Hosting around and for Christmas

[Christmasglitterfairy]

Hello fellow Christmas-lovers,

I am hosting a christmas party/dinner party for my friends every year and have already started planning this year's "do". I was wondering whether there are more people who are hosting and might have started planning already as well. Hoping for exchange of ideas (and maybe a handhold when the actual rush sets in) and most of all, christmas-themed fun. [santa]

In case you guys are interested, this is my (rough) plan for this year:

-18 guests (friends, neighbours, partners of people I invited...)

• A dinner with me providing the main meal and some basic drinks such as (mulled) wine, beer, softdrinks, guests being assigned either dish or drinks to bring (either appetizer or dessert, according to their kitchen skills and of course budget, I don't want anyone having to decline due to being embarrassed)

-Going to the local christmas market

• A secret santa
• Some silly games we do every year and love as a group
• Lots of catching up with friends and just spending time together

I have some ideas for decorations and snacks already but nothing is set in stone yet.

I hope I'm not the only one to have started planning already

nope, i'm planning too! i'm starting to plan meals in an effort to be more organised...

That sounds absolutely sensible, may I ask what you are planning to serve?

I am currently planning a Pork and Cider Casserole (recipe from delicious magazine) with cheesy mash and for the vegetarians I'm making a potato-mushroom roll (kinda like a savoury swiss roll) with mash too (I know it's not ideal, double potato but I don't have the capacity for two sides) plus carrots and peas and a cheese sauce.

I wouldn't just feed the veggies double potato!

Are you asking people to bring their own starters/desserts? Not sure how it would work asking someone to bring a starter suitable for 18 people.

Personally I'd ask them to bring a bottle. Do a huge cheese board and a Xmas cake for the pudding. The casserole sounds nice, I'd do the exact same for the veggies minus the pork!

Starters probably garlic mushrooms or pâté with crusty bread

I have 14 coming for dinner one of the days after Christmas so I’m planning:

Camembert baked with honey, nuts and Camembert and served with bread sticks, asparagus and celery. (2-3 sharing each)

Normandy pork casserole served with mash potato, green beans

Apple tart with home made cinnamon ice cream and salted caramel sauce.

I have some nice french cider from our holidays, and wines.

Later with tea and coffee I will have a selection of mini desserts - macarons, mince pies, custard tarts, battenbergs, choc bites, fingers of Christmas cake, ginger cake balls, tea cakes decorated like mini puddings.

Everything can be made ahead and frozen. The casserole tastes better reheated than fresh. I’ve no vegetarians or special diets to cater and they’re easily pleased. It’s very low stress.

I may or may not have 11 for dinner, 12 counting the dog! But that has yet to be confirmed.

I’m thinking of boeuf bourguignon with mash and mixed greens on the side, and a nice hearty red wine. Christmas cake and a cheese board with nuts and fruits afterwards. I’m still dithering over a starter. Possibly figs with goats cheese and a balsamic reduction, or maybe brioche toast with a fig chutney and pate. I need to experiment a bit.

In summer I make lemonade which always goes down well with the drivers and non-drinkers. Any thoughts on a winter equivalent?

I do a girls only holiday dinner for about 12. Most likely first week of the year as I’m away the Monday after schools break up until New Years Day.
Probably do Nigella’s Express chicken curry, which is easy and yummy. Always stumped about the two vegetarians that come. Last time a friend made a veggie lasagna for them but it wasn’t great. Maybe there’s an Express veggie recipe I’ll try out!
I don’t do starters but will serve dessert, hoping a friend or two will bring that!
Not sure if I’ll make it Christmassy or more about the new year - my Xmas decs will still be up (and the tree is in the dining room) but could add a bit more gold to the table. Lots of candles for sure.

Following for ideas as we will have a houseful at Christmas

The thing is that one of the veggies is super-picky and will not eat anything else such as a nut loaf, so I am a little limited. If you guys have any ideas what I can serve as an alternative, please send them my way.
Dessert/Appetizers are more "potluck style" (I have a relatively small kitchen which is more than busy with two mains plus sides), so according to my calculations everyone will have to bring something enough for roughly 4 people, I don't think that's too much for one person/couple attending. I have my annual wine order delivered in late November and will use that to cover the "basic" alcoholic drinks.

Also your ideas all sound delicious by the way. Please share any tried and tested recipes for good starters.

@Barbarara could you try cloudy apple juice with winter spices and warm? So basically "mulled apple juice"

And I would like to mention that I am not as posh as "annual wine order" sounds, the wine is from a winery whose owners were friends with my grandparents so it's more of a tradition to get some wine and fresh grape juice for the holidays from them.

I am not thinking too much about Christmas generally as yet but am following this as we also have 18 to cater for. Within the 18 we have a coeliac, a vegan and a nut allergy sufferer (All different people!). I am thinking to make everything nut free and then specific things for the vegan and coeliac.

We are also going away a couple of days later so don’t want loads of leftovers!

DH wants to do a roast but I just don’t think I can coordinate that for so many with a normal oven so was thinking maybe roast a couple of large joints the day before and serve cold with a buffet. DH then said we could do cold meats and everything else hot. Surely that wouldn’t be easy either?? (Or that tasty?)

Any ideas for what to serve with the cold meats?

I tend to stick with the same menu. We usually have around sixteen staying from 23rd to 28th with a bit of coming or going in between.

23rd will be something simple such as a couple of curries with sides.
24th we do a stocking shopping game for a silly £5 present for the Christmas table, so eat lunch out in town. We have village Crib service and then village supper afterwards. Always the same menu for all host houses. Gammon, cheese, baked potatoes, homemade coleslaw or red cabbage and a pavlova.
25th Mass, drinks at friends house then usual Christmas lunch.
26th is beach walk with soup, cheese, leftover cold meats and bread for lunch. Drinks party in early evening with canapés. Macaroni cheese in case anyone is hungry afterwards.
27th is a meal out.

I'm too much of a control freak to have people bringing all different starters and desserts!

What day are you going for?

I think if you're doing a buffet I'd make everything coeliac friendly too, the risk of cross contamination is too high. If you can find baby potatoes at that time of year I often roast a tray whole with oil and herbs, they're great hot, warm or cold. Other options could be trays of roast veg, winter slaw, maybe something along the lines of Asian (rice) noodle salad with loads of coriander? They would all be vegan too. For dessert I'd look at cheese, meringues, fruit type options.

This is a good veggie stew/casserole that goes well with mash, OP. We often crack eggs in like for oeufs en meurette for added protein.

Link fail!
food52.com/recipes/19536-deb-perelman-s-mushroom-bourguignon

Thanks tentative3 some good ideas there

@EgremontRusset That recipe looks amazing! I will definitely try that!

Another thing, I thought I would give my guests little "party favours" when they leave, last year for example they took a little "gingerbread houses" made of biscuits with their names on them which doubled as place cards. I thought I'd make a big batch of candied almonds this year and just put them into little paper bags (no nut allergies amongst my guests as far as I know). Thoughts?