Felicity Cloake's Quick-Fire Entertaining Guide: Stress-Free Entertaining for Last-Minute Visitors
Throughout this holiday season, while there's a lot going on which the most lively individuals may occasionally long for the quiet respite in the new year, it is very easy to overlook things. I'm sure I cannot be the sole person who's ever been surprised awake at work because of a message from someone wondering, "What time are we expected us tonight?" Fear not; if you're absent minded, or simply inclined toward last-minute gatherings, I've got some solutions.
The Secret to Great Get-Togethers
Above all, and I can't stress it sufficiently, whether you have planned long in advance or only a quarter-hour, the greatest events are the simplest. What everyone really wants are a good chat, a drink to drink, plus sufficient nibbles that guests don't end up chewing something during the ride home. Unless you are throwing a lavish ball, nobody anticipates professional bartending, gourmet food and musical performances.
The best gatherings are the easiest. That said, a theme helps to mask the fact you have just put the event on on the way after a long day.
Selecting a Theme to Guide The Preparations
That said, a theme can be useful to conceal the fact you've only thrown this thing on on the way from the office. And by theme, think of such as the holidays. Going a bit focused (Nordic holidays, say, with glögg, spiced punch, cured seafood plus crispbreads, folk tunes playlist; or Mexican Christmas, with ponche navideño, cold beers or cocktails, along with lots of snacks, spicy sauce & green spread, with Luis Miguel on the stereo) will focus your choices during the upcoming grocery run.
Practical Shopping for Your Party
While shopping, choose one or two beverages (one alcoholic for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one for others prefer not to) and a couple of snacks suited to your concept, and buy as much of them as you can afford, instead of stressing over offering guests too much choice. No thing looks more welcoming and celebratory as a bounty – I'd consistently rather to arrive by a container full of cold bottles with reasonably priced crémant or cava than a small serving of expensive champagne. (Add several packs of ice, as well; there is seldom enough ice.)
Beverages and Large-Batch Drinks Simplified
If you feel the need to impress and serve a mixed drink, make sure to mix in advance a large batch in a jug so that you're not stuck faffing around with drinks when you should be socializing. Once the party begins, ask a close friend or friend to watch it then replenish if required till it runs out. Follow suit for the non-alcoholic punch; people appreciate to be given a job at a party so they may share in the positive vibes.
On the punch front, whichever recipe you pick (they abound on the internet), skip any recipe excessively sweet – children there should have kid-friendly options – and should you own one, put aromatic bitters close by (refrain from putting any in the mix since they're unsafe for those who avoid alcohol altogether). Put in some work with presentation so the soft punch doesn't seem unimportant; it only takes a moment to cut a few rounds of fruit for garnish.
Food That Work With Minimal Fuss
In my view, I would avoid the pre-made platters with "party foods" that pop up at grocery stores seasonally; they feel fussy, and often involve turning the oven on (should you go this route, know that everyone secretly prefers garlic bread or cocktail sausages anyway). It's my firm opinion nothing beats several large bowls of decent snacks (simple pleases everyone), plus, provided there are no issues, a package of great-value packets of mixed nuts typically found in the South Asian section at the market, and maybe a few pitted olives as a garnish (you don't want to find pits around the house in the future).
In case, as my mother says, you don't consider snacks real food, a single large piece of good cheese served simply with crackers plus elegantly arranged grapes always looks artistic. A platter featuring preserved or ready-to-eat meats or fish laid out there (a single variety, unless you're wealthy), alternatively an attractive ready-made tart, like those that appear in specialty sections during festivities, is even more filling, and you truly won't fail with homestyle chunks of focaccia, since there's no need for additional preparation.
