Ditch the Holiday Stress Party shortcuts for cutting your workload Story by Courtney Jonsson
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ven if you look forward to hosting your family’s holiday party each year, you likely have moments where you’re stressed beyond belief. It’s not easy trying to do all that cooking, baking, cleaning, and organizing when you’re trying to keep up with all your other daily commitments as well. Instead of stressing out this holiday season, wouldn’t it be nice to delegate some of the work to someone else? That way, you can enjoy your holiday season without feeling rushed every minute of the day. Here are some shortcuts you can take to make your holiday a little brighter so you can soak in all those moments that matter. CHOOSE A MAIN DISH One of the simple joys of the holidays is enjoying a nice meal with your family, but it can be overwhelming to prepare. From main dishes to sides, appetizers to desserts, there is a lot to do, especially when you factor in cleaning up all those dishes. Local restaurants can be an excellent resource when your holiday party planning begins. The main dish, some would argue, is the most important part of the meal, but it can take hours to prepare. Tony’s Butt Shack in Hollowayville offers catering services that will save every party host a handful of hours. “The main dish of choice at the Butt Shack is our Texas beef brisket. No one really has 17 hours to cook a bris-
PHOTOS BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Letting someone else take the chore of baking off your plate can be a huge timesaver when you’re hosting a holiday party or attending one. Myrtle’s Pies in Princeton has an assortment of crowd-pleasing pies and other desserts that will let you cross holiday baking off of your list. ket, so this dish makes a great impact at gatherings,” Tony Vaccaro, owner of Tony’s Butt Shack said. Verucchi’s Ristorante in Spring Valley offers up main dishes rooted in tradition. Their family favorites are served at holiday parties and never seem to disappoint. Paula Verucchi Tomsha shared some of the history behind their famous lasagna. “When feeding family and friends, we recommend a pan of Grandma Bea’s homemade lasagna. Our 97-year-old matriarch has been serving it for special occasions for 75 years, and if you have ever tried our lasagna, then you know you
6 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication
can taste all of the love that goes into it,” she said. Whether you choose the Texas brisket from Tony’s Butt Shack or Grandma Bea’s lasagna at Verucchi’s, your guests will be impressed by the meal on the table. SNACKS AND SIDES Appetizers and side dishes can be difficult during holiday party planning because there are so many to choose from. Most hosts want their appetizers to fit well with the main course. Creating multiple appetizers that please your guest’s palettes is daunting. Instead of stressing out about what to serve, turn to the experts.
Jack’s Tap in Spring Valley, owned by Eric and Bri Verucchi, has a chef on staff that gladly alters Jack’s offerings to best serve their customers. A few choices at Jack’s include a taco bar, sandwich platters, and wings. “All packages can be catered to your party’s needs. Hosts can add any dish or appetizer to the packages. Our chef can make anything,” the Verucchis said. Jack’s Tap is a one-stop shop for your appetizer and side dish needs. Their friendly staff will ensure you feel comfortable with what will be served at your next gathering. GET SOME BAKING HELP What’s a holiday party without a wide assortment of baked goods? If you love having pies, cakes, and cookies for your guests to nibble on but get stressed trying to find the time to do all that baking, you can outsource your wish list to a bakery. At Myrtle’s Pies in Princeton, customers can choose between a mind-boggling number of hot or cold pies. If you don’t want the fuss of making sure the cold pies stay chilled during an extended get-together, hot pies are always a good option. For Thanksgiving, Myrtle’s sells a lot of pumpkin pies. But other popular holiday choices, especially in December, include apple, cherry, strawberry rhubarb, French silk, or coconut cream. If you want your pie to be more memorable, Myrtle’s
