This Christmas be smart (and act smart with your smartphone)
Like every year, the Christmas dates have already arrived with their feasts and large dinners under their arms. Around a table we spend good times, but there is no doubt that they are a real headache for those who have to organize them.
Thinking about the menu, buying all the ingredients or decorating and ambience the place as it deserves are tasks that nobody gets rid of these days have guests at home.
However, in order not to go crazy with so many preparations, we can use technology. There are more and more mobile applications that will give you ideas for the Christmas menu, they will help you organize all the tasks among family members or they will inspire you to surprise everyone with a perfect table this year.
You will also find technological solutions that could be useful during the celebration in case your brother-in-law gets too heavy or even for the next day, when you find a lot of leftovers in your fridge and the house is upside down.
HOW TO GET THE BEST MENU
To know what recipes are we going to use It will be one of the first unknowns that we must solve, especially if we want to escape from the classics and prepare dishes that everyone likes.
To do this, we can take a look at the extensive recipe book of the app Kitchen Channel (also available for Apple Watch) or from Cookpad . In the latter you will find ideas from other users who will tell you about their experience between stoves so that nothing fails you. you can even share your own dishes from your smartphone or tablet to help others.
Also, if you are one of those who want have it all planned in advance, the app Nestle Kitchen it will become one of your favourites. In it you will not only find a lot of perfectly classified recipes, but you will also be able to organize all your meals through its Menu Planner. This way you can create a calendar with days of binge eating and other healthier ones to take care of the line.
Technological allies, analog success
Now, if you prefer international cuisine, SideChef it is what you are looking for. With this app you will feel like a true chef and you will be able to prepare recipes that leave your family and friends speechless. Of course, when you use it, in addition to testing your culinary arts, you will practice english, since all his recipes are in the language of Shakespeare.
TO DISTRIBUTE TASKS AND NOT FORGET ANYTHING
With the menu already thought out, it's time to start with the preparations. So that you do not miss any details, it is best to write everything down.
To do this, there are a good handful of applications available that can be converted into our Christmas calendar: from the known google-calendar , which will allow us to receive notices of all our appointments, even the notes system of evernote .
Another calendar alternative is the app Remember The Milk , in which we can write down the shopping list or the routine greeting calls that we have pending before the end of the year.
In addition, all these tools allow us to share our annotations with family and friends, which helps distribute tasks And let no one sit idly by.
In fact, thanks to apps, the only thing we can forget about is going to the supermarket. home services, such as Amazon PrimeNow or the Spanish ** Glovo ** and Deliberry, They will take you home shopping just by requesting it from your mobile or tablet. Of course, before trusting them, check if your address is within their work area and, if so, what is the amount of shipping costs.
Also, to carry a control of all expenses , you can also get hold of free tools like Fintonic either Wally , with which you can keep up to date with all your accounts.
HOW TO CREATE THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE
Mobile applications will also make you an expert decorator for Christmas dinners and lunches. On platforms like pinterest either houzz you will find a lot of ideas to create an announcement table , without going further.
If you want to be a Christmas host in capital letters, a little music won't hurt . In Spotify you will find several special lists for these holidays: from the ** classic Christmas carols ** to alternative proposals with ** instrumental music **, passing through a latin touch . In this service you will have the Free option or the Premium option for 0.99 euros for the first three months and then 9.99 euros per month, for listen to all the music you want offline to the internet or advertising spaces.
With all this you will create the perfect environment so that your guests are really comfortable , which can be a double-edged sword: when the time comes, you will want to rest and they will continue in your house.
There are also technological solutions for this. apps like fake call (for Android) or Fake Call Free (for iOS) will allow you schedule a fake call at a certain time or activate it at the moment with a simple touch. Of course, the excuse for them to leave after that supposed call is already in charge of your imagination.
TIME TO PICK UP AND CLEAN
After the party, your house probably looks like a lion's den and your fridge is full of leftovers you won't know what to do with. There is also nothing to worry about.
The cookbook app hat cook (previously known as What's Cooked Today?) will offer you dishes according to the ingredients you have . In addition, in its search engine you can filter them by difficulty and cooking time in case, after so much hustle and bustle, you don't feel like taking much care in the kitchen.
Dirt will not be a problem either. With Clintu , you can hire a house cleaning service at the click of a button and, in less than you think, a professional will come to your home for a starting price of 9.95 euros per hour. At the moment, however, this service is only available in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Zaragoza.
In short, this year do not complicate yourself: get these tech helpers that will make organizing holiday meals (and cleaning up when they're gone) as easy as picking up your phone.
Apps come to your aid!