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he holidays are the poster child of hyped up entertaining, creating a bevy of overproduced, overpriced and time-consuming fetés. This holiday season, blogger Sandy Coughlin of RELUCTANT ENTERTAINER wants hosts and hostesses to connect with their guests with a more casual—and attainable—style of entertaining. She shares her tips on how to simplify your Christmas morning routine so you’ll have more time to enjoy both the feast and the festivities.
What motivated you to start your blog, The Reluctant Entertainer, and enter the world of blogging? I started blogging about entertaining when I realized what a lost art it was. Why were people so hesitant to invite others into their homes? Where did we get the idea that things had to look perfect? How did we lose the vision of what true hospitality is? How would you describe Reluctant Entertainer? My blog is about entertaining, hospitality, gardening and food—it’s a lifestyle blog. But most importantly, I really want to help women realize how easy entertaining can be, and the rewards that come from opening up our homes. What fuels your passion for food + entertaining? People. Food is the conduit to connection. Every time we serve good food and have guests over something amazing happens. Who shows up at your Christmas breakfast table? It’s mainly a family affair: my husband Paul and our
children—Elliot who is away at college, Garrett who is a senior in high school, and Abby who is a high school freshman. The last few years my dad and his wife have joined us, too. Christmas Day is our most low-key day and I love it. I never take off my slippers and sometimes I’m still in my jammies. What inspired your holiday breakfast menu? I love breakfast casseroles because you can make them one or two days ahead of time. When you wake up in the morning the work has been done for you. All you need is a hot oven, a few willing hands to get it to the table, and hungry people gathered around to enjoy the deliciousness of it. I love easy. What is a family tradition at your breakfast? We open gifts first and then dive into breakfast at about 10 a.m. Last year we sat around the table with my dad for what seemed like hours sharing stories about his life, hunting and horses. At one point we were all laughing so hard we were crying. Even I heard stories I had never heard before. That was special. foodiecrush.com
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