I always look for shortcuts when I'm entertaining during the holidays. It's a busy time of year and, while I'm excited to host guests, it's easy for me to become overwhelmed. After all, I always want everything to look (and taste) fantastic. One of my favorite meals to serve is homemade soup and a loaf of hot crusty bread. I like to use Ace Bakery's "Bake your own" whole wheat petits pains. The light meal is perfect to serve after a snowball fight or an afternoon skating. I also serve a cheese plate and the resulting meal is quick and delicious!

One of my favorite soup recipes to make is a Style at Home classic: curried butternut squash soup with red lentils. I love how hearty it is as well as how easy it is to make. I will make a big batch a week ahead of time and freeze it. A basic trick for your presentation of the soup is your choice of dishes. Notice how I chose Arabia Finland 24Hour china white bowls to accentuate the rich color of the soup.

If I was serving a cream-based soup (ie clam chowder), I would serve it in a darker bowl. Sprinkle some toasted pine nuts, grated fresh Parmesan cheese (use an apple peeler to make nice curls) and add a dollop of sour cream. The result looks (and tastes) fantastic. Your guests will never know how simple it was to make. Enjoy!