During the week long festivities, you will see your relatives, friends, colleagues and even acquaintances drop by to extend Diwali wishes to you and your family. Considering the onslaught of guests during this period, it's not easy to entertain everyone and make them feel welcome in your home. Most of these guests don't even stay for very long - so you have got to be ready to offer savouries and sweets in a matter of minutes. It's a good idea to have some basics in place that could help your serve a tray full of goodies in a jiffy. You don't want to be offering the same Kaju Katlis and Dahi Vadas. Not only does this become repetitive, these kind of dishes taste best when served fresh. Instead, why not offer something that is light on their tummies and also different at the same time?
Here are five essentials which you can buy and keep handy a few days before, they have a long shelf life and your visitors will thank you for it!
1. A bowl of nuts
Move over heavy snacks and serve your guests the goodness of nuts like cashew, almonds, pistachios and walnuts. While there are a lot of flavoured nuts out there, but we suggest you avoid them for this period. Chocolate coated almonds, masala cashew nuts, or salted almonds will only add extra salt or sugar, plus there's nothing to beat the freshness of freshly toasted nuts.
Chocolate coated almonds, masala cashew nuts, or salted almonds will only add extra saltMake an interesting trail mix of dry fruits like dried apricots, berries, raisins, cranberries, figs and dates. This trail mix will not only be tasty but will also help your guests take in all the goodness of these healthy dry fruits. You could even add pumpkin seeds or chia seeds to the mix for an added crunch.
Make an interesting trail mix of dry fruits like dried apricots, berries, raisins, cranberries, figs and datesOne of the best ways to give your guests a break from the usual foods, is to serve them something regional. So why not serve them something that comes from your native region? Say if you are from Maharashtra, you could serve Bhakarwadi, if you are from Tamil Nadu, you can give Murukku or if you are from Gujarat, serve Khakra. The idea is to treat them with something different so that they enjoy these foods more and it's a break from the usual suspects.
Give your guests a break from the usual foods, is to serve them something regionalThose gold and silver chocolate coins we used to get as a gift during our childhood can surely be brought back this festive season. These are easily available in all local markets and make for an interesting addition to your Diwali tray. We are sure; these chocolate coins will be quite an attraction for the kids visiting your house too.
Those gold and silver chocolate coins during our childhood can be brought back this festive seasonHeavy beverages like coffee or tea are a big no-no, considering the guests have already been visiting so many places stuffing themselves with heavy food and drinks. Instead, just serve sharbats that will keep their tummies light. You can serve khus sharbat, kesar sharbat or rose sharbat in order to treat their palates.
You can serve khus sharbat, kesar sharbat or rose sharbat in order to treat their palatesand a perfect drink to accompany them with, making you Diwali ready, without really overdoing it.