Easy Holiday Open House
Tips for a Festive Holiday Open House: Rules for Entertaining and for Life
On Christmas Eve my mother-in-law always hosts an open house. Once, her "best friend" did all the catering, now it's me. Can I follow my own advice and keep the peace?
When Mom got compliments about her open house treats, she said it was a special recipe from her "best friend" or "favorite caterer." I discovered this meant CostCo. Over the years I have begun to share the preparation of the menu and the kudos. I like to do more things homemade, she likes the ease of store-bought. It has not been an easy road to navigate.
I decided this year as I wrestled with the inevitable, tormented pleas for simplicity, that I would try to share the duties with CostCo and I would put my family of sous chefs into service as usual. Here are a few tips for people on both sides of the homemade versus store-bought divide. As I thought about the dilemma, I realized most of these rules are applicable to more than just party-planning. Hmm.
Take a look, and don't forget to scroll down for two terrific recipes that please everyone.
1. Keeping the peace requires understanding the other side's point of view.
I enjoy menu planning, poring over old and new recipes, contemplating different items to include, deciding what to change or add, drop or delete from last year. I enjoy the actual cooking. I even enjoy the shopping. Other people find this all very stressful. They also assume that this is all as stressful for me as it would be for them.
We can each forget that the other camp doesn't think like we do. Try to remember: it's not about winning, it's about understanding. Good advice for any relationship as well as party planning.
2. It really is okay to buy some prepared foods and incorporate easy items into the menu.
I enjoy the satisfaction of serving guests food I prepared, not food that I poured from a box or bag. I dislike the Sandra Lee "open a can and claim it as yours" style of entertaining. However, when there are competing priorities, such as writing a column, playing with the niece, wrapping more gifts, it's really okay to cut some corners. Our friend CostCo had Aidel sausages last year in a selection of three. They are very good sausages, at least one or two were chicken (pleasing the health-conscious in the family) and they require nothing more than a gentle heating. We put out a warming tray of the sausage varieties and a few good mustards (a hot honey, a grainy Pommery, a Dijon) and there you have one of your hot and savory dishes done. Okay you purists, gasping in horror - it's not as if I'm opening a can of Vienna sausages, for heaven sakes.
The stress you put on yourself when you choose to do everything from scratch can often be a sign of misplaced ego. Do a gut check and make sure you let go of what's not important and focus on what is.
3. Balance is good.
I try to balance hot and cold, sweet and savory, simple and fancy. This year we'll use a roast of some sort (prepared by our friend) and I'll prepare homemade buttermilk biscuits as well as a fresh cranberry sauce from scratch. Again, we're taking away the time and energy of roasting a turkey or baking a ham, but dressing up our store-bought item with tasty, homemade accompaniments.
Another easy fresh item is shrimp. Skewer a shrimp around a ball of avocado and lay them out on a bed of thinly sliced lemons. Elegant and easy.
For a fresh taste I always have a crudite platter with dip. This pleases everyone if you choose your items well. For example, why stick with boring celery and carrot sticks? A few familiar foods are good for the young ones, but add some more adult veggies for color and interest. Endive, raddichio, jicama, sugar snap peas, romanesco cauliflower.
And now a word about dip. Everyone loves it and nearly everyone feels guilty about the calories and fat. I've got one or two tried and true recipes that are packed with flavor and fat-free. Using ingredients like chipotle peppers can crank up the flavor profile. Eliminating or significantly reducing the fat by using non-fat sour cream or low fat mayo makes everyone happy.
4. Nibbles are nice.
I like to have a variety of small nibbles around the house. Spiced nuts are a good example. Easy to make ahead, tasty and healthy, they're a nice addition. I like to have one sweet and one savory batch. This year, I'll do Smoked Almonds.
Rather than a huge dessert, we do cookies. Last year I violated an age-old rule and tried out a new recipe for the first time. Thinking it would be fun to have the kids decorate their own cookies, I tried out a disastrous recipe the night of the party. This year, I'm back to my easy truffles. They're a grown up recipe (containing alcohol) but I'm also making simple shortbread cookies for the kids.
5. Let people help you.
During the preparation of the Ho family open house, I am lucky to have many helpers. I parse out a task or two that are easy to do and easy to delegate. During the party, someone is assigned to collect empty plates and glasses, refill platters and bowls etc. Dad is really the ace in this department. Dishes are done before I have to ask, who could ask for more? It's easier for everyone to enjoy themselves when no one person is overwhelmed with too much to do, and no one feels like their offer of help has been ignored.
So, check back with me after Christmas and I'll tell you how I did. It's always easier to give advice than to follow it, but I'm filled with hope and resolve tonight that I will succeed.
Hope and resolve - aren't they good themes for this time of year?
To review: entertaining rules that also teach us life lessons:
- Remember it's about understanding, not about winning.
- Let go of ego.
- Balance is good.
- Nibbles are nice (okay, use your imagination on this one!)
- Let others help you.
Hope and resolve are good. Sharing is nice, too. Here are two recipes that are easy crowd-pleasers.
Chipotle Lime Dip
This is adapted from an old Gourmet recipe. Very tasty and really pretty low fat.
- 2 scallions, finely sliced
- 2 - 3 small canned chipotle chiles and adobo sauce (chipotles are roasted jalapenos)
- 1 C lowfat mayonnaise
- 1/2 C low fat sour cream
- 1 tsp fresh lime juice plus the zest of the whole lime
I use more of the chiles and adobo, and often more of the zest and juice, but I like spicy foods. This dip is great with chips if you'd like, but it shines with hearty veggies. Try it with both.
