M., after reading another post here that had me thinking about the Grinch That Stole Christmas, it is SO nice to read your question. I like the ideas you've been given about soup, lasagna, snacks, etc. Make a big salad too, and have chips, dips, and cut up veggies at the ready to just pull out.
Another thing you can do is what my kids' friends just love - buy some semi-sweet chocolates and whipping cream and vanilla extract and put it in a double broiler, melt it and have strawberries, pineapple pieces, banana pieces and maybe small chunks of pound cake for dipping. If your friends and family are like mine, they enjoy hanging around in the kitchen talking and enjoying each other, and the dipping is a fun and happy activity, meanwhile, the "cook" isn't stuck in the kitchen alone while everyone else is having fun talking!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Dawn
Updated
M., after reading another post here that had me thinking about the Grinch That Stole Christmas, it is SO nice to read your question. I like the ideas you've been given about soup, lasagna, snacks, etc. Make a big salad too, and have chips, dips, and cut up veggies at the ready to just pull out.
Another thing you can do is what my kids' friends just love - buy some semi-sweet chocolates and whipping cream and vanilla extract and put it in a double broiler, melt it and have strawberries, pineapple pieces, banana pieces and maybe small chunks of pound cake for dipping. If your friends and family are like mine, they enjoy hanging around in the kitchen talking and enjoying each other, and the dipping is a fun and happy activity, meanwhile, the "cook" isn't stuck in the kitchen alone while everyone else is having fun talking!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Dawn