(BPT) - Hosting a holiday meal for friends and family is one of the most meaningful parts of the season — a chance to share good food and memories around the table. Yet all the cooking, serving and clean-up can easily pull the host away from the holiday gathering, leaving little time to relax and connect with guests.

With a little planning, you can spend less time preparing a holiday meal and more time around the table savoring the taste of the season. These tips and recipes can help to simplify your holiday meal prep without sacrificing flavor.

Take an inventory of your pantry

Creating a spread of classic and creative holiday meals requires a full pantry of ingredients. Before you go shopping, and especially before you start cooking, take stock of what you already have on hand, what's

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