Felicity Cloake's One-Hour Entertaining Guide: Stress-Free Entertaining for Last-Minute Company
Throughout this festive period, when there is a lot happening that the most lively individuals may sometimes anticipate a calm break of January, it's very easy to overlook things. I expect I'm not the only one who's once felt startled awake at work because of an inquiry by someone wondering, "What time are we expected us tonight?" Don't worry; whether you are distracted, or simply likely to make impromptu invitations, I've got some solutions.
The Golden Rule to Memorable Get-Togethers
First and foremost, and I can't emphasize it enough, whether you've organized for a year or just 15 minutes, the most enjoyable events tend to be the simplest. All everyone really wants are engaging talks, a drink to sip, plus enough food so they do not end up chewing their arm during the ride home. If you're not you are a fictional millionaire, no one anticipates professional bartending, gourmet catering or a live band.
The greatest parties are the simplest. However, a theme is useful to disguise the reality you've just put this thing together while coming after a long day.
Choosing a Style to Focus The Party Planning
Still, an overarching idea can be useful to conceal that you have just put this thing together on the way from the office. And by theme, think of such as the holidays. Going slightly more detailed (Swedish-style festivities, say, with spiced drink, aromatic cocktail, smoked fish and crispbreads, Scandinavian music selection; or fiesta-style party, with traditional drink, refreshing lagers or cocktails, along with heaps of snacks, salsa & green spread, and Luis Miguel in the background) will focus the selection on the inevitable grocery run.
Practical Purchasing to Support The Event
While shopping, select one or two beverages (one alcoholic if you drink, a non-alcoholic one for some avoid alcohol) and a few snacks that match the theme, then get as many as possible, instead of worrying about offering guests too much choice. No thing looks as generous and celebratory than a bounty – I would consistently rather to enter by a tub full of chilled bottles with competitively priced sparkling wine over a small serving with swanky bubbly. (Add some bags of cubes, as well; you'll find seldom plenty of ice.)
Drinks and Party Beverages Streamlined
Should you show off and offer a special beverage, then mix in advance a large batch in a pitcher so that you aren't left busying yourself with it when you ought to be socializing. After starting, enlist a significant other or volunteer to monitor the drinks and top up as necessary until it's gone. Follow suit with the non-alcoholic punch; people love to take on a task while socializing allowing them to experience the goodwill.
For large-batch drinks, whichever mix you go for (there are many online), avoid anything too sweet – any kids present should have kid-friendly options – and if you own one, plonk a bottle of bitters nearby (don't add them into the punch as they are unsafe for people who avoid drinks entirely). Take care with presentation so the alcohol-free drink doesn't feel like an afterthought; it only takes a minute to slice some slices of citrus to the punch.
Food That Delight With Minimal Effort
For me, I recommend passing on the store-bought trays of "party foods" available in supermarkets seasonally; they seem overly complicated, and usually involve using the oven (if you must go this route, remember that everyone quietly likes herb bread and/or small hot dogs anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top two sizable dishes with decent snacks (salted will offend no one), plus, assuming no issues, one of those great-value bags of nuts typically found in the international aisle of supermarkets, with perhaps a few ready-to-eat olives for color (you don't want to still be finding stones in odd places in the future).
If, like my mum, you think snacks proper food, a single big slab of quality cheese on a board and crispbreads and some artfully draped fruit tends to seem visually appealing. A serving dish featuring preserved or ready-to-eat meats or fish arranged on it (only one type, except if you're wealthy), alternatively a nice store-bought tart, similar to that appear in specialty sections at this time of year, is more filling, while you really won't fail with homestyle pieces of focaccia, because they require no additional preparation.
