The holiday season is fast approaching and many of us are looking forward to being able to celebrate with family and friends this year. Last year, many of us had found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic and were subject to social isolation, lockdown or social distancing rules that meant we couldn’t spend time with our nearest and dearest unless we already lived with them. This year, we want to make up for it and many of us are hosting lavish dinners and celebrations to celebrate! Of course, this means a lot of cooking is coming up and you may want to start practicing so you get everything just right. Hopefully, some of the suggestions below will help you along the way!
Pigs in Blankets
Pigs in blankets are a much awaited and anticipated festive side dish that many of us look forward to enjoying. It is simply a small sausage wrapped in crispy bacon. Nowadays, you can get plenty of options that are ready-made in supermarkets, butchers and similar stores. However, if you want to make your own, this is an option too! If you’re catering to vegetarians or vegans, there are now also ready made options available, or you can make your own with vegan sausages and vegan bacon.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is an extremely simple dish to make and doesn’t take too long at all. It also keeps well in the fridge, so this is something that you can make in advance and serve up on the day, rather than adding to your list of items to prepare and cook on the day of the meal. Sure, it may be a cold dish and some of us may associate it with picnics and summer salads, but it’s a firm favourite that people are bound to enjoy on the table. Traditionally, potato salad is made with boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, chopped chives, salt and pepper. You can find a simple potato salad recipe here. However, if you are catering to vegans, it can easily be made with a vegan mayonnaise substitute.
Roasted Vegetables
Make sure you and your guests are still getting your five a day! There are plenty of ways to prepare vegetables, but roasted tends to be a firm favourite when it comes to festivities. Simply chop up your vegetables, place them in a baking tin or roasting pan with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and peppers, and you’re good to go! Keep an eye on them while they’re cooking to make sure they don’t burn.
Gravy
Make sure there’s plenty of gravy available, as everyone’s bound to want some. Instant gravy, homemade gravy or store bought gravy. Settle on whichever option you prefer or whichever option makes life easiest for you.
Conclusion
These are just a few suggestions that you might like to take into consideration. Every family has their own traditions, but these are some real crowd pleasers that are bound to bring a smile to everyone’s faces!
