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17 Genius Party Hacks to Make Hosting a Breeze This Holiday Season

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So, you’ve decided to put on a party. Congrats! You’re about to have a whole lot of fun. 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 some genius hacks that will save you time and make hosting a stress-free exercise.

1. Prosecco Ice Cubes 

Add a sparkle to your drinks with prosecco ice cubes! Fill an ice cube tray with sliced strawberries, pour bubbly over them, and freeze until solid. 

2. Show-Stopping Centerpiece 

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.

Frozen lemons and limes in a jar.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

3. Easy Citrus Slices 

Thinly slice lemons and lime and freeze. Then, add to sparkling water and cocktails.

4. Mess-Free Corn Kernels 

Cut corn over a bundt pan. It’s easier to hold the corn and makes less of a mess! 

5. Easy Cake Layers 

Use unwaxed, unflavored dental floss to neatly cut a cake into layers. It usually works better than a knife! 

6. Quick Hull 

Push a straw through the bottom of a strawberry to quickly remove the leaves and stem.

toy wine in plastic bucket

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

7. Flash-Chilled Wine

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.

8. Easy-Peasy Chocolate Swirls 

Melt chocolate in a squeeze bottle. It’s easier to use for decorating than the usual plastic ziplock bag. 

9. Always Fresh Salad

Create more space in the fridge by transferring leftover salads into large ziplock bags for lunch the next day. 

10. Wine Glass Labels 

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. 

11. Fridge Fresh 

Wrap dry, unwashed leafy greens in paper towel and place in a plastic bag. The paper towel will absorb any extra moisture, leaving your produce crisp and fresh.

12. Lump-Free Gravy 

Pop it in the blender or food processor and give it a quick whiz to break up chunks. Then, return it to the pan until it’s ready to serve.

white and milk chocolate shavings

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

13. Chocolate Curls for Cakes 

Run a potato peeler along the edge of a block of chilled chocolate to decorate desserts.

14. 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. 

15. Handy Mint Hint 

If your hands need a refresher after chopping too many onions, simply rub some mint leaves between them and they’ll be fresh again.

16. Easy Clean Up 

Large disposable foil trays are a dream for cleaning up after roasting meats.

17. Easy-Peel Potatoes 

Boil unpeeled potatoes until tender then immediately transfer to ice water. The skins will easily come right off!

This article was originally written by Rebecca Sullivan. For more, check out our sister site, Now to Love.

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