Holiday parties are often more trouble than they’re worth. By the time December’s half over and you’ve survived a sloppy open bar or three, the idea of leaving the house ever again can be pretty unappetizing.

This year, take a cue from the Russians: Stay in and throw a banging dinner party.

Make-ahead entrées are a godsend during holiday entertaining season, but for some reason, it’s not the default technique for special-occasion meals. It really should be: not only is a day-old hearty braise easier on the host, but it actually tastes better than it does fresh from the oven.

With the holidays on the way we can turn our attention to other, more important matters, such holiday parties, and holiday party snacks. Hosting a good party is a matter of giving the people what they want, and the people — in my experience - want dip.

I have always enjoyed guests, even unexpected ones. I also really enjoy feeding people, but there's not always time to cook. As such, I have an arsenal of tasty snacks and drinks I like to keep in the kitchen, just in case someone hungry (or thirsty) pops over.

Video: Food is the most important part of a dinner party, but booze is a close second. Rather than opening up your entire bar cart, focusing on one really good cocktail can keep your costs down while showing off your fancy barkeep skills.

Video: Opening up your house to a bunch of hungry friends can be quite fun, but you can quickly rack up some pricey party expenses if you're not careful. But there are a lot of ways to serve fancy food without draining your bank account, and we're going to show you how.

I like company. I don't even mind unexpected, last-minute, "hey, I'm in your neighbourhood" company. In fact, if I am home, I am almost always ready to receive guests, but my kitchen is another story. But even if there is a pile of dishes in the sink and a weird smell hovering in the air, I can get it in decent shape in about 10 minutes. Here's how I do it.

If you're having guests over and you only have time to clean one room, make it the bathroom.

If you're looking to cast a spell of entertainment over your household this Halloween, look no further. Apart from the obligatory lollies and popcorn, these movies are all you need to see you through the night.

If you've ever hosted a dinner party (or brunch party, or luncheon) you know that there's more to it than simply cooking a bunch of food. People need plates to eat off of, cloth to wipe their faces with, and furniture on which to set their rears. Though nothing is as important as the food, it's the details that really make the party.

After upgrading my laptop, I spent months feeling bad that I hadn't yet sold the old one. It sat around for months, until one day when a friend was over to work on a writing project. He hadn't brought his computer, so I fired up the spare laptop, whisking away my guilt. That spare computer has now become a dedicated guest computer.

A cheese plate can be many things. A party platter, a snack, even a meal -- a cheese plate can be all of these things. It doesn't require any cooking, but crafting a perfectly harmonious plate of delicious dairy is a delicate balancing act, and some forethought is required.

Given the festive nature of the holiday season, cooking can veer towards the elaborate, so it helps to have some quick and easy dishes that impress without a ton of effort. As such, I recommend that everyone keep a stock of puff pastry in their freezer, and use it liberally to whip up appetizers, snacks, and desserts.

Hosting a great party on a budget is easy if you do a little planning. Here's something fun to try next time: Stock your self-serve bar with booze-soaked fruit to keep things fun and fancy.

The words "mulled wine" most likely conjure up images of big pots, slowly simmering with vino and spices. That's all good, but the holidays can be hectic, and you may not have time to babysit a bubbling pot. To infuse wine with aromatics without ever turning on your stove, you'll need to enlist your microwave.

'Tis the season for all sorts of parties, and -- while I love throwing a seasonal soiree or two -- I do not enjoy washing and endless stream of little plates. Paper plates don't feel that special, and plastic is little wasteful, but cedar grilling planks make great little serving boards for apps and desserts.

Dinner parties are a great way to gather your friends for a little quality time, but planning dinner parties can be a real source of stress. To cut down on anxiety but still break bread with your besties, consider what The Kitchn calls a "crappy dinner party".

When inviting people into our homes, it can be easy to view everything with super-critical eyes. It's natural to want to apologise for these supposed shortcomings, but the word "sorry" should never escape your lips.

Nothing ruins a good time out-of-doors like stupid bugs. Citronella candles help stave them off, but store-bought ones can be ugly. For a bug-fighting flame that does double duty as a centrepiece, make your own in a mason jar.