ApEx believe, is the most tacky thing you can do while hosting and otherwise) and using disposables that are hard to hold let alone drink or eat from? Don’t fret. We have some ingenious solutions.

Hire a cook or a food service

The food has to be good. Your reputation as a host depends on the meal spread. But cooking takes time and effort and you might not want to be in the kitchen, reheating and plating food, when your guests arrive. People tend to order from restaurants but that can be impersonal and expensive too. Hiring a cook to come in for a day and prepare food is one of the most cost effective and easy ways to host a party. It ensures a freshly cooked meal that you can tailor according to your needs and preferences. You can easily hire cooks and help from various catering services. There are many freelance cooks who work on a daily or contract basis as well. The other option if you don’t want to have a busy kitchen is to order from the many homemade food services available these days. Kabita’s Kitchen on Facebook is one of the most efficient services. They cater for small parties and prepare whatever you ask them to, however you ask them to. They even ask you which oil you would prefer for your food and whether you would like it to be cooked in ghee. The price is also reasonable and their food is delicious.

Focus on activities and finger foods

Not all parties require a full-fledged meal like lunch or dinner. You can become pretty full on snacks and finger foods if you plan them right. List some easy recipes that you can make in the air-fryer, oven or microwave that don’t need to be reheated. You can also opt for a cheese or cold-cut platter or an elaborate fruit spread. Whip up different kinds of dips and sauces and serve them with chips, nachos, and other dry snacks. Consider having a picnic in the warm winter sun. This way, you can have an outdoor party that entails less cleaning time. A really fun way to do that would be to play card games or board games. If you are feeling up for it, setting up a barbecue grill in a corner will ensure you have hot food flowing throughout it all. And all the preparation you need is marinating some meat and vegetables beforehand. A game night or a movie night could also be a great way to plan something fun without it requiring a lot of preparation.

Ask for help

The thing with help is that if you ask for it, you often get it. So if you are planning a party and feel anxious about how you are going to manage, don’t hesitate to ask a friend or a cousin for help. You can prepare meals and your home for guests over a glass of wine and while catching up. Chances are that the one you ask for help will feel good about it and you can always return the favor. It will make planning and preparing a lot of fun too. You can also do a potluck style hosting, asking each guest to bring a dish to share. You can assign snacks, main course, and desserts accordingly to avoid repetition. It’s a great way to enjoy different kinds of food and cooking styles as well. The same goes for cleaning up after the party. Get a friend to help with putting away the dishes in the kitchen and tidying up the house, with promises to return the favor when s/he needs it.

Conscious cleaning

Most of us try to clean our homes top to bottom while hosting people. We want to make an impression and also ensure that our guests are comfortable. But what we at ApEx have noticed over the years is people don’t usually notice deep cleaning. They will notice if surfaces look shiny and if things smell off. So, dust the tabletop and counters, clean the bathroom putting out fresh towels, and make sure you sanitize your space to make it smell nice. Baby oil can be used to bring instant shine to wooden surfaces. Just don’t use too much, else it can attract dust even more. Put a drop or two on a soft cloth and buff the tables and consoles. The rest you can do once the guests are gone and you feel like your space needs a good after-party cleaning. Sprinkling baking soda on couches and carpets, letting it settle for a while, and then vacuuming them will get rid of pesky food odors and stains. Vinegar, followed by blotting paper, can be used to get rid of stains, including red wine and oil spills.