HoneyBaked Makes Holiday Entertaining Easy and Efficient by Solving Three Common Issues

DETROIT, Dec. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosting a successful holiday celebration means finding solutions to three common issues: how to plan a menu the whole family will love, how to serve the leftovers in a fun and interesting way and how to get out of the kitchen for long enough to actually enjoy the event you spent so much time planning. HoneyBaked provides the perfect solutions to help take the stress out of holiday gatherings while still sending your family and friends home full, happy and impressed.

"At HoneyBaked, we understand that the holidays can be a stressful time, and we are experts in making the experience easier for our customers," said Lou Schmidt, Jr., HoneyBaked Michigan Division president.

Cut the Prep Time the HoneyBaked Way
Consider this: Shopping for your holiday meal items can take up to 3 hours. Thawing and cooking a 16 pound turkey can take up to 12 hours. Likewise, a similar size ham takes an average of five hours per pound to thaw, and 30 minutes per pound to cook.

"Holiday meals are a time to create cherished memories with family and friends, and our products allow the host to get out of the kitchen and into the conversation. Serving our fire-glazed HoneyBaked Ham, Boneless Ham or our delicious New Recipe Turkey Breast couldn't be easier – simply unwrap and enjoy," said Schmidt.

Menu Planning
Planning your menu should start with a guest list which will not only help you figure out how many people will be attending, but also help you make sure you have something to please everyone. 

"One of the most difficult questions people encounter is how much meat or poultry should they buy based on their number of guests," said Schmidt. "HoneyBaked employees also serve as holiday meal planning advisors, making recommendations to customers on how much ham, turkey, sides and desserts will be needed to feed their gathering. We make the menu planning easy. Just call or stop by a HoneyBaked location and ask."

HoneyBaked's New Recipe Turkey Breast is 98 percent fat free, available roasted or smoked, and is covered with their signature sweet, crunchy glaze and sliced for convenient serving. Free samples of the New Recipe Turkey Breast are available at participating HoneyBaked locations through December 31.

HoneyBaked Hams are hand-selected for leanness, smoked up to 24 hours and spiral sliced to the bone. Available in sizes ranging from 4 – 16 lbs., they are perfect for any size gathering. HoneyBaked Boneless Hams are an even easier way to enjoy the taste you love; they're tender and flavorful, sliced, and hand finished with the signature sweet, crunchy glaze.

Leftovers with a Twist
While most families look forward to a turkey or ham sandwich the day after the holiday, consider using leftovers to create a new, fun meal. HoneyBaked includes recipes with its turkey and ham and also offers this recipe suggestion to make the second time around as exciting as the first:

HoneyBaked Ham or Turkey Pasta Salad
Serves 4

Boil according to package directions:
   1 1/2 cups small shell pasta
   1 tablespoon salt

Rinse with cold water and drain. While pasta is cooking make a simple vinaigrette dressing of:
   1/2 cup olive oil
   1/4 cup white wine vinegar
   1/4 teaspoon crumbled sage and season well with salt and pepper

Once pasta is drained mix together in a bowl:
   1/4 cup each finely diced green bell pepper and pimento the vinaigrette.

Line a pasta bowl or large serving plate with curly lettuce leaves and place pasta on lettuce forming a ring around the edge and a depression in the middle of the pasta.
In a separate bowl mix together:
   1/2 cup mayonnaise
   1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
   3 celery ribs diced
   2 cups diced HoneyBaked Smoked or Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast or HoneyBaked Ham
   1 tablespoon capers

Fill the indentation in the pasta with this and garnish with:
   2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
   2 tablespoons finely sliced scallion.

For coupon offers including $3 off the new recipe turkey breast and $7 off a Half Ham visit www.honeybakedfoods.com.

About HoneyBaked Ham Company

More than 40 years ago, Harry J. Hoenselaar began a special tradition when he opened the first HoneyBaked Ham Company store in Michigan. Uniquely prepared, cured and smoked, the crowning touch was Harry's crunchy sweet glaze and spiral slicing. Three generations and more than 400 stores later, the Hoenselaar family carries on their tradition so that families across America can celebrate traditions of their own around the dinner table.

Contact: Dave Jones
Shazaaam! Public Relations
(248) 366-0388
[email protected]

SOURCE HoneyBaked Ham Company