So, you’ve decided to put on a party. Congrats! You’re about to have a whole lot of fun.
Well, entertaining for friends and family is supposed to be fun, but too often it can turn into a stressful exercise that leaves the host stuck in the kitchen the whole night.
The key to actually enjoying yourself is cutting corners. Not everything needs to be a battle and it doesn’t have to be hard.
So in the spirit of making life easier, here are 20 genius hacks that will save you time and make hosting a stress-free exercise.
Prosecco ice cubes
Prosecco ice cubes
Add a sparkle to your drinks with prosecco ice cubes! Fill an ice-cube tray with sliced strawberries, pour over bubbly and freeze until solid. (Image: Getty)
Seafood platter
Show-stopping centrepiece
Make an impressive ice platter for your seafood by cutting and arranging watercress, mint, dill, cucumber, sliced limes and lemons in a large baking tray. Half fill with water and place in the freezer.
Once frozen, repeat layers, filling water up to rim of tray. Freeze overnight. Before serving, turn over and rub with a tea towel soaked in hot water until ice comes free. Top with fresh seafood.
Lemon and lime slices
Easy citrus slices
Thinly slice lemons and lime and freeze, then add to sparkling water and cocktails. (Image: Getty)
Corn on the cob
Mess-free corn kernels
Cut corn over a bundt pan It’s easier to hold the corn and makes less of a mess! (Image: Getty)
Layer cake
Easy cake layers
Use unwaxed, unflavoured dental floss to neatly cut a cake into layers. It usually works better than a knife! (Image: Getty)
Hulled strawberries
Quick hull
Push a straw through the bottom of a strawberry to quickly remove the leaves and stem. (Image: Getty)
Chilled wine
Chill wine in a flash
Treat guests to chilled wine even when you haven’t got any in the fridge. Fill a jug with half ice and half water, then add a generous amount of salt to help the water reach a lower temperature. Submerge your bottle and wait a few minutes for it to cool down. (Image: Getty)
How To Do Hot Upside Down Pavlova
Easy-peasy chcolate swirls
Melt chocolate in a squeeze bottle. It’s easier to use for decorating than the usual plastic snap-lock bag. (Image: Getty)
Save your salad
Create more space in the fridge by transferring leftover salads into large snap-lock bags for lunch the next day. (Image: Getty)
Don’t pick up the wrong glass
Keep guests’ wine glasses easily identifiable by writing their names on gift tags and attaching them to the glass stem with a piece of string. (Image: Getty)
Fridge fresh
Wrap dry, unwashed leafy greens in paper towel and place in a plastic bag. Any extra moisture will be absorbed. (Image: Getty)
Lump-free gravy
Get lump-free gravy
Pop it in the blender or food processor and give it a quick whiz to break up chunks, then return to pan until ready to serve.
Chocolate curls
Make chocolate curls for cakes.
Run a potato peeler along the edge of a block of chilled chocolate to decorate desserts. (Image: Getty)
Beer can chicken
Prop up a whole chicken on a beer can to roast for extra moisture. This method also allows for even heating all the way around the bird. (Image: Getty)
Handy mint hint
If your hands need a freshen up after chopping too many onions , simply rub some mint leaves between them and they’ll be fresh again. (Image: Getty)
Aluminum foil
Easy clean up
Large disposable foil trays are a dream for cleaning up after roasting meats.
Boiled potatoes
Easy peel potatoes
Boil unpeeled potatoes until tender then immediately transfer to ice water. The skins will easily come right off! (Image: Getty)
