Drinks and nibbles...

[Flowertop]

Doing this few days before christmas for about 16. Not a meal but what can I give them and how much of each should I serve. I am hopeless with guests and quantities.
Thanks all in anticipation of your great answers.
XX

I used to make Christmas mincemeat volauvents and mulled wine but recently got the p* ripped out of me for being an 80's throw-back.

Go to Marks & Sparks. It will save you so much hassle. If you are worried that everyone will know you went there just try a local deli. Make up a drinks table with some of everything. Don't forget the mixers. Serve them their first drink and tell them to help themselves after or put a charming gentleman in charge of keeping everyone topped up. For a bit of extra fun put a cocktail book on the table. Make sure you have most of the ingrediants. I do this and people always have great fun giving something new a go.

Ok thanks for that! Another question. What do you serve mulled wine in and has anyone got a good mulled wine recipe and finally would you serve mulled wine?
thanks again.
XX

Mulled wine - buy the schwartz sachets and do what it says on the back of the packet - wine, orange juice and brandy at the end. If you have fairly robust wine glasses serve it in them, the wine only needs to be hot not boiling anyway - I use our cheap glasses form Ikea for mulled wine, wouldn't use crystal ones

nibbles - keep it simple, nice crisps, couple of dips maybe, mini mince pies, can make or buy these, how about a cheese board? easy to just buy, but is good to eat. mini jacket potatoes with different fillings, can be served hot - is good to have a hot item or 2 at a winter do

I would buy the bottles from Tesco/Sainsburys etc - about £2.99 a bottle and will do about 4 glasses per bottle. Tip bottles into a saucepan and warm gently. Add a sliced orange, couple of cinnamon sticks etc if you want to "cheat" and make it look more homemade! Careful not to boil it though, only warm.
If you have 16 to serve, I would serve it up in wine glasses - def glass rather than a mug! Nice in hot choc glass "mugs" but to get hold of 16 would be a PITA - easier in wine glasses
A hot cider punch is nice alternative to mulled wine but not so Christmassy.
If some are going to hang around late, nice to serve a posh hot choc at the end as alternative to coffee. Do one with real choc melted, plenty of cream and a little red chilli - DH adds vodka too!! Nice with a choc swizzle stick

I would cheat on "canapes" too as there are so many decent ones out there for similar price to making them yourself. I would make your own dips if using them though as they are always so quick to make and much much cheaper/nicer than those awful bought plastic trays.
Nice cheese and crackers for helping youself to is always popular and fairly seasonal. Especially if served with a few little pots of unusual chutneys/pickles oinion jam etc
Have a mixture of hot and cold stuff, spicy and non spicy and keep a couple of large bags of posh "crisps" type things to add if running low - the type that you can use up later after Christmas and won?t go off in a hurry!!