Party Time!
Want your holiday party to be as fun for you as it is for your guests? It's easy, with these tips from the pros! And check out our Food Editor's Picks
By Patty Mastracco and Melanie Peterson (formerly and foolishly, caterers...
now Something Extra food stylists and recipe developers)
Setting the stage.
Catering your own party can be fun. Really! Trust us. We've done it enough times to know that with the proper planning and the right mindset, the whole experience can be stress-free and even enjoyable!
First things first. It doesn't have to be complicated or rob-the-children's-college-fund expensive. Look around you for creative serving ideas. A clean, empty flower pot or a vase lined with a colorful napkin can hold silverware or breadsticks. Tie a ribbon on the outside and tuck in a small pine sprig for a holiday touch. Hollow out bell peppers, gourds or cabbage to hold your dips and spreads. Or simply use colorful coffee mugs. A wicker basket lined with purple kale can hold vegetables and dip. Having two or three levels on the buffet table will add interest.
Footed dishes, wrapped gift boxes or upside-down pottery or bowls can be used to create height on the buffet table. A yard of fabric can add interest and style to your table (and hide any props!). Cut with pinking shears and make basket liners. Weave pine boughs and small white lights between the serving dishes on your buffet table.
Remember, people eat with their eyes too! Spruce up platters with grapes, citrus slices, fresh cranberries, fresh herbs, edible flowers and nuts in the shell. A small garnish goes a long way. A few votive candles on a saucer surrounded by cranberries and fresh bay leaves makes a simple and beautiful decoration.
Hiring the neighborhood teenagers to help serve and clean up will keep the party running smoothly and let you enjoy yourself a bit more!
First steps.
Determine how many guests you'll have and how much you want to spend. This will help you plan your menu - which leads us to:
Menu planning.
What type of party will you be having? Simple, elegant or something in between?
Remember, you don't have to make everything yourself. Frozen and deli items can ease your time schedule and, with a few personal touches, will fit right in with your homemade delicacies.
It's perfectly acceptable to ask some of your closest friends to help with the food. You may even want to provide them with the recipe, ingredients and a serving platter.
Keep in mind that the party will be much more fun for you if you plan on making as many things ahead of time as possible. Choose foods that will hold well and are easy to serve. Simple finger foods are usually the best. Foods that can be served cold or at room temperature will make things even easier!
Finger foods are fine for dinner, but plan on having more food on hand if the party falls within the dinner hour. Appetites are generally bigger that time of the day!
Pick up a nice variety of wines as well as small bottles of mineral water, sparkling cider, sodas and plain old water. It's also nice to have a bowl of nuts or a crackers in the drink area.
Here's a quick timetable to help you with planning:
A week before the party.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Will I use throwaway dishes and utensils or china? Paper goods are great and mean less clean-up. There are so many attractive paper plates and napkins to choose from. Mix and match bright napkins, rather than using just one color. If using china and real silverware, do I have enough or will I need to rent additional?
- What will the tables be covered with, paper, linen or nothing at all?
- Do I have enough space for serving food or will I need to rent or borrow additional tables?
Things to do:
- Make grocery lists. Separate into things that can be purchased right away and perishables that should be shopped the day before or of the party.
- Make thorough to-do lists.
- Order any specialty items you'll need from the meat, deli, bakery or floral departments.
A few days before the party.
- Remove any unnecessary items from your fridge! It will fill up FAST!
- Set aside serving dishes. Put a sticky note on what you'll be serving in each dish.
- Make any items that can be made ahead, such as dips and spreads or appetizers than can be frozen or stored in resealable plastic bags.
The day before the party.
- Finish last-minute shopping.
- Clean your house - or at least, the areas where the party will be.
- If you're renting any tables, dishes or linens, have them delivered the day before the party. Check to make sure you received everything you ordered!
The day of the party.
- Ice down drinks.
- Set out glasses, plates and utensils. Set up your buffet table with empty serving dishes to make sure you have room for everything.
- Pick up ordered items.
- Prepare any foods that could not be made in advance.
- Set up your coffeemaker so you just have to turn it on. Stack a few coffee filters with pre-measured coffee in them so you can quickly make more. (Remember the decaf if it's an evening party!)
Just before your guests arrive.
- Preheat oven.
- Open a few bottles of wine and set out iced drinks and a few snacks.
- Don't forget the music!
- Light candles.
- Put out the dog.
During the party.
- If the party is to be an open house, put out smaller plates and bowls of food, rather than putting all the food out at once. Keep back-up dishes in the refrigerator, ready to replace an empty or unattractive dish.
- The same goes for hot foods. Keep smaller amounts on the buffet table and heat appetizers one tray at a time. You may want to pass any foods that should be served hot.
- Clear away the clutter, whether it's dishes, napkins or glasses. Remove any empty serving dishes from the buffet table. It's better to have a slightly empty buffet than a messy one!
10 things we learned the hard way.
- Guests will often use more than one plate, napkin, fork and glass. Plan on having extra, or you'll find yourself frantically washing dishes during the party.
- Buy two or three extra bags of ice. It's amazing how fast ice melts! An extra ice chest in the garage or outside the back door is perfect for this.
- Keep your kitchen as clean and uncluttered as possible. Guests will always (and we mean always) end up in the kitchen.
- Be flexible with your budget. Expenses add up quickly. Last-minute purchases often cost more.
- You will run out of time! Plan on it! Lining baking sheets with parchment paper or foil will help keep kitchen clean-up to a minimum.
- You can never have enough garbage bags!
- The garage is a great place to store dirty dishes to get them temporarily out of sight!
- Plan on having more food than you think you'll need. Hungry guests, a too-hot oven or a dropped dish may leave you short.
- Set timers.
- Put out the dog.
One last thing...
Make a few batches of Chocolate Peppermint Bark. Wrap in small cello bags tied with red and green ribbon and place in a basket by your door. Let guests take one as they leave the party.
Need more food ideas?
- Place carrot and celery sticks in red and green mugs. Serve with Nob Hill Trading Co. dips.
- Make bite-sized biscuits and fill with sliced ham, honey mustard and Swiss cheese.
- Layer softened cream cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and pesto in a clear bowl. Serve with baguette slices.
- A simple cheese board is always a favorite - and our Fresh Deli has dozens of delicious varieties! On a large platter, place four or five of your favorite wedges of cheese. Fill in with whole apples and pears, dried apricots and toasted nuts. Serve crackers in a basket on the side. Don't forget knives for cutting the fruit. (Remember, Brie is always best at room temperature!)
- Quesadillas can be baked for easy cooking. Stuff with shredded Italian blend cheese, sautéed portabella mushrooms and marinara sauce. Or try Jack cheese with spinach and crumbled bacon. Keep warm in a low oven.
- Season beef tenderloin with chopped herbs, pepper and Dijon mustard. Cook, slice and serve with horseradish sauce and baguette slices.
- Boil and chill small red potatoes. Cut in half and top with a small dollop of herb and garlic cream cheese.
- Top small Boboli pizza crusts with mozzarella, caramelized onions, prosciutto, pear slices and fresh thyme. Cook until bubbly.
- Fill hollowed-out cherry tomatoes with crab dip or salmon-flavored cream cheese. Garnish with a small dill sprig.
- Top smoked salmon with thinly sliced red onions, capers and lemon wedges. Serve with crackers and Nob Hill Trading Co. dill dip from our Fresh Deli.
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