Felicity Cloake's 60-Minute Party Plan: Simple Entertaining for Last-Minute Guests
In the busy season, while there's plenty going on which even vivacious people may occasionally anticipate a quiet break of January, it is very easy to neglect things. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has once felt surprised awake while at work by a text from a friend wondering, "What time do you want us later?" No worries; whether you are absent minded, and just likely to make impromptu gatherings, I've got your back.
The Golden Rule to Memorable Gatherings
First and foremost, and I can't stress it enough, whether you have organized for a year versus only 15 minutes, the best parties are the simplest. What everyone is hoping for are engaging talks, a drink to drink, and sufficient nibbles that guests do not feel like gnawing their arm during the bus home. If you're not you are Jay Gatsby, nobody anticipates extensive drinks, gourmet catering or a live band.
The most successful gatherings tend to be the most basic. That said, a theme is useful to mask the fact you have just thrown this thing together on the way home from work.
Choosing a Style to Focus Your Preparations
That said, an overarching idea can be useful to conceal that you've only thrown this thing on on the way after work. By concept, think of something like the holidays. Going slightly more detailed (Nordic holidays, say, with glögg, aromatic cocktail, cured seafood plus rye crackers, Nordic beats selection; alternatively Latin American celebration, with holiday punch, refreshing lagers or margaritas, and plenty of corn chips, tomato dip and avocado dip, with festive music on the stereo) can narrow your options on the necessary shopping trip.
Strategic Purchasing for Your Event
In the store, choose a couple of drinks (one alcoholic for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one for some don't want to) plus a few snacks suited to the style, and get as much of them as you can afford, instead of stressing over offering guests a wide selection. No thing looks more abundant and celebratory than abundance – I would always prefer to enter by a tub filled with cold bottles of reasonably priced bubbly over a small serving with expensive bubbly. (Add a few bags for chilling, as well; there is seldom plenty of ice.)
Drinks and Large-Batch Drinks Made Easy
If you must show off and offer a cocktail, then prepare ahead a big quantity in a container so that you aren't left busying yourself with drinks when you should be enjoying yourself. After starting, request a partner or friend to watch the drinks and refill as necessary till it runs out. Do the same for the non-alcoholic punch; people enjoy to be given a role at a party so they may experience a share of goodwill.
On the punch front, whatever mix you pick (there are many via search), skip anything too sweet – young ones there ought to have their own drinks – and if you have one, put flavor enhancers nearby (refrain from putting them in the mix as they are not suitable for individuals who avoid alcohol entirely). Make an effort in presenting it so the alcohol-free drink doesn't seem unimportant; it only takes a short time to cut some slices of fruit for garnish.
Nibbles That Delight With Minimal Preparation
Personally, I recommend passing on the pre-made platters of "party foods" available in supermarkets seasonally; they come across as fancy, and often involve using the oven (if you must go this route, remember that all guests truly prefers toasted bread and/or mini sausages anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top two large containers with good-quality chips (simple is universally liked), and, provided there are no allergies, some of those large and economical containers of nuts available in the South Asian section in stores, with perhaps a few olives without stones for color (you don't want to still be finding pits in odd places months later).
In case, similar to some, you don't consider crisps proper food, one big slab of tasty cheese served simply with crackers plus beautifully placed grapes often appears painterly. A plate featuring preserved or ready-to-eat meats or fish displayed there (just one sort, except if you have a large budget), alternatively a nice ready-made tart, like those that appear in specialty sections during festivities, is even more substantial, and you really won't fail by serving homestyle pieces of flatbread, because they require no additional preparation.
