Lifestyle Expert Lauren Makk Shares Some Awesome Holiday Hacks

Atlanta, GA, December 2, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​Lauren Makk has spent a lifetime perfecting her “Affordable Luxury” signature approach to design. That’s why the popular television host, interior design professional, home and Lifestylist, has been featured on numerous television series, including TLC’s “Trading Spaces” and “Drill Team” for A&E, and as a regular host on the nationally syndicated show, FABLife.    

Just in time for the holidays, Makk is sharing some timely holiday hacks to help you survive and enjoy the holiday! Of course, a Life Hack is one of those chic new millennial sayings that have become ingrained in our language. It means “a strategy or technique adopted to manage one's time and daily activities in a more efficient way,” which makes perfect sense during the holiday season when we’re all trying to fit more in our busy lives. With that in mind, the holiday party season is here. Lauren shared some unique and interesting tips and tricks to help you avoid letting holiday entertaining stress you out!   

EASY WAY TO IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS AT YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY

It all starts with the food and you must start with a great hors d'oeuvre. My secret is easy entertaining with Crunchmaster®, full-flavored crackers made with whole grain and wholesome ingredients that are oven-baked to deliver seriously crunchy satisfaction. I make my warm spinach and artichoke dip recipe that people rave about and I serve it with Crunchmaster® crackers. They are gluten free, kosher, and there are no artificial colors or flavors. They are also non-GMO, 100% whole grain, low in sugar and free of Saturated and Trans fats. For more recipes and information, visit www.Crunchmaster.com

SIMPLE HACK TO HELP WITH HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

I am always looking for simple hacks to make my parties easier on me as a hostess. My secret simple hack to keep the stress down when entertaining is to use cookware that is stove to table ready. Right now, BJ’s Wholesale Club has the Crock-Pot Swing and Serve Slow Cooker on sale for only $79.99, it makes holiday entertaining a breeze! You get three slow cookers in one so you can cook and serve all your party foods, appetizers and dips from one appliance. You can also use the Slow Cooker as a serving bowl and avoid counter-top clutter.  BJ’s Wholesale Club takes the stress out of entertaining by offering savings on everything from the perfect cookware to easy-to-make dishes, and even your décor needs for the perfect holiday gathering. As an bonus, they're offering a free 90-day trial membership for the holiday! Go in-store or shop online at Bjs.com.

SERVE TO IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS

LaCroix sparkling water is the perfect alternative to sugary beverages being that it is 100% natural with no added sodium, caffeine, calories or sweeteners. When it comes to holiday entertaining, I like to create festive mocktails with it, mostly because any thoughtful host or hostess should always provide a non-alcoholic option for their guests.

LaCroix comes in 20 different flavors, it can be hard to pick just one, so in addition to serving single cans at my parties, I personally love the Mure Pepino Lemon Fizz 'pick-me-up' the recipe is featured on www.LaCroixWater.com. Simply muddle blackberries, lemon juice and a little bit of honey in the bottom of a glass, pour in a can of LaCroix Curate Mure Pepino, add ice! You can’t go wrong serving your friends and family a beverage that’s 100% innocent!

HOLIDAY HACK TO SIMPLIFY THE CLEAN UP PROCESS  

There is a new item on the market that will combine washing and vacuuming into one step. It’s called the BlSSELL® CrossWave™. It’s a multi-surface cleaning system, so it works on rugs and hardwoods. The two-tank system keeps the cleaning solution and dirty water separate so it can scrub and pick up dry debris at the same time. This is a huge time saver. It works better than a mop and takes less time. For more information, visit BissellCrossWave.com

RECIPES

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This light take on a classic dip is lower in fat, but not in flavor!    

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 pkg (5 oz) spinach
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup grated Asiago cheese
• 8 oz reduced-fat plain brick-style cream cheese
• 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
• Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 jars (6 oz) artichoke hearts, well drained and finely chopped
• 1 pkg (4.5 oz) Crunchmaster® Multi-Seed Crackers

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F. Heat oil in large skillet set over medium heat; cook spinach for about 3 minutes or until wilted. Let cool completely. Squeeze out excess moisture and chop finely.
2. Combine mozzarella, Parmesan and Asiago cheese; reserve 1/4 cup and set aside. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, cayenne (if desired), and remaining cheese mixture; beat until blended. Stir in spinach and artichokes.
3. Scrape into greased 4-cup baking dish. Sprinkle with reserved cheese mixture. Place on baking sheet; bake for about 15 minutes or until heated through and top is golden brown and melted. Serve warm with crackers.

Tip:  For make-ahead, assemble dip, then cover and refrigerate. Bake just before serving and serve warm.

LaCroix Cúrate Blackberry Lemon Fizz

Ingredients

•     1 can LaCroix Cúrate Muré Pepino
•     1/2 cup blackberries
•     1 tbsp lemon juice
•     1 tbsp honey
•     cucumber for garnish

Instructions: Muddle the blackberries, lemon juice and honey in the bottom of a glass. Add ice and top with LaCroix Cúrate Muré Pepino. Garnish with blackberries and cucumber.

Source: Lauren Makk

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