Nibbles and drinks for an early Xmas gathering

[Dinosaurhearmeroar]

Hi everyone,

I am having 6 people over next weekend for a few hours and want to keep things simple yet festive! When I went to a jubilee party earlier this year the food advertised was tea and cake and that is literally what you had - I liked its simplicity and ease for the host (also, no one could ask what else is there when she had specifically outlined what would be served ha!).

i was thinking mulled wine, Prosecco, a soft drink option and mince pies. I need a savoury - should it just be crudités and dips etc? Trying to also keep costs down!

thanks

If they're coming 'for a few hours' you'll need more than a few mince pies and the odd savoury thing!

How many dishes/things did you have in mind beyond the mince pies? And what time of day will it be?

A tea and cake event is a bit different in that there is no alcohol involved. If your drinks are mainly boozy then I think you need a decent carby savoury option to avoid people getting too tipsy. Carrot sticks are not going to help absorb much mulled wine! Something like cheese straws perhaps? And that's if your event is clearly not over a meal time ie 2-4pm. If it overruns lunch or dinner times then you really need some proper food or people will be starving.

Turkey and cranberry sausage rolls

I would do a massive tray of sticky sausages (Google for recipes - there are a few versions. I like honey and soy sauce), with a platter of cheese & pate with grapes etc, crackers and maybe some sliced baguette.
Really simple and people can eat as much or as little as they want.

Love the sausage idea!! It’s for 3 hours max (2-5) and everyone needs to get back for babies (nct friends). I’ll get some carbs bits - won’t let them starve 👌 thank you everyone

Cheese and crackers, crisps with dips, breadsticks. If NCT friends, I assume you have babies/small children, so things that are easy to eat with one had and also filling enough.

Pig in blankets
Crisps and dips
Mince pies

I'd be made up with that!

Just something to think about with mulled wine is that, if you are keeping it heated, over the course of a few hours more and more water will evaporate out concentrating the alcohol. This is the inverse to a punch which makes such a great party drink - it's easy, tastes good, and slowly dilutes as the party goes on and people have had more to drink.