Holiday HH Tips

tastemakers tips

Holiday Entertaining with Habitual Hostess

'Tis the season for holiday entertaining! Check out this season's top tips from our expert friends, Alston and Leigh of Habitual Hostess.

Deck the Halls

"I love wreaths in all the windows! It’s really fun to have festive Christmas plates, glasses and mugs that you can use every day. It makes all the meals feel special! My china is blue and I love pairing it with red tartan napkins that have pops of blue in them. We always set the table with a tree folded napkin for Christmas dinner." - Alston

Festive Cocktails

Serve a festive cocktail that you can batch out to make hosting easy. We love our Pomegranate Cosmo or Hot Toddy! To make the Cosmo in advance, just multiply each ingredient by the number of cocktails you want to make, and add an ounce of water for each cocktail. Then chill really well and pull out just before guests arrive. For the Toddies, have them simmering on the stovetop while you trim the tree and decorate for the holidays.

Pomegranate Cosmo

Makes 2 Cocktails

3 oz vodka

3 oz pomegranate juice (we use Pom brand)

1 oz lime juice

1.5 oz Cointreau

Pomegranate seeds and thinly sliced lime wheels to garnish

Fill a shaker with ice. Pour all ingredients into the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel

Hot Toddy

Makes 1 Cocktail

1 oz Malibu
1 oz dark rum
1 oz apple cider
.5 oz lemon juice
.5 oz pineapple juice
2 oz water

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and warm over low heat. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

Fill Your Home with Seasonal Scents

Create a cozy atmosphere with a Christmas Simmer Pot and a festive appetizer!

Festive Brie

Everyone always loves a cheese board, and it couldn’t be easier to put a festive touch on yours! We love to cut the top off of a wheel of Brie, use a holiday shaped cookie cutter to cut out a shape on the top layer. Then, fill the middle with a sweet or spicy jam, sprinkle on some nuts and place the top back on. Such a fun way to add a seasonal touch!

CHRISTMAS SIMMER POT

Let this concoction simmer away all day and your house will smell like Christmas!

1 orange
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
5 whole cloves
2 sprigs of rosemary

Slice the orange and add the slices with the rest of the ingredients into a small pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn down to low and let it simmer away. You can add more water to the pot as needed.