Felicity Cloake's 60-Minute Entertaining Guide: Simple Hosting for Last-Minute Guests
Throughout the holiday season, when there is plenty going on that even energetic individuals might sometimes long for the calm respite of January, it's very simple to neglect details. I expect I'm not the sole person who's ever felt surprised awake at my desk by an inquiry by a friend wondering, "What time should we come us later?" No worries; if you are distracted, and just prone to spontaneous gatherings, I have some solutions.
The Secret to Memorable Gatherings
Firstly, and I cannot stress this sufficiently, whether you've planned long in advance or just a quarter-hour, the best events tend to be the easiest. All everyone is hoping for are engaging talks, something to sip, and enough food that guests don't end up gnawing an arm off on the bus home. Unless you're Jay Gatsby, nobody expects a full bar, Michelin-starred catering or musical performances.
The best gatherings are the most basic. Still, an idea is useful to cover up the reality you have just thrown this thing on on the way home from work.
Picking a Concept to Guide The Party Planning
Still, a theme can be useful to hide the fact you've only thrown the party together while returning after work. By concept, I mean such as a seasonal celebration. Going slightly focused (Nordic holidays, for instance, featuring mulled wine, spiced punch, fish snacks plus flatbreads, Scandinavian music selection; or fiesta-style party, including ponche navideño, cold beers and tequila drinks, and plenty of tortilla chips, tomato dip and guacamole, with festive music on the stereo) helps direct your options on the inevitable shopping trip.
Smart Buying to Support The Party
At the shops, select one or two beverages (one alcoholic for those who do, a non-alcoholic one for some avoid alcohol) plus a couple of snacks that fit the style, then buy a generous amount within your budget, instead of stressing over providing a wide selection. Nothing appears more welcoming and celebratory than plenty – I'd consistently rather to arrive with a sink filled with iced containers with reasonably priced sparkling wine than one glass with expensive bubbly. (Add several packs for chilling, too; you'll find seldom sufficient ice.)
Cocktails and Large-Batch Drinks Streamlined
If you feel the need to show off and serve a special beverage, then pre-mix a big quantity in a container so you aren't stuck faffing around with drinks while it's time to having fun. After starting, ask a close friend or helper to monitor it and refill when needed till it runs out. Do the same for the non-alcoholic punch; people love to take on a role during gatherings so they may experience a share of goodwill.
On the punch front, whatever formula you choose (they abound on the internet), avoid anything too sweet – any kids present ought to have kid-friendly options – and if you have one, put flavor enhancers within reach (don't add them into the punch as they are inappropriate for people who avoid alcohol entirely). Make an effort with presentation so the alcohol-free drink doesn't feel unimportant; it doesn't take a minute to add some slices of citrus into the bowl.
Nibbles That Work With Minimal Preparation
Personally, I recommend passing on the readymade trays of "party foods" available in shops seasonally; they seem fancy, and often require heating things up (if you must do this, remember that everyone quietly prefers toasted bread and/or cocktail sausages anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top a couple of really big containers with good-quality crisps (plain salted pleases everyone), plus, provided there are no allergies, a package of great-value bags with nuts available with global foods in stores, and maybe some olives without stones for color (you don't want to find stones in your pot plants in the future).
If, similar to some, you feel crisps substantial fare, a single large piece of good cheese on a board and crispbreads and some beautifully placed grapes tends to seem visually appealing. A serving dish with some preserved or ready-to-eat prosciutto or seafood laid out on it (just one sort, except if you have a large budget), or a nice ready-made pie, similar to that pop up at delis at this time of year, proves more satisfying, while you truly will succeed with rustic pieces of Italian bread, because they don't need additional preparation.
