MaSibiya’s Hosting Hacks

MaSibiya loves entertaining. But she also likes to save zaka. Especially during the festive season, when mara, everything is so expensive! So, we asked her to share her hosting hacks with all our Bozzas. She says: “Keep it simple and follow this list…”

1.     Khisimusi in the kitchen 

“I love to cook but I don’t want to do all the cooking! Let your Bozzas help, like I do,” says MaSibiya. She gets everyone involved, from cooking to setting the table. She recommends working out the entire cost of the meal, including drinks and dessert, and getting all the guests to chip in. Although she prefers to be the umcimbi general in the kitchen, she says that some years she has hosted a bring-and-share lunch where each guest brings a different course or dish for the meal. Her favourite dishes range from samp, beans and beef stew to glazed gammon and roast potatoes.

2.     Sweet treats

MaSibiya’s favourite course is dessert! She loves a festive trifle with a mix of South African favourites. “Everyone loves my malva pudding, so I use this instead of plain sponge cake,” she explains. “Between the layers, I add whipped cream and custard. And because I love chocolate, I crumble Peppermint Crisp on top. It’s absolutely delicious!” For the kiddies, MaSibiya prepares an ice-cream station, complete with sugar cones and tasty toppings.

3.     Décor galore

“I love the sparkle of the festive season!” says MaSibiya. “I take good care of all my decorations, so I can use them every year. For things that can’t be reused, like serviettes and Christmas crackers, I have another hack for those,” she says with a wink. “I buy these items out of season, when they go on special, and keep them for the next year.” When it comes to decorating the tree, she’s got her own little elves to help. “My grandkids always make little ornaments at school. They proudly present them to me every year, so we have a whole collection to decorate the tree!”

4.     I’sgubhu seFestive

“Everyone likes something different when it comes to music, so I don’t take my chance on this one. I let my kids and grandkids create the playlist. I wouldn’t know how to do that anyway!” says MaSibiya. “Everyone in the family chooses a few of their favourite songs. That way they all get a little something of what they enjoy.” MaSibiya says that as long as the music provides a great atmosphere, she’s happy with whatever they play.

5.     Love your leftovers

“I send my guests home with some of the leftovers, so they can enjoy the meal for another day,” says MaSibiya. “We always cook extra of everything to take to a children’s home nearby. And we drop the warm food off before coming back to enjoy our own meal.” Even after all that, she says, there are sometimes still more leftovers. She uses these to make sandwiches for the family or adds them to soups, stews and sauces.

So, there you have it! 5 hosting hacks from the umcimbi general of entertaining and saving. MaSibiya hopes that you’re inspired by her ideas and wishes you a fantastic festive season!

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