8 Tips for Hosting a Casual Easter Lunch at Home
Entertaining at home needn’t be a hard egg to crack. Follow these steps for a spring lunch everyone can enjoy
Whether it’s your turn to host the family or you’ve decided to invite friends over for a special meal, making a few simple preparations can mean the difference between a frantic or a fun get-together. Read on and get ready for an Easter lunch that will leave you just as happy as your guests.
1. Eat alfresco. The weather can be a little unpredictable this time of year, but if you’re lucky enough to see some blue skies over the Easter break, moving your crew outdoors is a great option. Not only will you get to enjoy the fresh spring air and have more space to mingle, but also the cleanup job is bound to be easier, not to mention stain-free.
2. Keep it intimate. Limiting the guest list to a handful of close friends and family members will take a lot of pressure off playing host, not to mention easing the strain on your time and budget. Make a list of whom you’d like to invite (including partners and children) while keeping in mind the size of your entertaining area — an expansive deck calls for different space considerations than a small dining room.
3. Make the menu fuss-free. While experimenting with new recipes is a fun idea for not-so-busy occasions, at Easter less is usually best when it comes to menu planning. Stick with what you know and love to cook — your favorite salad, potato bake, corn fritters. Set up a buffet-style table where guests can help themselves, being sure to include plenty of water jugs and other drink options.
4. Prepare ahead. One of the easiest ways to make hosting as stress-free as possible is to prepare as much as you can a day or two beforehand. This includes food prep (checking for any dietary requirements), setting the table, folding and laying out napkins, and any other cleaning and organizing tasks that can be done before the day.
Tip: A platter with cheese, crackers and easy finger food is perfect to start. Bring it out and leave it on the table when guests start arriving so that they can nibble while you make any final lunch preparations without worrying about hungry tummies.
Watch: Assemble an Artful and Delicious Cheese Platter
Watch: Assemble an Artful and Delicious Cheese Platter
5. Choose DIY decorations. While grass bunnies and ceramic eggs look lovely, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on Easter-specific decorations that will only be discarded a few days later. Set a celebratory mood with candles, bunting, string lights, colorful pillows and any other decorations you already have at home.
15 Creative and Crafty Spring Project Ideas
15 Creative and Crafty Spring Project Ideas
Tip: Empty jars always seem to come in handy and are ideal for recycling in table settings. Pick some seasonal blooms and use the jars as vases, pop a tea light inside, or decorate with glitter and twine and use them to store utensils along the table.
6. Set the mood with music.
Creating a playlist takes time, but you’ll agree it’s well worth it once your guests have started arriving and you can enjoy greeting them without having to think about music stopping and starting. Keep it age-appropriate and begin with something mellow and relaxing, perhaps saving the dance tunes for later in the afternoon.
Creating a playlist takes time, but you’ll agree it’s well worth it once your guests have started arriving and you can enjoy greeting them without having to think about music stopping and starting. Keep it age-appropriate and begin with something mellow and relaxing, perhaps saving the dance tunes for later in the afternoon.
7. Plan something for kids. An Easter get-together is likely to involve little ones of all ages, so it’s important to make sure they have something to keep them entertained. Plan an Easter egg hunt where children are given a paper bag to embellish with colorful markers and stickers before collecting their treasure, or hand out hard-cooked eggs to be decorated and used in a basket as a table centerpiece.
8. Keep things cozy. Bringing out the pillows and blankets might not be top of mind when planning an Easter lunch, but a few soft touches can be very useful if things turn chilly, or if little guests tire and need to take a nap. Keep a few on hand just in case.
Tell us: Let us know what entertaining you have in mind for this Easter by sharing your plans in the Comments below.
More: These Ideas Can Get Your Home in the Mood for Easter
Tell us: Let us know what entertaining you have in mind for this Easter by sharing your plans in the Comments below.
More: These Ideas Can Get Your Home in the Mood for Easter