Sharing meals with friends and family is a special part of the festive holiday season. Here are five ways to minimize kitchen time as you maximize people time.

1. Don’t do all of the work yourself. Invite guests to bring a dish and share the work. Even if they don’t cook, guests can help by creating a fruit platter, bringing beverages or buying dessert.
2. Forget about fancy. Trying chicken cordon bleu for the first time when you have 20 guests coming is not a good idea. Make your tried–and–true, well–loved recipes that you can pull off with ease. And make as much as you can in advance.
3. Prepare salad in advance and refrigerate it. For a lettuce–based salad, add dressing just before serving. For a grain–based salad (pasta or quinoa), dress it in advance so the flavors have a chance to blend.
4. If you have a dish that must be cooked and served immediately, measure and prep all of your ingredients in advance.
5. Know about likes and dislikes before you plan your menu. Vegetarian guests? Any food allergies or intolerances? Avoid last–minute cooking; when you invite guests, ask about preferences.