The Ultimate 60-Minute Party Plan: Simple Entertaining for Spontaneous Visitors
During this festive period, when there is a lot happening that the most energetic people may sometimes look forward to the calm break of January, it's all too easy to neglect things. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's once felt surprised awake while at work by a message from a friend asking, "What time do you want over tonight?" Don't worry; whether you are distracted, or just prone to last-minute plans, I've got your back.
The Golden Rule to Memorable Parties
Above all, and I cannot emphasize this enough, if you have planned long in advance versus just 15 minutes, the greatest parties tend to be the simplest. All anyone really wants is engaging talks, a drink to drink, plus enough food so guests don't end up gnawing their arm on the ride back. Unless you are Jay Gatsby, no one expects professional bartending, fancy food or musical performances.
The greatest parties tend to be the easiest. That said, an idea helps to cover up the reality you have just thrown this thing together while coming home from work.
Picking a Theme to Direct The Preparations
Nevertheless, an overarching idea can be useful to hide that you have just put the party together on the way after work. And with a theme, think of something like a seasonal celebration. Going slightly more detailed (Swedish-style festivities, say, featuring glögg, aromatic cocktail, cured seafood and flatbreads, Nordic beats selection; or fiesta-style party, including traditional drink, refreshing lagers and margaritas, and plenty of tortilla chips, salsa & green spread, and upbeat tunes on the stereo) will focus your options during the upcoming supermarket sweep.
Practical Purchasing to Support The Party
While shopping, select one or two beverages (one alcoholic for those who do, a non-alcoholic one in case others don't want to) plus a couple of appetizers that match the theme, then buy as much of them as you can afford, instead of worrying about providing endless options. No thing appears as generous and celebratory as abundance – I'd always rather to enter with a sink filled with chilled bottles of competitively priced sparkling wine than one glass with swanky champagne. (Include a few bags for chilling, too; you'll find never plenty of ice.)
Drinks and Party Beverages Made Easy
If you feel the need to demonstrate skills and provide a cocktail, make sure to mix in advance a big quantity in a jug so that you're not left faffing around with preparation when you should be having fun. Once underway, request a significant other or friend to watch it then top up as necessary till it's gone. Follow suit with the alcohol-free option; people appreciate to be given a role at a party so they can enjoy the festive spirit.
Regarding punch, whichever formula you pick (they abound via search), avoid anything too sweet – children there need separate beverages – and should it's available, place flavor enhancers nearby (avoid adding them into the punch as they're inappropriate for people abstaining from alcohol altogether). Take care with presentation so that the alcohol-free drink isn't perceived unimportant; it only takes a moment to slice a few rounds of fruit to the punch.
Nibbles That Shine With Minimal Effort
Personally, I'd skip the pre-made assortments with "party foods" that appear at grocery stores during the holidays; they feel fussy, and usually require heating things up (should you opt for these, know that all guests secretly favors garlic bread or cocktail sausages regardless). It's my firm opinion nothing beats two really big containers of good-quality chips (salted pleases everyone), and, provided there are no allergies, a package of large and economical bags of mixed nuts often sold with global foods of supermarkets, along with a few pitted olives as a garnish (try not to find pits in your pot plants in the future).
In case, similar to some, you don't consider crisps real food, one big slab of tasty cheese on a platter alongside crackers plus artfully draped fruit tends to seem painterly. A plate featuring preserved or ready-to-eat prosciutto or seafood displayed there (only one type, unless money is no object), or a handsome store-bought tart, of the type available in specialty sections at this time of year, is more satisfying, while you really will succeed by serving homestyle pieces of focaccia, since there's no need for spreading butter.
