During this time of year many of us have gatherings with family & friends. We often enjoy having company for dinner because it is a fun way to reconnect. This carries on through the New Year and can create stress for us. The planning and cooking can be overwhelming not to mention the cost of providing a meal for many. Don’t fret! You can host a dinner at your home that is stress free and low cost by trying this simple little plan.

Host a crockpot dinner party. Each person or family attending brings a part of the meal in a crockpot. You can plan for you to make the main course and have others bring an appetizer, side dish, drink, bread, and dessert; all of which are prepared in a crockpot. Hosting this type of meal means that each person prepares their part of the meal in the morning and doesn’t have to think about it again. Transporting the meal is a breeze. Presentation and serving is simple and relaxing. Clean up and storage is also simple and stress free. Best of all, the cost is minimal for each participant.

There are tons of resources for crockpot recipes and the recipes themselves are endless; so much so that you can have themed dinners to keep things fun. For example, consider doing an Autumn theme having such foods as apple cider, pumpkin soup, roasted pork chops with apples, vegetable of choice, and peach pie. Host a Mexican dinner featuring Taco soup, Chicken Mole and Rice, Refried beans, and Churro bread. Italian more your style? There are so many delicious Italian crockpot recipes! Start off with some absolutely delicious Liquid Pizza Dip. Enjoy a main course of Easy Lasagna, Italian bread, and a salad. Finish of the meal with Cheesecake and you will find your dinner party a raving success!

Now, even if you decide you want to host a dinner party of your own, you can still simplify your entertaining by cooking all of your components in crockpots. Serving is ultra simple when you have a few crockpots lined up with serving spoons alongside each one. What? You don’t have enough crockpots to cook for your guests? Try asking if you could borrow from some friends. Everyone has a crockpot!

Buono Appetito!