5 quick-and-easy tips for taking the hassle out of holiday entertaining

(BPT) – ‘Tis the season for entertaining, meaning the hustle and bustle of the holidays are already upon us. Fortunately, being named ‘hostess (or host) with the mostest’ is well within your reach if you follow these tips guaranteed to keep the holiday cheer flowing throughout this season’s festivities.

Get creative with your menu.

Look beyond the usual roasts and side dishes toward more original, restaurant-inspired items that you know guests will love. When you opt for entertainer-approved finger foods, like SeaPak’s Prosciutto-Wrapped Party Shrimp, you’ll get your guests talking and leave them wanting more.

Let your freezer be your biggest helper.

Frozen foods are a quick-and-easy solution to have on hand, especially when you’re cooking for an unexpected crowd. Plus, when your freezer’s stocked with tried-and-true holiday favorites, like seafood, you automatically save time and can get your shopping done weeks in advance. So be sure to shop the frozen aisle for easy-to-make, heat-and-eat options throughout the season to take your entertaining from frozen to festive in minutes.

Keep your guests involved.

The holidays are all about giving, so why not let each of your party guests bring a dish to help complete your holiday spread? This way, everyone has something they really love as part of the meal and you’ve saved valuable time (and hassle) by delegating some of the cooking responsibilities. Bonus: Potluck-style dishes tend to serve as great conversation starters!

Make your list and check it twice.

Before the holiday craziness sets in, sit down and create a shopping list of all the food and supplies you’ll need throughout the season. When you can, shop early, so you won’t have to be out and about so much during peak holiday times. Staying organized will make for smooth, seamless and stress-free mealtime moments, which you’ll be thankful for down the road.

Let the kids pitch in.

Everyone loves to get in the spirit of the holiday season any way they can, especially kids! Don’t be afraid to offer small jobs to your children to lighten your load and keep them busy.

Planning ahead will help make entertaining a breeze this holiday season. With these simple tips, you can reduce your holiday stress-level and serve up quick-and-easy meals filled with holiday cheer.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Party Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 9-ounce package SeaPak Jumbo Butterfly Shrimp

12 1-inch pieces of roasted red pepper

12 1-inch-by-4-inch strips of prosciutto

12 small basil leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

While shrimp is still frozen, place one piece of roasted red pepper on the shrimp. Wrap prosciutto strip around the pepper and shrimp and place on the prepared baking sheet (ends to the underside).

Bake according to package directions for 14 to 17 minutes or until shrimp is cooked through. Serve hot and garnished with basil leaves.

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