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In an interview with Veranda, Martha Stewart described five things she makes part of hosting holiday gatherings: preparing a clean home, keeping fireplace wood ready, serving eggnog, adding houseplants and sending guests home with homemade food. She also advised limiting guests to one glass of her eggnog, which can include bourbon, dark rum and cognac.
Martha Stewart has shared five holiday hosting practices she says she returns to for her parties, including cleaning and polishing her home, preparing a fireplace, making eggnog, bringing in houseplants and giving guests a homemade treat to take away. In an interview with Veranda, Stewart framed the habits as ways to prepare for visitors and make gatherings feel welcoming, from planned parties to friends or relatives who arrive unexpectedly.
Stewart said she gets her home ready before the busy holiday period, including making sure it is clean and polishing silver and brass. “There’s a lot going on, so I just make sure that my house is in very nice shape and sparkling clean,” she told Veranda. Her preparations go beyond the rooms guests will use: she said she wants the decorative metal pieces ready for parties, too.
For homes with a fireplace, Stewart recommends keeping a supply of dry wood stacked and available. She said that lets a host light a fire at short notice if friends or out-of-town guests show up. The advice is conditional on having a fireplace; it is not a requirement for every host.
Her Christmas party drink is a large-batch eggnog made with a dozen eggs, baking spices and fresh whipped cream. The recipe can include bourbon, dark rum and cognac. Stewart described it as popular and said it “goes a long way,” while advising hosts to limit guests to one glass or reduce the alcohol if guests want more. She also highlighted using farm-fresh eggs.
Stewart’s final two suggestions are adding living plants indoors and offering a homemade food favor. She said houseplants can range from small plants grown in pods to large ficus trees. For guests leaving the party, she favors something edible, such as a special cookie, candy or loaf cake. The interview also notes festive seasonal options such as paperwhites, amaryllis and poinsettias.
Stewart’s list presents holiday hosting as a series of practical preparations, not just a meal or a decorated room. A clean, ready home and dry firewood can help hosts accommodate visitors, while plants and take-home food add touches that continue the welcome during and after the gathering.
The eggnog advice also contains a concrete hosting caution: the recipe may use three kinds of liquor, and Stewart recommends limiting servings. That is relevant for anyone considering the drink, though the interview does not provide a full recipe or detailed food-safety guidance.
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Stewart’s Seasonal Hosting Advice
The Veranda article describes these ideas as habits Stewart returns to year after year and places them among broader holiday hosting advice. It also mentions her partnership with Miracle-Gro, where she serves as chief gardening officer, in connection with her comments about keeping houseplants in the home.
The five practices span preparation, atmosphere, refreshments and a parting gift. The source does not report a new product, event announcement or change to Stewart’s recipes; the news is her seasonal interview and the specific recommendations she shared.
““There’s a lot going on, so I just make sure that my house is in very nice shape and sparkling clean.””
— Martha Stewart, speaking to Veranda
Recipe and Party Details Omitted
The Veranda report does not give the interview’s publication date, the complete eggnog recipe or measurements for its optional liquors. It also does not specify how many people the batch serves. Stewart’s one-glass recommendation is her hosting advice, not a medical assessment of safe alcohol consumption.
The article does not say whether these five habits are a fixed checklist for every event, how much time Stewart spends on each preparation, or whether she follows them at all gatherings. They are presented as practices she likes to use, rather than rules for other hosts.
Advice for Holiday Hosts
The interview offers seasonal suggestions rather than announcing a scheduled follow-up or event. Readers seeking the full recipe or further details will need to consult the original Veranda article; the supplied report summarizes the ingredients and serving guidance but does not reproduce the recipe’s full instructions.
For hosts using the ideas, the practical next steps are to prepare the home and any fireplace in advance, choose plants suited to the space, and plan a take-home treat. Anyone serving the described eggnog should account for its possible alcohol content and make clear to guests whether it contains liquor.
Key Questions
What five things does Martha Stewart say she does for holiday parties?
She names cleaning and polishing her home, preparing dry firewood for a fireplace, making eggnog, bringing houseplants into the home and offering guests a homemade food favor.
What is in Stewart’s holiday eggnog?
The report says the large-batch drink uses a dozen eggs, baking spices and fresh whipped cream. It can also include bourbon, dark rum and cognac; the source does not provide full measurements or instructions.
What does Stewart recommend for serving the eggnog?
Stewart advised limiting guests to one glass, or using less liquor if guests are likely to want more. The source does not present this as medical guidance.
What homemade party favors does Stewart suggest?
She suggests edible take-home treats such as a special cookie, candy or loaf cake, or a slice of something delicious.
Source: veranda.com
