Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Entertaining Guide: Simple Entertaining for Last-Minute Visitors
During this holiday time, while there's so much happening which the most vivacious individuals may sometimes anticipate the calm respite in January, it is all too easy to neglect details. I expect I cannot be the sole person who has once felt startled awake at work by an inquiry by someone asking, "What time are we expected over later?" Fear not; whether you are distracted, and just prone to last-minute gatherings, I've got you covered.
The Key to Great Gatherings
First and foremost, though I cannot stress it enough, whether you've planned for a year versus just a quarter-hour, the most enjoyable events tend to be the most straightforward. What everyone really wants are a good chat, a drink to enjoy, plus sufficient to eat that they don't feel like chewing their arm during the bus home. If you're not you are throwing a lavish ball, no one expects a full bar, fancy catering or musical performances.
The greatest parties are the simplest. Still, an idea is useful to cover up the reality you've just thrown the event together while coming home from work.
Picking a Style to Guide Your Preparations
Still, a theme works well to hide the fact you have only put the party together while returning from the office. And with a theme, I mean for example Christmas. Going slightly more specific (Swedish-style festivities, say, featuring spiced drink, aromatic cocktail, fish snacks and rye crackers, folk tunes selection; alternatively Mexican Christmas, with ponche navideño, cold beers and margaritas, and plenty of tortilla chips, spicy sauce & avocado dip, with festive music on the stereo) will focus your choices during the inevitable grocery run.
Practical Purchasing to Support The Gathering
In the store, select a drink or two (one alcoholic for those who do, one not in case some prefer not to) and a couple of appetizers suited to the theme, then get as much of them within your budget, rather than worrying about giving people too much choice. Nothing looks as generous and as festive as plenty – I'd consistently rather to enter with a tub stocked with chilled bottles of affordable sparkling wine over a single glass of fancy champagne. (Chuck in a few bags for chilling, too; you'll find never sufficient ice.)
Cocktails & Punch Simplified
Should you show off and provide a mixed drink, make sure to prepare ahead a big quantity in a container so that you're not stuck messing about with preparation when you ought to be having fun. After starting, request a close friend or helper to watch it then top up if required until it's gone. Follow suit with the alcohol-free option; guests enjoy to be given a job during gatherings so they may share in a share of goodwill.
For large-batch drinks, whichever formula you pick (there are many via search), avoid anything excessively sweet – young ones there ought to have their own drinks – and if it's available, place a bottle of bitters close by (refrain from putting them in the mix as they are unsafe for those abstaining from drinks altogether). Make an effort in presenting it so the soft punch isn't perceived unimportant; it only takes a moment to cut several pieces of lemon or orange to the punch.
Food That Shine Without Effort
For me, I recommend passing on the pre-made platters with "party foods" available in shops seasonally; they come across as fussy, and often involve using the oven (if you must opt for these, know that everyone quietly likes herb bread or mini sausages anyway). I'm convinced nothing beats two large containers of good-quality crisps (salted pleases everyone), plus, assuming no issues, some of those big and excellent value containers of nuts often sold in the South Asian section of supermarkets, with perhaps a few pitted olives for colour (it's best to avoid to find stones around the house months later).
If, similar to some, you feel crisps proper food, a single sizeable chunk of good cheese served simply and crispbreads and some elegantly arranged grapes tends to seem artistic. A plate featuring cured or cooked meats or fish laid out there (a single variety, except if you're wealthy), alternatively a nice store-bought pie, similar to available at delis at this time of year, is even more substantial, while you really can't go wrong by serving homestyle slices of flatbread, because they require no spreading butter.
