• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nina Anders

Living an Ageless Life With Style

  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • EBook
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Inspiration
    • Morning Musings
    • My Almost Empty Nest

Dishing About The Sides: Host A Perfect Holiday

11/08/2019 · In: Lifestyle

Host a perfect holiday with Sharing a journey

With the holidays just around the corner, my focus has been on entertaining and looking good while doing it. Job one is the guest list—I love having friends and loved ones around the table during the holidays. Once the guest list is set, the big adventure begins, choosing what to serve, and finally how to look and feel good doing it all. (Nothing is worse than cooking like a fiend, and greeting your guests all frazzled and stressed. I know, I’ve done it a time or two). After thirty years of cooking, I’ve learned a few tricks which I am happy to share with you, because we are, after all, friends and that’s what friends do.

Most Thanksgiving feasts are built around a turkey (or possibly a tofu alternative) and every hostess has her secrets to getting that moist turkey meat with crispy golden skin. Making the perfect turkey is worth a blog post in it self. To brine, or not to brine? Roast, or deep fry? Stuffing in the bird or out? In my book the side dishes and deserts are of equal importance when it comes to preparing an epic Thanksgiving feast.

Kim Bailey Makes Swiss Chard and Spinach Bechamel
Swiss Chard and Spinach Bechamel

The Food:

A while back, I was invited to local Restauranteur and Caterer, Kim Bailey’s kitchen in Tampa for a private cooking class featuring an array of side dishes perfect for the holidays. We sampled 11 side dishes in all, and learned tips and tricks along the way. All the dishes were flavorful, and easy to make—Kim and his assistant made all the dishes in a record three hours.

Both Kim and I agree that when considering a menu, we start eating with our eyes. I love making sure color and texture are considered when choosing sides. Fall’s vegetable bounty is full of color, and by using a variety of cooking techniques one can create interesting textures, all of which combine to make Thanksgiving magic at the table. Check out Kim’s website and recipes here they are divine!

After setting the menu and shopping for ingredients, Kim pre-preps each recipe. Chefs call it Mis en Place; all ingredients are chopped and measured first. It saves time, and helps reduce mistakes when putting recipes together on the fly. So he and his long time assistant Barry chopped and measured ingredients before diving in and assembling the recipes. (This took an hour for the 11 recipes Kim and Barry made for the cooking class.). I do the same, and it really helps save time in the long run.

When selecting side dishes in my home, we offer variety of foods, some all vegetable, some gluten free, keeping in mind our guest’s dietary issues. Nothing is worse than seeing beautiful food you can’t eat.

How to Look Great When You Greet Your Guests:

Ok, it’s time to talk time management.  Figuring out what to wear is as important as what to serve, I always say!  There have been a number of times I got up early, cooked until I was ready to drop and suddenly, the door bell rings and  there on the porch are my guests, all looking amazing. Meanwhile, I looked like something the cat dragged in, and of course that is well below optimal.

I have learned a few tricks to avoid this most horrible of situations.

  1. I choose my outfit in advance and lay it on the bed so it’s ready to slip on at the last minute.
  2. I add getting ready time into the day’s schedule.  (One of these day’s I will have to share my time blocking system!)
  3. I pre-prepare as much as possible, or better yet, try to get my friends and family to bring a few things so it’s not all on me.  Oh trust me, this is a hard one!  But so worth it for your appearance and sanity!
  4. On that line, I set the table in advance, and lay out the serving wear and utensils with little notes as to what is going in which dish so that if I am lucky enough to have help, they will know what to do.
  5. Do some beauty prep in advance, such as getting  a blow out the day before so you don’t have to worry about your hair; have a massage so you are relaxed and happy before you dig into all that work;
  6. Choose a simple makeup look; I use quick to apply powder or stick foundation, a long wearing lip color and simple eye look, rather than my full 22 step makeup routine.

And finally, some tips for your sanity:

  1.  If things get messed up, remember, people will take their cues from you.  If you make it funny, they will think its funny too. (I always tell my dad’s sparerib story where he got the timing way off.  He made it funny and it became a legend–along with several other similar things. He had a knack for putting people at ease.
  2. Remember to breathe, and maybe even take a little quiet time here and there.  When I learned the beauty of preparing things in advance, and having far less to do on the day of the event, I started building in time to just “be” for twenty minutes here or there.
  3. Get as much help as you can!
  4. Just have fun.

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful holiday; remember what really counts, and try a few of Kim’s easy side dishes.

Host a perfect holiday sharing a journey sitting with her dad

I added this picture of my dad and me, like me, he was an introvert who loved entertaining and his friends, and had some of the most epic fails made funny when he entertained. The stories are still shared among our mutual friends. I just love hearing “Remember the time George…” When it came to entertaining, he did some funny things.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!Click here to enter

By: Nina · In: Lifestyle · Tagged: Holiday cooking, holiday entertaining, how to cook side dishes, how to host the holidays, what to make for side dishes over the holidays, your holidays nailed

About Nina

Sharing A Journey is an award winning blog for women "of a certain age" who love life and style with a little inspiration mixed in. The blog and it's author Nina Anders has been featured in notable publications including Forbes, Next Avenue, Thrive Global and Parade. Photos by RSEsteyphotography Let's do midlife together!

you’ll also love

4 Holiday Gatherings that are Fun and Productive
How To Manage With The Whole Family Back Home, tips featured by top US over 50 lifestyle blog, Sharing a Journey.How To Manage With The Whole Family Back Home
8 Things To Know About Turning 60

Join the List

Stay up to date & receive the latest posts in your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelbee on the Edge says

    11/08/2019 at 7:57 AM

    Such a great post, Nina. Thanks so much for sharing that beautiful photo of you and your father. What a special memory. And it is the epic fails that seem to make the best memories!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Reply
  2. Amy Johnson says

    11/08/2019 at 9:37 AM

    I just love that skirt you’re wearing in the first picture.

    Reply
  3. Ellibelle says

    11/08/2019 at 9:42 AM

    Such a beautiful outfit. Love the mustard skirt!
    Ellibelle’s Corner

    Reply
  4. jess jannenga says

    11/08/2019 at 12:38 PM

    I enjoyed reading about your Holiday planning! Our family is scattered throughout and since we get together at Christmas, we aren’t always able to get together at Thanksgiving. My sis lives in Charlotte, so I am hosting Thanksgiving. It will just be hubby, me , my sis and niece. I love your tips! Getting help is also important. I love that you took cooking classes, and I too, eat with my eyes to start. Enjoyed the post!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    Reply
  5. Nancy says

    11/10/2019 at 3:21 AM

    I love to entertain too, it’s so much fun to see friends and family enjoy. What a lovely photo of you and your father.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next Post >

Leggings For Women Over 50? We say Of Course, Here’s How!

Primary Sidebar

Meet Nina Anders

Meet Nina Anders
hello!

Welcome to Sharing a Journey! If you love modern classic fashion, videos about beauty and skin care with a little inspiration and lifestyle mixed in, you are in the right place! Grab a cup of coffee, and take a look around.

Read More

Connect

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

Purchase A Copy of Graceful Transitions Here

Advertise

SiteGround Ad

Disclaimer

This site uses affiliated links in some of it’s posts.  Posts with affiliated links will be noted.  Sharing A Journey also receives gifted items provided for review.  When we have received an item for review it will be noted in the post.  As always, our opinions are our own.    Please stop by my About Page to read more about our policies such as copyright, disclaimers, and collaborations. Please Click Here for Our Privacy Policy

Buy Me A Coffee?

https://buymeacoffee.com/ninaanderssharingajourney

Follow Along

@sharing_a_journey

Nina Anders | Sharing a Journey

sharing_a_journey

Life and Style Blog | YouTube Channel

2025 is my year for a Glo Up starting with my skin 2025 is my year for a Glo Up starting with my skin care routine. I just started using the ZIIP Halo on my 65 year old skin.  Cant wait to see the results. #livingmybestlife #over60andfabulous #over50model #over65skincare @ziipbeauty
This week’s mini adventures had us in one of my This week’s mini adventures had us in one of my favorite spots-Dunedin Florida. We went for coffee and croissants at @dunedincoffeecompany where they have amazing coffee and a real in house bakery. Every so often the baker comes through with delicious creations right from the ovens. We went for some design inspiration @lrhome their shop never disappoints then on to the book shop. That made us hungry so we had to go to  @casatinas. How could you not?#livingmybestlife #over60andfabulous #over50womenoninstagram #over50style #outfitoftheday #over50model
I've been making a point to spend a lot less time I've been making a point to spend a lot less time on screens this year. It's been amazing how much free time I have to enjoy new hobbies and spending time with friends and family. I even tried my hand at painting with a Time For Art kit and actually made this sweet dolphin painting. I was surprised how easy it was even for someone like me who has very little painting experience. I loved how the kits came with everything I needed to make the painting, and I when I needed help, I watched a video on the Time for Art website. I thought it would be fun to host some friends for a girls painting night, invitations are in the mail--plus it would make a perfect gift. Be sure to check out @timeforartlive--I will link all their info in my link tree.
For the next 65 Days I am challenging myself to ch For the next 65 Days I am challenging myself to change a few bad habits and prioritize health, friendships and activities that enhance happiness and creativity.  I am looking forward to going into 65 and beyond healthier and happier than ever before. I hope you’ll join me over the next 65 days by choosing something you’d like to improve or a habit you’d like to break and see where it leads. #over50womenoninstagram #over60andfabulous #livingmybestlife
Instagram post 18020842631137506 Instagram post 18020842631137506
Instagram post 17901405167968170 Instagram post 17901405167968170
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

On the Blog

  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

Info

  • About Nina Anders
  • EBook
  • Shop
  • Work with Me

stay in the know

Copyright © 2025 · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT