Genius Ways to Ease Holiday Entertaining

Choose recipes that can be prepared early and then put in the oven when it’s time to eat. Whether it is lasagna, a breakfast bake, or chicken enchiladas, the solution to holiday entertaining is easy and tasty casseroles.

You can also go for one simple and versatile soup. Offer an impressive spread of toppings for people to add to their bowls. The soup should be vegetarian-friendly if entertaining vegetarian guests, and you can lay out chopped crispy bacon for the meat eaters. You can also offer a mix of garnishes such as salted peanuts, cilantro, chile oil, or pickled red onions.

Holiday hams are easy to do ahead of time, too. Order a smoked ham and rub it with a mixture of whole-grain mustard and brown sugar to make it taste homemade. Wrap it tightly in foil. Then, bake at 350°F for 2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of your ham.

After it cools for at least an hour in the foil, serve it sliced with small bakery rolls, sliced pickles, and a spread of different mustards and chutneys. Extra bits of ham can be used for the next morning’s breakfast strata.

It’s easy to choose pasta when making dinner for a crowd, but pasta suffers when you make it ahead of time. It’s a great idea to make a cacio e pepe, which is simple and easy. Here’s one way to make it.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spaghetti
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 beaten eggs
• 2½ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 6 oz Fontina cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 6 oz sharp white cheddar, shredded (2 cups)
• Butter for pan

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Boil spaghetti until al dente; drain.
3. Mix pasta with milk, Parmesan, eggs, pepper, salt, and 1½ cups each Fontina and cheddar.
4. Transfer to a buttered 9-inch springform pan.
5. Top with remaining cheeses.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes until cheese bubbles.
7. Broil for 2-3 minutes until browned.
8. Cool for 15 minutes, remove the pan ring, and serve in wedges.

This super-cheesy slab pie will make a great lunch for 8 to 10 people at any holiday dinner.

Ingredients:

• 2 sheets of puff pastry, thawed
• All-purpose flour, for rolling
• Dijon mustard
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar or Gruyère cheese
• Sliced ham or mortadella (optional)
• 1 beaten egg
• Parchment paper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Roll puff pastry sheets to 10 x 13 inches on a floured surface.
3. Place one of the pastry sheets on a baking sheet and spread with mustard, leaving a 1-inch border.
4. Add cheese and optional meat.
5. Brush edges with beaten egg.
6. Top with the second pastry sheet; crimp edges.
7. Eggwash the top of the pastry and make slits with a knife.
8. Bake 20-30 minutes until puffed and golden.
9. Cut into squares; serve with mustard or tomato soup.