Hosting for the Holidays Survival Guide

With the holidays just around the corner, you’ve got a lot on your mind. 

Hosting…in-laws…kids…making sure your home survives the madness…

Whether your plans are crazy or cozy, you CAN thrive this holiday season when hosting family and guests. Here are six tips to help: 

1. Declutter and donate to make space for guests and the coming onslaught of gifts.

2. Keep tried-and-true appetizer ingredients (and bottles of wine) on hand. Perfect for last-minute gifts or impromptu gatherings.

3. Stock up on towels and toilet paper. A must and total no-brainer.  

4. Splurge on fancy disposable plates, cups, and silverware.

5. Wash or replace guest room linens, pick up extra toiletries, and swap old pillows for new, so you'll feel confident your guests are nestled and all snug in their beds.

6. Take care of yourself! Gift yourself a quiet walk or hit up your favorite coffee shop solo when you need a break and some fresh air.

Let me introduce you to a Holiday favorite in this household: Buttery Breakfast Christmas Casserole

You read that right… the word buttery is in the TITLE of this recipe.

The focus of the holidays is always on the dinner

But what about feeding hungry house guests the morning of or the morning after a big holiday sha-bang?!

This one is a crowd favorite and requested year after year (sorry turkey and ham) and is SO easy to prep ahead of time!

Let's get into it! 1 lb pre-cooked croissants (about 5 to 7), split in half lengthwise 1 tbsp olive oil, more for baking dish 1 bunch scallions thinly sliced, greens reserved 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed 2 tsp finely chopped fresh sage 8 eggs 3 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 8 ounces Gruyère, grated (2 cups) 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions for this Recipe can be found on New York Times Cooking - Or abbreviated below!

Step 1 Tear croissants into large bite-size pieces, set aside

Step 2 In a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add sliced scallions and sausage meat, breaking up meat with a fork, until mixture is well browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in sage, and remove from heat.

Step 3 In a large bowl, toss together croissants and sausage mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, 1½ cups cheese, salt and pepper.

Step 4 Oil a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Turn croissant mixture into pan, spreading it out evenly over the bottom. Pour egg mixture into pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hrs or overnight.

Step 5 Ready to bake? Heat oven to 350 degrees. Scatter remaining cheese over top. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with sliced scallion tops before serving.

Hosting in your dream home is truly an honor and we hope you enjoy the experience! Not in your dream home during the holidays? Let’s chat and change that for you to host with joy!