Unexpected Holiday Activities to Do While Your Food Is in the Oven

Start your menu by compiling a few easy recipes that don't require a ton of ingredients, complicated prep, or long cook time. It's also great to pick dishes that can be reheated in the oven if you want to prepare them early. Something like this Broccoli & Cheese Casserole or this Savory Sweet Potato Bake fit the bill perfectly for delicious sides. You can even take the same approach for your main dishes; plan to make things like Easy Turkey Pot Pie or Avocado Ranch Pork Chops and Rice. They're crowd-pleasers without all the effort.

Recipes that you make in a slow cooker or crock pot are a godsend for people who love to set it and forget it (just make sure there's always someone in the house while the oven or slow cooker is on). There are so many options for what you can cook in this low and slow fashion, from tender root vegetables to fall-off-the-bone meats. These Slow Cooker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are oh-so creamy and delicious, while this Slow-Cooked Pot Roast is the ultimate holiday centerpiece.

Now that your food is squared away, it's time to focus on having a little fun!

Depending on who you're celebrating with, there are so many crafts you can try out that will get all your creative juices flowing — and your appetites warming up! If there are kids in the house, try making holiday mobiles, bird feeders out of peanut butter and pinecones, or festive garlands to hang around the house. For grown-ups, you could opt for wreath making, still-life painting or drawing, or outdoor tie-dying.

Despite chilly weather, try and do something to get your endorphins up. That could be taking a walk in nature as a family, or even just taking a walk around the neighborhood. You could even take a little day trip to a wintery beach or hiking trail, especially if you don't have to get back home with hours to spare for cooking. If you're heading out on a trail, have kids pick up souvenirs like pretty leaves, shells, pinecones, and needles to use in art projects once you get home.

Even if your holiday party consists of just you and your partner, or a small group of friends or family, you'll want your decor to set the mood for your evening. You could use the day to put together some chic centerpieces for your table. Think: floral arrangements, DIY name cards, or tea candle holders.

A great way to have some fun with kids is to set up a scavenger hunt game all over your house. Grab some small items and hide them in the nooks and crannies of your home (and in the yard!) — you could even take it up a notch by writing up clue cards for your kids to follow.

You can never go wrong with the classics! Grab your deck of cards and play something like Go Fish, Spit, or even poker. You could also pull out your old board games or interactive games like Pictionary or Jenga.

Head out into your snowy backyard or lawn and get building! While of course the traditional snowman is always appreciated, try your hand at crafting other creatures. Maybe you create a cute dog or cat, or possibly characters from your favorite animated movies. And if all else fails, a snowball fight is always a solid way to spend an afternoon.