Comfy Company | Holiday Entertaining

If you have guests staying with you for the holidays, nothing will be more relaxing for them and you than if you plan a few details ahead of time. You should make sure that your guests have tasty meals, fresh bath items and a comfy place to sleep.

You plan should start with a menu, but remember to be flexible. You may want to go out for a day of fun. So, as you plan your menu think about a meal that might be easy to pack up for a yummy picnic or take a break and introduce your guests to your favorite local eatery. For times when you are hanging around the house, stock your shelves with plenty of tasty snacks. Goodies for late night movie watching might include hot cocoa mix, assorted teas (be sure to have milk and sugar on hand), a couple of different kinds of cookies and some microwave popcorn.

We like to start with a big breakfast on days at home. Recently we discovered Trader Joe's Pumpkin and Waffle Mix. With holiday spices like fragrant cinnamon, these pancakes are perfect for the season and delicious, especially with a great maple syrup and a side of Canadian bacon. It's so good that we had it for dinner the other night!

If you're making dinner for your guests, you may want to prepare a something that is easy and plentiful. Check out the Silver Palate cookbook's L'inverno Pasta. Rich with walnuts, olive oil, garlic ham and a melty cheese, you leave the flavors to blend for several hours. When its time for dinner all you do is boil the pasta and toss it together. You can add a crisp green salad and buttery French bread for a wonderfully scrumptious and quick meal.

After your delicious dinner, you can have movies on hand for everyone to watch. A couple of my family-friendly favorites are the Princess Bride and Some Like it Hot. You can also leave some magazines or local newspapers on the nightstand for folks who like to read before bed.

Whether your guests are in a guest room or on the couch, make them a comfy place to sleep.  Clean sheets and a stack of extra blankets are a must. Let you guests know which bathroom to use and point out the fresh towels you've left for them, Think about putting a basket of travel size bath goods on the bathroom counter too.

When you plan ahead and let your guests know where to find what they need, you can kick back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wind and and catch up with visiting friends and family this holiday season.