An Expert's 60-Minute Entertaining Guide: Stress-Free Entertaining for Unexpected Visitors
Throughout this holiday season, while there's so much happening that the most energetic people might occasionally long for the quiet respite in the new year, it's all too simple to neglect details. I'm sure I cannot be the sole one who has once been startled awake while at my desk because of a message by someone asking, "What time do you want us later?" Fear not; if you are distracted, and just prone to spontaneous gatherings, I have some solutions.
The Golden Rule to Successful Parties
Above all, and I can't emphasize this sufficiently, if you've organized long in advance or just 15 minutes, the most enjoyable events are the simplest. What everyone really wants are pleasant conversation, a drink to enjoy, plus sufficient to eat that they don't feel like chewing their arm during the ride home. Unless you're a fictional millionaire, nobody anticipates professional bartending, gourmet catering and a live band.
The best parties tend to be the simplest. However, a concept helps to disguise the fact you've only thrown this thing together while coming after a long day.
Picking a Style to Focus Your Preparations
Nevertheless, a theme is helpful for disguising that you've just thrown this thing together on the way from the office. By concept, I mean something like the holidays. Getting slightly more specific (Nordic holidays, say, with mulled wine, aromatic cocktail, fish snacks plus crispbreads, Nordic beats playlist; alternatively Latin American celebration, with traditional drink, refreshing lagers and margaritas, along with heaps of corn chips, spicy sauce & green spread, and Luis Miguel playing) will focus your choices on the upcoming supermarket sweep.
Strategic Purchasing for The Party
While shopping, choose a couple of drinks (one alcoholic if you drink, one not for others prefer not to) and a couple of snacks that match the theme, and get as much of them as possible, rather than worrying about providing endless options. Nothing appears as generous and celebratory as a bounty – I would always rather to be welcomed by a tub full of chilled bottles of competitively priced bubbly over a single glass with swanky champagne. (Include a few bags for chilling, as well; there is never plenty of ice.)
Cocktails & Large-Batch Drinks Made Easy
If you feel the need to demonstrate skills and serve a mixed drink, make sure to pre-mix a large batch in a pitcher so that you're not left faffing around with preparation while you should be having fun. After starting, enlist a partner or volunteer to watch it then top up when needed till it's finished. Follow suit for the soft drink; guests appreciate to take on a job while socializing so they may share in the positive vibes.
On the punch front, whichever recipe you pick (there are many on the internet), skip anything overly sugary – young ones present need separate beverages – and if you have one, plonk flavor enhancers nearby (don't add them into the punch since they are not suitable for those abstaining from drinks entirely). Take care with presentation so the soft punch doesn't seem neglected; it only takes a moment to add some slices of citrus into the bowl.
Food That Work With Minimal Preparation
For me, I'd skip the pre-made platters of "party foods" that pop up in supermarkets at this time of year; they come across as overly complicated, and usually involve heating things up (if you must go this route, be aware that everyone truly likes toasted bread or mini sausages regardless). I'm convinced it's hard to top a couple of sizable dishes of decent crisps (simple is universally liked), and, assuming no dietary restrictions, some of those large and economical containers with nuts often sold in the South Asian section of supermarkets, with perhaps some ready-to-eat olives for color (try not to discover pits in your pot plants next Easter).
In case, like my mum, you think snacks real food, one large piece of good cheese on a board alongside crackers plus artfully draped fruit often appears visually appealing. A plate with some cured or cooked prosciutto or seafood displayed on it (only one type, except if you're wealthy), or a handsome ready-made tart, of the type that pop up in specialty sections at this time of year, is even more substantial, while you really can't go wrong with artisanal chunks of Italian bread, since they don't need buttering.
