Forget stocking a bar cart with endless supplies for everyone’s favorite drink. Decide on one or two festive picks (like spiked apple cider, Moscow mules, or Winter Punch, pictured here) to prep ahead and let guests serve themselves from punch bowls.

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Put together beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards instead of fussing over hot hors d’oeuvres. They’re delicious and can be assembled in minutes on pretty wooden, slate or marble cutting boards. Include an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, olives, crackers, grapes, spiced nuts and spreads!

Or, make one appetizer that you’ll heat and serve warm, and round out the hors d’oeuvres with options that can be prepped in advance so you can focus on serving and welcoming guests.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Learn to delegate! Whether you need help cleaning up the yard, scrubbing the guest bath or making a holiday playlist, ask your partner or child to pitch in so you aren’t doing it all.

Instead of spending hours making the perfect party playlist, queue up an online streaming service for tons of well-curated (and free!) options. Pick a mix you like, then forget about it. Hate commercials? Opt for a premium version of Spotify or Pandora.

Make a tub of salted ice water (one cup of salt per gallon of H2O) to chill bottles of wine and other drinks. It will also free up fridge space — just keep a few bar cloths by the tub for wiping drippy bottles.

For holiday get-togethers, plan for about three glasses of wine per guest — some will drink more, others less or none. A standard 750-ml bottle holds five glasses, so for a party of six, here’s the math: (6×3)/5 = 4 bottles (always round up!).

A large cutting board with a deep channel around the edge can double as a serving platter. With this versatile piece, you can carve large roasts right at the table rather than disappear into the kitchen.

THE BEST CUTTING BOARDS, ACCORDING TO TESTING

This way, you can quickly swap them in for empties.

Mixing cocktails will be a snap (it keeps for a few weeks). To make: Add one cup sugar to one cup water in a saucepan; let boil until the sugar dissolves; cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

Don’t splurge on overpriced scented candles when you already have the aromas of the season sitting in your kitchen. Sliced citrus fruits, apples, cinnamon sticks, or spices like cloves will give the air cozy scent. Fill small bowls with fragrant pieces and display throughout your home.

If you’re serving things buffet-style, keep drinks and food on opposite ends of the room to prevent gridlock.

Get new food storage containers that don’t cost a ton so you can send everyone home with leftovers without raiding your own supplies. Our Kitchen Appliances Lab loves Stasher bags and Pyrex!

Fill them with water and just a squirt of dish soap and let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to loosen stuck-on sauces and food. If you can’t do a full scrub right away, turn off the heat and let the pots sit overnight.