EASY HOLIDAY PARTY IDEAS FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR OFFICE PARTIES

The day after Thanksgiving, I start getting calls for holiday party help... People either want to do something totally different and need ideas or it is their turn to host the annual holiday gathering and they are in panic mode. Here is a roundup of a few of my no-fuss ideas for holiday get-togethers; modify them to suit your own style. The only rule is that you need to have fun, too! xox

CAROLING PARTY: One of my favorite party themes--- kinda like Christmas karaoke! My in-laws have been hosting a neighborhood caroling party for as long as I can remember. It is a tradition even the college kids do not want to miss. Because everyone brings something, it is one of the easiest parties to host. Now, my in-laws happen to have two concert grand pianos in their living room, she's played at Carnegie Hall, and most of their friends are musicians or singers....  but even if you only have a sound system or karaoke machine, this is a party you'll want to make an annual event. GET THE HOW TO....

SANTA'S COOKIE WORKSHOP: The kids are out of school and you're going to need something fun to do... this is it. Bake up some memories with a Santa's Cookie Workshop party. Bake the cookies in advance or at least have some already baked. Cover a table with kraft paper (secure it so it won't slip) and set out bowls of sprinkles, candies, and other edible decorations the kids can use to decorate cookies and even personalize a cookie to leave for Santa. You can host this party with your girls and bake cookies to swap and gift.  GET THE HOW TO FOR A SANTA'S COOKIE WORKSHOP PARTY...

WINE AROUND THE WORLD PARTY: This party theme works for almost any occasion but it is particularly fun around the holidays. Guests bring a bottle of wine and a bite to share from a favorite travel destination; one they have already been to or one they'd like to visit. GET THE HOW TO FOR A WINE AROUND THE WORLD PARTY...

GIRLFRIEND PAJAMA PARTY: If you are like me, you probably have seen very little of your friends this year. Plan a guilty pleasure party-- filled with favorite snack food, movies, gossip, and fashion magazines. Don't let the holidays get away without getting together! GET THE HOW TO FOR A GROWN UP PAJAMA PARTY....

FAMILY PHOTO SWAP PARTY: So... your team isn't in a bowl game and you've got 8 people staying at your house for three days after Christmas. What do you do with them? A family photo swap party is an excellent way to spend some quality time together reliving family history--- and you'll all end up with copies of cherished family photos. The menu is as easy as leftovers, soup and sandwiches, or delivery pizza.  GET THE HOW TO FOR A FAMILY PHOTO SWAP PARTY

CHAMPAGNE TASTING: Warm up for New Year's Eve, test drive some bottles for your wedding, or simply try something new... invite the gang over for a Champagne tasting! This is perhaps one of the easiest parties you can host during the holidays. All you need is 3-4 bottles of Champagne, sparkling wine, Cava, or Prosecco. Add some good music, pretty stemware, and a few simple appetizers or a cheese board and you've got a party! I've even got some great tips on what to buy! Martie's TOP Sparkling Picks

Photo Credit: Arden Photography and MyRecipes.com

EASY PARTY THEME: HOST A FAMILY PHOTO SWAP PARTY

Have some holes in your family photo album?

If you do and you’re looking for something fun to do with your family and holiday house guests the day after the big day, why not plan a family photo swap party? While sitting around the TV to watch the big game is tradition for the adults, it’s not much fun for the kids. It’s essential to have some activities planned so the kids don’t get bored and cranky. A family photo swap is a fun way to keep the kids busy while the adults talk about good times and reminisce about family history. Each sibling or family member can bring their pictures to be scanned and printed to share with the others. Even mom’s best handwritten recipes can be scanned so everyone has a copy and you don’t lose them. 

Set up card tables for the kids so they can create their own mini albums or crafts using the printed copies. This is also a great party to host for class reunions, childhood friends, sorority sisters, or the gang from the old neighborhood.

PARTY PLAN

  1. Tell your guests to bring their own photo albums, scrapbooks, and favorite family photos to share.
  2. Hit the craft stores when there is a big sale to scoop up extra frames and supplies to have on hand. Get glue dots, photo corners and scrapbook stickers, etc.
  3. Have plenty of USB flash drives available. If guests save scanned images to a flash drive, they will have for future use.
  4. Make sure your printer is working well and get extra printing cartridges.
  5. Keep the menu simple. Set up a buffet so guests can serve themselves. 
  6. Cover tables with brown kraft paper or white butcher paper to prevent stains and damage.
  7. Set up several work stations for scanning, printing, and assembly.
  8. Let the kids make their own books with pictures important to them.
  9. Invite older relatives to come and relate the “back stories” behind the photos so the kids can learn about the family’s past, heritage, and your memories are passed along to the next generation.

MENU SUGGESTIONS

Make-ahead recipes like soup are easy to make and easy to serve. Make up one or two soups before the holiday and reheat in a Crockpot or large pot on the stove right before party time. Serve with sandwich halves or warm crusty bread.

Reliving old memories and making new ones… my kind of holiday fun!

EASY PARTY APPETIZER: HOMEMADE RICOTTA AND CHARRED TOMATO CROSTINI

Chef James Lewis of Bettola Restaurant in Birmingham contributed this recipe to my book, Birmingham's Best Bites. I've come to love his homemade ricotta and this crostini is a wonderful party bite any time of the year. The ricotta can be kept in the fridge and used for other recipes.... like Jalapeno Poppers, Gnudi (Gnocchi like dumplings), cheesecake, as a filling for manicotti, or in my luscious Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake!

RICOTTA AND CHARRED TOMATO CROSTINI BETTOLA

INGREDIENTS

House-Made Ricotta:

1 gallon whole milk

½ teaspoon citric acid

½ teaspoon sea salt

Crostini:

½ cup olive oil

1-2 cloves garlic

8-10 slices slightly stale Italian or French bread, thinly sliced

Tomatoes:

16-20 small cherry tomatoes

1 teaspoon olive oil

Pinch Sea salt, or to taste

Fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces

Black pepper (optional)

Aged balsamic vinegar (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

To prepare House-Made Ricotta, heat whole milk to 360°F, then remove pan and let cool. Add ½ teaspoon citric acid and ½ teaspoon sea salt and stir. Chill and strain with linen or double lined cheesecloth; drain to catch whey.

To make Crostini, heat, ½ cup of oil on low in a cast iron skillet or pan. Add one smashed garlic clove and heat on low 4-5 minutes. Remove oil and garlic from skillet.

Return a small amount of oil and heat skillet to medium.

Add several slices of bread into pan and toast until lightly browned on each side. Remove slices when they have reached desired level of crispness. Add a small amount of garlic oil back into skillet and continue toasting until lightly browned.

To prepare tomatoes, lightly rub ion olive oil and sea salt. Char them in hot cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat before toasting the bread for crostini or roast them under a broiler to blister the tomato while toasting the bread. Once tomatoes are charred or blistered, smash the tomatoes to break them up a bit. If they are sweeter, leave them whole.

To assemble, spread ricotta on bread. Top with charred tomatoes. Garnish with fresh basil, season with sea salt, olive oil and a pinch of black pepper and balsamic vinegar, if desired.

Tip: When making the House-Made Ricotta, it helps to put cheesecloth over a colander and let it slowly drain. After you have strained the ricotta, remove it from the linen. At this point you can mix in your choice of seasoning; such as fresh herbs, citrus zest, honey, bacon; adjust the seasoning to fit the dish you are serving the ricotta with.

For smoother cheese, pulse in food processor until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

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