It is that time of year again when the world prepares to bid farewell to the current year and welcome the new one. As the year draws to a close, it brings a unique opportunity for reflection and celebration. This time of year encourages us to appreciate the moments that have shaped our lives, big and small. It is a time when communities, families, and friends come together to celebrate the last holidays of the year in unity. Hence, many of us look forward to holiday parties. Whether it is an office party, a community gathering, or a family dinner, holiday dinners are one of the most cherished ways to celebrate the season.
Hosting the Holidays While Living Abroad
As a traveler and an international student, I have experienced the holiday season alone in foreign countries more times than I can count. In a previous post, I talked about spending Thanksgiving alone abroad and ways to celebrate. One way I mentioned was hosting a gathering with friends or acquaintances that I met abroad. As an international student abroad, you represent your country, its cultures, and the traditions of your home country, especially if you are from a multicultural country like the United States.
Therefore, when I was abroad, I knew, as an American, I had to showcase American identity and host during holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Hosting friends abroad was a great way to connect with my American identity and to teach my friends about the holiday and how different communities in the U.S. celebrate it.
Hosting a holiday dinner while traveling or living abroad is another way not to feel alone or homesick. It is a way to bring together the community you have made while abroad. When I lived in Belgium, specifically, life was a bit stressful because we were in the middle of the pandemic. My second apartment was a student dorm for a school I was not attending, therefore, I was the only person from my university in the building. Going to the shared kitchen and mingling with the other students allowed me to make new friends and have a community. I used American holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving to invite them to dinner so I would not feel alone.
On birthdays or during Christmas vacation, I used cooking as a gift for my friends, since most of my international friends hadn’t had Congolese cuisine. Cooking for multiple people by myself, although I love it, is also time-consuming because many Congolese dishes take hours to prepare. Hence, I need some help. Thank goodness for kitchen inventions that have helped me share my culture through hosting during the holidays without breaking my back. Here are 6 cookware items I swear by to make hosting friends’ gatherings and family get-togethers easier.
6 Must-Have Items for the Perfect Holiday Hosting
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- CrockPot
One of my must-haves for the holiday is a crockpot. As an African girl growing up in an African household, I used to hate how tedious the cooking process could be. Many African dishes take hours to make, so almost every appliance is in motion. Waiting for one dish to cook before starting another one made the day even more stressful. Hence, a crockpot or slow cooker is a great kitchen helper.
Crockpots let you make delicious, tender meat and stews. You can use it to make entrée meals like pot roast, pork loins, a juicy turkey for Thanksgiving, and ribs. As an international student, including international cuisine in the holiday funfare was easy to make with a crockpot. You can make lasagna, lemon chicken from Lebanon, or juicy Moroccan-style lamb. One of my favorite dishes is baked potato stew with steak, which I made while hosting my international friend in Rhode Island. There are endless meals you can make with this kitchen appliance. But choosing the right one makes all the difference.
One of the slow-cooker brands to add to your holiday shopping list is the QVC Mega Chef 8-quart Digital Pressure Cooker. With the 13 reset feature, this cooker cuts cooking time by 70%, allowing you to make all the dishes you want without worrying about running out of time. This cooker is an excellent option if you live alone or are alone in the kitchen, which I mostly am when living abroad or hosting an international student at my apartment back home. It is suitable for group gatherings and hosting a large number of people, as its size allows you to cook more food.
For a budget-friendly option, I recommend the QVC Elite Gourmet 3-quart slow cooker. This cooker is perfect for hosting a smaller audience and is affordable to most students or people on a budget. It includes a removable inner pot for easy cleaning, a tempered glass lid for easy viewing, and cool-touch handles for safe handling. The Sunvivi Small Slow Cooker is another excellent budget-friendly option. Having a crockpot will offer you great help as you host your family and friends.
- Air Fryer
The best invention that has saved my life is the air fryer. In my home, my mother ridiculed me for being afraid to fry things the old-fashioned way. From a traditional African mindset, a real woman is not afraid of fire; thus, she should not be scared of frying. Countless times while I was growing up, my mother and I would have fights because she would ask me to fry meat, fish, or chicken, and I would refuse. When I found out about the air fryer and purchased one for our house, she was not the most thrilled camper, but I loved it.
What makes the air fryer amazing is that you do not have to use oil to fry, which lowers cholesterol. WebMD states that this method of frying helps cut calories by 70% to 80% and uses less fat. Frying with less or no oil in the air fryer also enables you to avoid the harmful effects of frying oils. For those looking to lose weight or not gain much weight —most of us tend to do so during the holidays —air-frying helps you lose weight. It is easy to use and time-efficient. You can use it for fries, fish, chicken, vegetables, and so much more. It’s the perfect addition to your kitchen, especially when hosting families and friends during the holidays. Thank goodness there are many options to choose from.
For a budget-conscious hostess living abroad, I recommend buying appliances for under $100. One of the best air fryers is the RAMJoy Air Fryer. This air fryer has an 8-in-1 function, including boil, air fry, shake, roast, and more. It is non-stick, so it is easy to clean, and it’s a fantastic option for making side dishes. The OSTBA 4.% QT Air Fryer is another excellent, affordable option. Its One-Touch Cooking design makes the cooking process quick and straightforward. The last option is the CHEFMAN 6Qt Dual Basket Air Fryer. Its dual baskets let you cook multiple dishes at once, saving you time.
Having an air fryer in your kitchen not only ensures you have healthy holiday meals but also helps you cut down on cooking time. It ensures you have enough time to complete the other holiday checklists. It is an excellent addition for a small or big gathering, allowing you to have everything read and set for your international friends. If you are living abroad temporarily, you can either donate it to another international student or to a local charity.
- Food Mixer
Technology advances have really changed how we used to do things. As a child, I would watch my mother whip the eggs or batter with a fork, a wooden spoon, or a spatula when preparing to make Beignets. My favorite part would be when she finally has the perfect batter and gives me the spoon to lick afterward. However, before that happens, I would have to wait a little longer while she ensures the flour and ingredients are well-mixed before giving me the spoon. With a food mixer, I do not have to wait that long.
Food mixers have become kitchen staples for their effortless performance. It saves time and effort and ensures a smooth batter when making a batter. Most people think it is only for baking, but it is excellent for other cooking essentials. Different attachments let you grind meat, shred chicken, and make pasta, above all. Food mixers are like your second hands, giving your physical hands a break or allowing you to focus on other tasks while it does the work for you.
A good one to purchase for the holidays is the Immersion Blender Handheld by the turelar store. It’s a 5-in-1 stick that lets you chop, whisk, and froth for soup, baby food, and smoothies. Another good option is the 5-Speed Electric Hand Mixer. This mixer comes with four large bowls, handheld mixers with whisk beaters, measuring cups and spoons, and all the essentials for a great host. The Megagoods Better Chef Dual Blender and Mixer is another affordable appliance to help alleviate the cooking demands of holiday hosting.
Adding this kitchen appliance for the holiday is the perfect way to cut down the cooking process and ensure you make delicious meals. It performs the mixing, grinding, and chopping tasks much faster than doing them by hand. It reduced fatigue, ensuring you are not drained after a long day of cooking and setting up for your guests. It provides extra hands when you are solo in the kitchen, making it a must-have for holiday hosting.
- Juicer
In recent years, the next big thing on the market has been juicers. As people step away from drinking sodas and juices at the store because of their high sugar content and health disadvantages, juicers have become the go-to. It allows people who do not eat enough fruit and vegetables to get the amount they need. They are perfect for a balanced diet, especially during the holidays, when most of us gain weight from the stuffed turkey and gravy.
Having a juicer for the holidays lets you balance your holiday meals. It ensures you continue to receive your daily intake of veggies and fruits while still enjoying the holiday feast. Its convenience enables you and your guests to enjoy fresh juice at your leisure. For some people who have a hard time digesting fiber because it causes digestive problems, juicers remove the pulp and fiber, letting you get concentrated vitamins and minerals. The fun part is that you can make your own custom juice and experiment with different ingredients, which can be a fun activity for the holidays with your guests.
One good juicer to have in your kitchen is the QCem Juicer Machine, which has a wide mouth, ensuring you add as many veggies and fruits as you like. Its 500W motor ensures you do not have to waste time chopping and cutting veggies and fruits. The Fullstar Juicer Machine is an ideal option for a more affordable juicer. Its 2-speed features ensure you have a setting for soft fruits and tougher ingredients like carrots, apples, and others. For a solo traveler spending the holidays alone or on the road, consider a portable juicer like the Pursonic Portable Juicer and Blender. This one lets you make healthy juices and smoothies for yourself or a friend. It is convenient and easy to travel with.
Investing in a juicer is a great way to incorporate healthy habits during the holiday season for you and your guests. It allows you to be creative with your drink choices. It provides a fun activity for you and your guests, mixing different ingredients and judging which recipes are right. Hence, making a juicer is not just a must-have for the holidays but also creates a bonding experience.
- Serveware
Every host knows hosting a good holiday dinner or celebration is more than just providing good food or being in the kitchen. One way to present a welcoming atmosphere is at the dinner table with serveware. We all have that memory of our parents or a family member asking us to set the table. While I used to hate it as a child, in my teens, I realized how this part of the diner was an invitation to express my creativity and fun side.
Choosing the right serveware gives you a holiday theme that your international guests will enjoy. Holiday-themed serveware helps you indulge in the holiday spirit. When hosting a Thanksgiving dinner while living in Belgium, having serveware with Thanksgiving motifs became a conversation starter. Serveware lets you present your dishes beautifully and enhance your guests’ dining experience. Serveware also increases efficiency by enabling different types and simplifying the serving process.
For parties, one of the serveware items to invest in is the WOWBOX 4pcs Serving Trays. These serving platters are great for snacks, appetizers, and fruits. What makes them even better is that they are reusable. For someone who does not want to do the dishes after their guests leave and prefers an easy clean-up, the FOCUSLINE 175 Ct Gold Silveware is a must-have. It includes cups, napkins, and cutlery on top of the dinner and dessert plates. For drinkware, you can purchase the NETANY Set of 4 Glass Carafes with Lid. This glass pitcher is great for storing juices you’ll make with your juicer, mimosas, cold water, and other beverages. Taco lovers will love the Taco Tuesday Kit by Kusini. This kit includes the heated pot, 6 rotating compartments, 4 taco holders, and a detachable lazy susan tray.
This serveware will ensure you have everything you need for the perfect presentation during this holiday season. It provides you with the best-decorated tableware and presents food and drink to your guests most festively and creatively. The best part is that at the end of hosting, you do not have much to clean up. Having these reusable items helps you save money for the next gathering, hence these serveware items are a must-have.
- Ambiance Set
Lastly, the other household items needed to host the best holiday gathering are an ambiance set. What do I mean by ambiance set? The ambiance set is everything that helps set the mood for a great holiday hosting. Ambiance can include decorative motifs, fragrances, and music. An ambiance set is essential for creating the perfect atmosphere during holiday gatherings. You can get decorative motifs that reflect the spirit of the season, such as twinkling string lights, festive table settings, and seasonal centerpieces made of pinecones, candles, or vibrant ornaments.
Each element contributes to a warm and inviting visual appeal. Fragrances, for example, play a crucial role. You may add scented candles or essential oil diffusers with scents like cinnamon, pine, or fresh-baked cookies to evoke feelings of nostalgia and comfort. Simultaneously, the right music can profoundly enhance the ambiance. Curate a playlist with a mix of classic holiday tunes and contemporary favorites to keep spirits high and encourage joyful mingling. This time of year, I am compiling Christmas classics that everyone knows to ensure my guests are all in the Christmas mood.
Some fantastic ambiance set to include is FCLAYCT’s 36-pack LED Flameless Candles. As someone who had an incident with candles while living in Belgium when I wasn’t supposed to have candles in my apartment, I love the invention of flameless candles. The 36-pack of LED flameless candles gives you plenty of holiday decorations. With its remote control, you can adjust the brightness levels to create the perfect ambiance you are looking for. For those looking to brighten your guests’ senses, the Xclean Reed Oil Diffuser Set is a must. You can have your apartment or studio smell like vanilla, cinnamon, or amber. For a full-house ambiance, the Permanent String RGB Lightings with Music Sync is another must-have item for the holidays.
Combining these elements—visuals, scents, and sound—will engage your guests’ senses and elevate the gathering from a mere event to a memorable experience, ensuring everyone feels the warmth and joy of the holidays. It helps you create the perfect atmosphere for your holiday celebration. Hence, when hosting, do not forget to include an ambiance set.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hosting holiday gatherings while abroad or away from home doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right kitchen gadgets, you can create memorable meals and experiences that connect you with your culture and those around you. The crockpot and air fryer are just two of the many tools that can simplify your cooking, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—spending quality time with friends and sharing the joy of the season.
So, whether you’re whipping up a traditional feast or experimenting with international flavors, make sure to equip your kitchen with these essential items. Don’t let the challenges of being away from home dampen your holiday spirit—embrace the opportunity to create new traditions with those you meet along the way.
Now, it’s your turn! What are your favorite tips or gadgets for holiday hosting? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s inspire each other to make this holiday season unforgettable!
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Until next time,
Happy holidays!
Xoxo,
Cy
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