Entertaining is Easy with The Gourmet Cupboard

Holiday Headache? The Gourmet Cupboard to the rescue!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

When the holidays roll around, I absolutely adore hosting parties! From hors d’oeuvres to sparkling cocktails, I have the chance to flex my culinary muscles for a crowd of fab foodie friends.

The only problem is that when I am the party host, I usually don’t get to enjoy my own fiesta! From planning the menu, buying enough ingredients, prepping days ahead, and making sure that everything is the right temperature when served, it’s enough to exhaust even the most enthusiastic of pro party planners.

I think Irving Berlin’s song “Happy Holiday” said it best: “If you’re burdened down with trouble, If your nerves are wearing thin, Park your load down the road, And come to Holiday Inn.”

The song was written in 1942, and for many of us these lyrics still ring true today!

Don’t get me wrong, I cherish spending the holidays with fam and friends. My goal for this year is to have holiday fun, minus the holiday headache.

Love With Food turned to The Gourmet Cupboard to ease our holiday hosting woes. You don’t usually hear the words quick, easy, and gourmet in the same sentence, but The Gourmet Cupboard has perfected the art of packaging traditional family recipes to make meals simple to make, and simply delicious. With their savory mixes and sweet mixes, you can easily feed a crowd of 10 for less than $20!

Menu Planning from A to D: Appetizers to Desserts
If you’re planning any sort of party, food is the life-source of the festivities. One part good friends, one part good food, and you’ve got an equation for a lot of good fun!

Here’s my party menu from appetizers to desserts, all planned ahead based on The Gourmet Cupboard’s quick and easy gourmet food mixes.

Appetizers
When guests start arriving, they’ll need a little nosh to whet their appetite. Creamy spinach dip, anyone? With a platter of crispy carrots, crunchy celery, and artisan veggie chips, you might not feel so guilty once the pumpkin cheesecake appears for the grand finale!

Easy prep for The Gourmet Cupboard’s creamy spinach dip: Simply stir the spinach & herb mix into sour cream. Cutting back on calories? Try a low-fat sour cream instead. Click here for product info.

For a sweet and delectable finger food, hollow out fresh strawberries and fill with chocolate chip cheesecake spread. Garnish with a sprig of mint for extra flair!

Super simple and simply delicious. Add the cheesecake dip mix to cream cheese, stir well, and place the filling into fresh strawberries. Devour in one bite!

Soup Course
Since this time of year is chilly, a soup course is a definite must. A classic comfort food like potato soup lets everyone customize the dish to their own tastes. Provide classic baked potato toppers like cheddar cheese, chives, crispy applewood smoked bacon, or even a touch of sriracha hot sauce!

Warm, creamy potato soup, no peeling required! Boil milk or cream with a touch of better, and add the potato soup mix. Garnish with your fave spud fixings, and relax!

Main Course
The main course is my fave, because the recipe is simply “set it and forget it!” The spiced Mexican meatloaf stays warm and moist until it’s ready to serve, which means I get to relax instead of running back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room.

Now, I admit that Mexican-American cuisine isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I think of holiday parties, but it’s so easy to prepare and has a zesty flavor that warms me right up! Who says you can’t make a new tradition?

The Mexican meatloaf recipe can even be used to make cute, bite-sized hors d’oeuvres. Just slice thin, place onto a mini corn tortilla, top with salsa and cilantro, and presto! You’ve got some finger food that is muy delicioso!

Set it and forget it! The main course will be ready when you are. Simply mix the Mexican meatloaf spice blend with ground meat and some zesty salsa for extra flavor and moisture. Top with cheddar cheese, or even Monterey Jack. For a healthier version, use ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Dessert
No matter how much I’ve enjoyed the meal so far, I always save a little room for dessert. With the pumpkin mix, there’s the option of making pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Decisions, decisions! Why not choose both?

Holiday Wishes
With the table cleared and the dishwasher whirring away, I think I’ll sit by the fireside and sip on a mug of hazelnut hot chocolate while I revel in the success of my party.

Mr. Berlin’s song also has another lyric that I almost forgot about: “May your ev’ry wish come true.”

You know what? I think my holiday wish did just come true: entertaining is easy.

Warmin’ up with a cup of hazelnut hot chocolate! Smooth, creamy, and a hint of hazelnut.

Feed 10 under $20 with Gourmet Cupboard’s Special Offers. Sale Ends soon.
Savory Holiday Entertaining package
Sweet Holiday Entertaining package

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