If your family is anything like my family, the men do the heavy loading–carrying dishes, moving furniture, and watching the game–while the women decorate and cook the food. My uncle is the glue behind our holiday dinners, he turns any location into a party for the fabulous and chic while never losing site of the most important part of the holidays: family. Each year we work on new ways to involve all parties in my family so that the men aren’t only entertained by the Christmas games and the women aren’t just slaving in the kitchen until dinner time.
With Christmas dinner just two days away, you’re probably scrambling trying to finish up your last minute holiday to-do list while trying to add fun to your holiday dinner. Don’t worry, from a mashed potato bar to holiday game list, we’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for ways to ignite your families enthusiasm, flip the pages to take advice from my family’s holiday enjoyment book.
Taster Table
All it takes is a little bit more cooking from each family member. Have them Google small appetizer recipes that are easy and simple to make. Create a taster table that keeps the guys attention not only on the game, but also the yummy food.
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Mashed Potato Bar
Having a mashed potato bar is the most exciting way to dine before dinner. Just create a huge bowl of mashed potatoes with lots of toppers. It’s delicious and jazz it up even more with bacon, sour cream, chives, cheese, and mushrooms.
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Fondue
Fill a fondue set with cheese or chocolate, and surround it with fruits and vegetables. For cheese we suggest crackers, pretzels (soft and hard), and celery. For chocolate, try all types of fruits, marshmallows, and pretzels.
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Alcohol Bar
Have a cocktail hour and designate a bartender to serve family favorites. Create your own special drink menu with recipes named in honor of family members. It can be funny or heart-felt but your aunts, uncles, and parents will love tasting their drink inspired cocktails.
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Taboo
Break the family up by age, gender, couples, whatever you want but after the dishes are emptied and bellys are full, what better way to have dessert than play a competition fun game of Taboo?
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History vs. Present
First, everyone puts questions in a hat relating to history, entertainment, politics, tv, etc. Designate a host to pick a question out the hat. Like family feud the person to first raise their hands gets to answer the question. Luckily if it’s a question of history, your old uncle partner can answer or if its a question on Beyonce you have all the answers. The best part of this game are the prizes. Each question you get right your team gets money, so if you’re lucky you can leave your family dinner richer than you came.
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Piñata
This is a game specifically for the little ones. Fill the pinata with candy and you let all the kids under a certain age play, they don’t leave with money but will have lots of candy. And what kid doesn’t love candy?
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Kinetic or Wii Games
These games aren’t just for kids. Turn the game off, put the interactive games on the big screen TV and move the furniture. It’s fun to see your family battle dance to Michael Jackson experience or Dance Central. It’s interesting to see how hard your family members, young and old, get into their moves.
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