Stress-Reducing Secret No. 7: Just Give (and you’ll get back in multiples)

The fact is, cooking, the kitchen and hosting food-related get-togethers involve a lot of gambling. . . . I think all the potential pitfalls really lead back to the one biggest fear every host has: What if no one has fun at my get-together? Isn’t that the worst: thinking that people might leave and walk back to their cars, whispering in confidence about how they’ll be sure to have a “prior engagement” next time around?

Stress-Reducing Secret No. 4: Go Casual—with Diamonds

Women know all about this strategy. You don’t feel like getting all dressed up for a party so you throw on a tried and true comfort outfit and add some razzle and dazzle with a great necklace, scarf, belt or shoes—or one of each. Good news: You can do the same thing with a recipe. Here are three basic techniques:

Holiday Stress-Reducing Secret No. 3: Take a Trial Run

“What could possibly go wrong?” That’s what you may be thinking when choosing a new recipe for your holiday meal. Don’t make your holiday guests your cooking guinea pigs! Do a trial run of any new dishes you plan to make and you’ll feel a lot more confident–and less stressed–when cooking them on the big day.

Holiday Stress-Reducing Secret No. 2: Steer Clear of Holiday Shoppers

Fighting crowds of frenetic shoppers can zap the magic right out of your holiday buying. So avoid last-minute shopping–which is easy enough if you took the first Stress-Reducing Secret to heart and planned out your holiday meals in advance.

Putting the Comfort and Joy Back Into Holiday Meals

Isn’t it amazing how the holidays bring out the worst in us—especially family gatherings? No wonder they make such perfect fodder for movies! In the spirit of happier and saner holiday gatherings, here are some secrets (seven, to be exact) for toning down the stress around one of the biggest stressors of all: holiday meal making.