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GrammarGirl
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 261,174
May 2006
Posts: 2,139
Layouts: 0
Loc: Maryland
 |  Posted: 12/1/2012 5:40:28 PM
This should be a fun topic 
DH and I are hosting a holiday party in two weeks. It's our second year doing so; last year we had about 35 people and had a dressy evening cocktail party with lots of appetizers, cranberry margaritas and wine!
This year, it's a casual party beginning at 3:30 and going until whenever we're done. We had a facebook save-the-date a month ago, but just sent out paper invitations two days ago. So far, I know for sure of 16 people coming, but we probably invited upwards of 50 people. Hard to say now, but I think probably 25 to 30, possibly more, people will attend at various stages of the day.
Anyway, it's a weird time of the day, but I know people will be staying through the dinner hours so I want to offer substantial food, but it's not a sit-down dinner. I've created an extensive list of possible food to serve, so my challenge to you is to pick out food from this list to create a menu that's not too challenging, not super expensive, and can feed a good crowd of people. I've attached recipes wherever possible.
And if you have any brilliant recipes that have been a hit at your holiday party, please feel free to share!
**warning, I like to look at food, so there's a lot of options here!**
- Roast Beef Crostini*
- Stuffed mushrooms*
* Friends have offered to bring these, so they're a go for sure
- Spinach Bites
- Veggie Platter
- Holiday bourbon meatballs
- Party loaf withcrab-artichoke dip in the center
- Cheese balls three ways
- Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce and walnuts
- Ham and cheese sliders OR mini burgers/sliders
- Buffalo chicken deviled eggs
- Bacon-wrapped shrimp
- Cranberry Feta Rollups
I could also put a soup or warm pasta dish in the crockpot. I'm thinking something like butternut squash soup or Pioneer Women's Penne Ala Betsy (which is delish, if you've never tried it)
Signature drink: Christmas mojitos , plus beer, wine, soda, lemonade
Oh, and desserts will be a LOT of cookies from my office cookie exchange! |
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squillen
Tier 1 Baking Pea
PeaNut 133,550
February 2004
Posts: 39,550
Layouts: 321
Loc: Hudson Valley, NY
 | Posted: 12/1/2012 5:49:12 PM
To make it easier on yourself, what if you took away the cranberry feta rollups and instead of ham and cheese sliders, you made turkey burger sliders with cranberry sauce on them? Or, instead of turkey in burger form you could do a pulled turkey?
Your menu sounds perfect! |
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GrammarGirl
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 261,174
May 2006
Posts: 2,139
Layouts: 0
Loc: Maryland
| Posted: 12/1/2012 5:49:47 PM
Squillen -- yes! GREAT idea! |
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SpongeMom
PeaAddict
PeaNut 89,117
June 2003
Posts: 1,323
Layouts: 2
Loc: Pittsburgh
| Posted: 12/1/2012 5:53:07 PM
Last year I did a roasted vegetable strudel that I got from pinterest and it was a hit, as was the baked brie with pears on crostini. The brie is super easy but the vegetable strudel was a little bit of work. I also did a grape tomato, mozzerella ball and basil leaf on a toothpick drizzled with evoo and balsamic vinegar.
The rules I try to follow are easy to eat with one hand/in one bite, and can be cold or at room temp unless you have a way to keep something hot. Then I just try to have a good variety of healthy/rich, meat/vegetarian. From what you have chosen below, I would definitely include the veggie platter and the meatballs (I would put those in a crock pot to keep them hot). I would skip the sliders because they seem similiar to the beef crostini. I think the spinach balls and the shrimp are good if you can keep the shrimp hot. I would stay away from the pasta or the soup, unless you could serve it in shot glasses or something similiar.
Have a fun party!
Deb | |
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