Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Party Strategy: Stress-Free Entertaining for Unexpected Guests
During this holiday time, when there is a lot going on that even vivacious individuals might sometimes anticipate the calm break of the new year, it is very simple to forget things. I believe I cannot be the only person who has once felt surprised awake at work because of a message from someone asking, "What time should we come over tonight?" Fear not; if you are distracted, or simply likely to make last-minute invitations, I've got you covered.
The Golden Rule to Successful Get-Togethers
Above all, though I cannot emphasize this enough, if you've been planning for a year versus just a short while, the greatest parties are the easiest. What everyone is hoping for is pleasant conversation, something to enjoy, and enough to eat that guests do not feel like gnawing an arm off on the bus home. Unless you're throwing a lavish ball, nobody anticipates extensive drinks, gourmet catering and a live band.
The most successful parties tend to be the most basic. Still, an idea helps to cover up the reality you have only put the party on on the way home from work.
Selecting a Style to Guide Your Preparations
That said, an overarching idea works well to conceal that you've just thrown the party on while returning after work. By concept, think of for example a seasonal celebration. Getting slightly focused (Scandinavian Christmas, say, with spiced drink, spiced punch, fish snacks plus flatbreads, Scandinavian music playlist; or fiesta-style party, with ponche navideño, refreshing lagers and tequila drinks, along with plenty of snacks, tomato dip & green spread, and Luis Miguel on the stereo) can narrow your choices on the necessary supermarket sweep.
Strategic Buying to Support The Gathering
At the shops, choose a couple of drinks (one alcoholic for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one in case others don't want to) and some nibbles that fit the theme, then purchase as many as possible, instead of worrying about giving people too much choice. No thing looks more abundant and cheerful as a bounty – I would consistently prefer to arrive by a tub full of iced containers with reasonably priced bubbly than one glass of expensive champagne. (Include several packs of cubes, as well; there is never enough ice.)
Drinks & Large-Batch Drinks Made Easy
Should you impress and offer a cocktail, make sure to pre-mix a big quantity in a pitcher so that you aren't left busying yourself with preparation while it's time to socializing. After starting, enlist a partner or helper to keep an eye on it and replenish when needed until it's finished. Follow suit for the soft drink; guests love to be given a task during gatherings so they can enjoy some of festive spirit.
Regarding punch, whatever recipe you choose (you can find plenty online), avoid anything overly sugary – children present need kid-friendly options – and if you own one, place flavor enhancers nearby (avoid adding any into the punch since they're unsafe for people who avoid alcohol altogether). Take care in presenting it so that the non-alcoholic option doesn't seem unimportant; it only takes a short time to cut a few rounds of fruit to the punch.
Food That Delight With Minimal Fuss
For me, I recommend passing on the store-bought trays with "party foods" that appear in supermarkets during the holidays; they seem overly complicated, and frequently require using the oven (should you opt for these, know that everyone quietly favors toasted bread and/or cocktail sausages regardless). I truly believe you can't beat several sizable containers with good-quality snacks (salted pleases everyone), plus, assuming no dietary restrictions, one of those great-value containers of nuts available in the international aisle in stores, and maybe some olives without stones as a garnish (you don't want to find pits around the house in the future).
If, as my mother says, you don't consider chips real food, one large piece of tasty cheese on a board and crispbreads plus elegantly arranged grapes always looks painterly. A platter featuring preserved or ready-to-eat salami or salmon arranged there (a single variety, unless you have a large budget), alternatively a handsome ready-made pie, of the type available in specialty sections at this time of year, is more satisfying, while you truly won't fail by serving artisanal slices of focaccia, because they don't need buttering.
