Canada Day is around the corner. This year, we’re going to be celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, which is sort of a big deal and I’m so excited to host my brother, his wife and 5 kids up at our cottage. Besides S’mores and Canadian Craft beer, I’ll be planning a fun barbecue meal that will be filling, delicious and sure to appease all taste buds. However, that doesn’t mean it needs to be stressful. I’m still all about simple and easy when hosting so I can enjoy the day as much as my guests.
I recently attended a great event held by Maytag in #CanadasHome. The house was set up perfectly for hosting and entertaining and outfitted with dependable and powerful kitchen appliances. After all, as a busy parent, I need all the help I can get, especially from my appliances. One of my favourite features is that all Maytag kitchen appliances are made with fingerprint-resistant stainless steel – so they can handle anything you throw at them – like my three boys’ busy and dirty hands!!!
At the event I also learned how to cook an amazing meal from chef Devin Marhue and received some great tips for hosting. So if you’re hosting this Canada Day long weekend (or any other time), follow these six tips from Maytag to ensure you have a stress-free night that is full of chatter, laughter and delicious food!
Tips for Stress-Free Hosting
- Have a backup plan – whether it’s food allergies, or a child’s (or adult’s) picky taste buds, you need to be prepared to offer up an alternative. Have a backup meal prepared (think frozen pizza or chicken fingers) just in case.
- Choose dependable dishes – You know those dishes that your family and kids love and rave about? Make those! Hosting is not the time to try out a new recipe. Stress levels are already high, you don’t need to add another unknown variable to the mix.
- Be prepared for stains – Stains happen, especially if kids are involved. Whether it’s a stained tablecloth or a shirt, throw it in the wash right away (and offer your guest a shirt to borrow). I personally love the look of the Maytag Extra-Large Capacity Top Load Large washer (hello… THREE boys… FOUR if you count my husband) which includes a PowerWash(r) system that removes everyday tough stains!
- Go for bite-sized appetizers – Offer bite-sized appetizers so your guests can feel comfortable while they mingle about and are holding a drink in their other hand. It’s also a great way to allow your guests to try a little bit of everything. They are also good for little hands if your guest list includes kids.
- Say no to fancy dishware – Use plates and glassware that are dishwasher safe so you can keep your counters clutter free and have your dishwasher do the hard work for you while you entertain your guests. Thanks to the PowerBlast cycle on Maytag dishwashers, you also don’t need to spend any time rinsing your plates before you load them. The dishwasher removes stuck-on food with high pressure spray jets, increased temperature and hot steam to finish the job.
- Delegate to Future House Leaders – This is probably my favourite thing to do. Especially when the kids are little and love to be involved in hosting duties and responsibilities. I let my kids set the table and decorate. Not only does it teach them independence, but it’s a great way to get them involved and take some of the stress off your plate.
Will you be hosting this Canada Day Long weekend? What additional hosting tips would you add?
Disclosure: Whirlpool has compensated me for my services and my posts. The opinions in this post are my own.
Some great tips here, thanks for sharing. When I entertain I love to do a mix of homemade food, but I’m not ashamed to serve some ready made food too. So not everything has to be homemade and this one takes a lot of stress off me. And to KISS never hurts either.
Great tips, I love to serve great food when we have guests but I also try to keep it simple and stick to recipes that I know will turn out.
My favourite way to host is to make sure a lot of the prepping and everything else is done, so you can spend more time with guests, and we love doing potluck as well, get to try new foods and then all the food isn’t all on you
Those are great tips. This year I have invited a bunch of friends and their kids to meet us riverside for a picnic and then watch the fireworks. We did it last year as well and had so much fun.
Great tips! We’re not hosting for Canada day this year but these will help for other events for sure!
I love to do Homemade BBQ ribs when hosting. I try to keep it simple and I also buy the desert. My guess usually bring the salad. Thank you for these great tips!
Thanks for the wonderful tips they will be great for summer entertaining
I like the tip that says delegate- that is the way y to go. Also it is necessary to be prepared for stains.
Bite sized foods are the way to go, especially if kids are attending!
Great tips! Wish I had the energy you have to get this all done haha
I like doing as much as possible ahead of time and I cheat a bit by buying some ready to serve foods like pre-made salads and appetizers. Shh!!! don’t tell anyone. I just put them in my own containers. 😉 Those Buttertarts at the end of the post look so good! They remind me of the ones my grandma used to make.
We are hosting this year! I would only add to have fun and don’t get too caught up in hosting duties or you will miss out on the party!
First off…LOVE your dress!!! beautiful! secondly i want your kitchen. that is my dream kitchen right there and the appliances…WOW! love your tip about having a back up plan when it comes to food
and totally didn’t even realize when I wrote this last night I said “your kitchen” as in YOUR kitchen bahahah meant #CanadasHome kitchen. Totally shouldn’t drink wine before entering contests bahaha
I so agree with no fancy dishware! Who wants to hand-wash dishes after hosting a meal? They have to be dishwasher safe, throw them in, & have time to be with your guests!
Really great tips! I love entertaining guests so these tips will come in handy.
Great tips! Hmmm those butter tarts are calling my name!!
Great tips, keeping it simple is my number 1 go to, that way more time can be spent with guests!
Thanks for the great tips.I lie that you said to make something that you know is going to taste great.It would be good to prep as much of the work ahead of time too.These things would make it more enjoyable and relaxing.
I am not hosting for Canada day – going to someone else’s place. Will be bringing a hostess gift and appreciating not having to host, lol 😉
Love tip #5 Say no to fancy dishware – one thing I don’t own. I keep it simple with nice white dishes that work for everything.
Bite size appetizers are a good idea. Also making as much as you can in advance as opposed to cooking right at the time is smart.
I really appreciate these tips. I want to enjoy myself along with my guests so reducing the stress of hosting is so key!
These tips are so helpful! I think small appetizers are the way to go too!
These tips are fantastic…thanks for posting!
Great tips. My one main tip is to accept help when offered.
This looks like you did a lot of work on this but your comments show that it is so simple. Thank you for the hints and tips
Great tips. We are not hosting this Canada Day but they will be handy at the next one we have!
I love the “say no to fancy dishware”! We are not hosting for Canada Day but we are hosting at the end of the month for my son’s 4th birthday!
Great tips – love the go for bite-sized appetizers…those are the best. Finger foods that you eat of a plate without having to worry about cutlery on top of napkins & drink glasses. Also try and stick with dependable appys – ones you know will work out & you will have less stress
Thanks @mayahoodblog.com for the chance
Oh my gosh. I would die for those appliances! Such great tips for making hosting a lot of fun and stress-free!
Whenever I host a gathering a go really simple. I like having DIY stations of a hot dog bar, ice cream bar, etc with various ingredients where they can make their own creations & have fun with it!
I love Bite size appetizers, not messy and they look elegant too.
Thanks i will remember you tips tomorrow night we are hosting a supper and game night!
I’d have chosen stainless steel for my appliances had they had the fingerprint-resistant stainless steel back then. These are very good tips, I’d also add prepare as much as possible in advance so as to have more time for your guests.
I love the look of the Stainless, I still have a beige fridge Someday
The appliances look so high end and lovely. They so much make a statement.
Thanks so much for the great tips. We hosted for Canada Day and I accepted help when offered and it saved so much time
I have a small place so won’t be hosting. These are great tips.