Please help me plan a big Christmas Eve party in a small apartment!
November 12, 2013 4:47 PM Subscribe
My husband and I moved into our first real apartment a little over a year ago, and we've entertained groups of four (making it six counting us), but I invited eight people for Christmas Eve... and they all said yes. Even the people with family in the area who usually have other plans. Even the people with kids - they're getting babysitters. Totally unexpected. Help me do this without losing my mind!
I've cooked for this many before at other places, but that was always more buffet style. We won't have space to sit everyone at a table, but I'd like to make a meal where all the main dishes are served at once, and everyone will serve themselves. I'm planning on turkey, dressing, and some kind of potato dish (because I'm not cooking Thanksgiving this year and I'm sad about it).
We will have some people bringing folding chairs to place around the apartment (otherwise it's a couch that holds 3 or 4 people, and one large armchair). I'm asking one of the guests to make a dessert. But I'm looking for basically any and all advice people can give me.
Specific areas of advice:
-Vegetable side dishes that would be easy to make or could be made ahead.
-Tips/advice for managing 10 people in a small apartment.
-Suggestions for super-easy appetizers that can be made in advance and served quickly, but seem fancy and impressive.
-Your favorite gingerbread recipe, as I haven't made it in years but I've been craving it lately so will make it for the party.
-Ideas about how to handle drinks. I was thinking maybe one signature cocktail that can be made in a pitcher in advance? Suggestions for what that might be?
-Easy festive decorations that don't take up a lot of space (we won't have a Christmas tree).
-How best to plan ahead and not stress myself out.
I realize I'm asking a lot here, but I'm really excited about this, so please help me out, hivemind!
I've cooked for this many before at other places, but that was always more buffet style. We won't have space to sit everyone at a table, but I'd like to make a meal where all the main dishes are served at once, and everyone will serve themselves. I'm planning on turkey, dressing, and some kind of potato dish (because I'm not cooking Thanksgiving this year and I'm sad about it).
We will have some people bringing folding chairs to place around the apartment (otherwise it's a couch that holds 3 or 4 people, and one large armchair). I'm asking one of the guests to make a dessert. But I'm looking for basically any and all advice people can give me.
Specific areas of advice:
-Vegetable side dishes that would be easy to make or could be made ahead.
-Tips/advice for managing 10 people in a small apartment.
-Suggestions for super-easy appetizers that can be made in advance and served quickly, but seem fancy and impressive.
-Your favorite gingerbread recipe, as I haven't made it in years but I've been craving it lately so will make it for the party.
-Ideas about how to handle drinks. I was thinking maybe one signature cocktail that can be made in a pitcher in advance? Suggestions for what that might be?
-Easy festive decorations that don't take up a lot of space (we won't have a Christmas tree).
-How best to plan ahead and not stress myself out.
I realize I'm asking a lot here, but I'm really excited about this, so please help me out, hivemind!
You totally can have a Christmas tree-- a flat Christmas tree! There are wall decals you can buy in pretty much every style you could imagine, but I've also seen some cool DIY flat tree ideas.
posted by BlueJae at 5:03 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by BlueJae at 5:03 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Suggestions for super-easy appetizers that can be made in advance and served quickly, but seem fancy and impressive.
It just so happens that my bacon wrapped dates have worked very well for at least one other mefite that needed to prep ahead of time.
posted by bfranklin at 5:25 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
It just so happens that my bacon wrapped dates have worked very well for at least one other mefite that needed to prep ahead of time.
posted by bfranklin at 5:25 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Super-easy appetizer that you can prepare in advance: take small mozzarella balls (you can cut them in half if you want), cherry tomatoes, and cooked tortellini, put them in a bowl, dump Italian dressing over them - or do what I do, and buy the marinated mozzarella balls and just use the marinade from the container - and let them sit an hour or two. Thread one of each on a toothpick - buy festive toothpicks to be, well, festive! You can plate these well in advance.
Also, slice a baguette, spread some apricot preserves on the bread, top with a slice of brie. Bake at 350 till the cheese melts. You can prep these the night before and just slide them into the oven.
Honestly I wouldn't sweat the veggie sides too much. How about some veggie sticks - carrots, celery, peppers, cukes - in individual containers with a dressing in the bottom?
Easy festive decoration - round glass Christmas ornaments in a bowl. Any kind of bowl.
More important than chairs, I think, are tables. Make sure you have enough surfaces for people to lean their plates on. I would rather stand and eat than sit with a plate on my lap.
Mostly, don't stress out. It's Christmas and it sounds like people are just glad to be spending time with you! Enjoy!
posted by lyssabee at 5:28 PM on November 12, 2013
Also, slice a baguette, spread some apricot preserves on the bread, top with a slice of brie. Bake at 350 till the cheese melts. You can prep these the night before and just slide them into the oven.
Honestly I wouldn't sweat the veggie sides too much. How about some veggie sticks - carrots, celery, peppers, cukes - in individual containers with a dressing in the bottom?
Easy festive decoration - round glass Christmas ornaments in a bowl. Any kind of bowl.
More important than chairs, I think, are tables. Make sure you have enough surfaces for people to lean their plates on. I would rather stand and eat than sit with a plate on my lap.
Mostly, don't stress out. It's Christmas and it sounds like people are just glad to be spending time with you! Enjoy!
posted by lyssabee at 5:28 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: If you have the wall space, hang a wreath that's decorated w lights and small ornaments instead of a tree
posted by Fig at 5:29 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Fig at 5:29 PM on November 12, 2013
Ask the other three couples to bring a veggie side dish.
Stick with wine and beer, and any liquors you already have on hand + coke and tonic water.
Appetizers: Warm store-bought spinach dip in the oven, spoon into a bread bowl, serve with pita chips. Fancy cheese and cured meats (prosciutto, salami) with fancy crackers, with some little olives and pickles. Goat cheese served with a jar of fig spread with a baguette/pita chips/crackers.
posted by amaire at 5:32 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Stick with wine and beer, and any liquors you already have on hand + coke and tonic water.
Appetizers: Warm store-bought spinach dip in the oven, spoon into a bread bowl, serve with pita chips. Fancy cheese and cured meats (prosciutto, salami) with fancy crackers, with some little olives and pickles. Goat cheese served with a jar of fig spread with a baguette/pita chips/crackers.
posted by amaire at 5:32 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I do an annual lady dinner in my one-bedroom NYC apartment. I have cooked and hosted up to 22 women. It is highly anticipated and I have to tell you, no one even notices the cramped quarters anymore. I consider it a success when the furniture gets moved (not by me!) and the dancing starts.
I'll leave the menu to others, I have so many recipes!
I have a book called Paris Apartments which shows how super cool people live and maximize and entertain in their tiny Paris apartments!
I plot everything out, hour by hour, so I can have fun too.
I write out the menu and post it on the fridge, with times everything has to happen.
I write out a fancy version of the menu and put it on one of those plate frame things on the buffet table.
I have a good strong coat rack that goes out in the hallway.
I use the bathtub as the bar: prosecco, beer, vodka and selters, and jugs of signature drink.
We serve Poinsettias. I make them an hour before party time in plastic jugs, and stick 'em in the ice in the bathtub. They are less fizzy, but no one notices!
I ask people to take off their shoes -- for some reason, it lightens things up and says, Casual.
I deputize everyone who walks in during the first 1/2 hour so that I am not exacerbating the stress by hopping up and down.
I make a slow to hot playlist to cover six hours. When things are winding down, we go back to the beginning cocktail music.
I use a tabletop Christmas tree and ask people to bring teeny ornaments.
Do a periodic sweep to clean up.
I let people help clean up as we go along -- clutter and debris makes it feel claustrophobic to me.
posted by thinkpiece at 5:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
I'll leave the menu to others, I have so many recipes!
I have a book called Paris Apartments which shows how super cool people live and maximize and entertain in their tiny Paris apartments!
I plot everything out, hour by hour, so I can have fun too.
I write out the menu and post it on the fridge, with times everything has to happen.
I write out a fancy version of the menu and put it on one of those plate frame things on the buffet table.
I have a good strong coat rack that goes out in the hallway.
I use the bathtub as the bar: prosecco, beer, vodka and selters, and jugs of signature drink.
We serve Poinsettias. I make them an hour before party time in plastic jugs, and stick 'em in the ice in the bathtub. They are less fizzy, but no one notices!
I ask people to take off their shoes -- for some reason, it lightens things up and says, Casual.
I deputize everyone who walks in during the first 1/2 hour so that I am not exacerbating the stress by hopping up and down.
I make a slow to hot playlist to cover six hours. When things are winding down, we go back to the beginning cocktail music.
I use a tabletop Christmas tree and ask people to bring teeny ornaments.
Do a periodic sweep to clean up.
I let people help clean up as we go along -- clutter and debris makes it feel claustrophobic to me.
posted by thinkpiece at 5:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
Best answer: You should make maple glazed nuts with the following modifications:
Use pecans and raw cashews if available; they are the tastiest. Increase the maple syrup to 3 T per cup of nuts. When you dry fry the nuts, the goal is to heat them through without burning them - make sure they are warm to the touch before you add the syrup, and keep stirring while you heat them. Pre-measure the maple syrup and pour it all in at once. It will hiss and bubble a surprising amount. As you stir the nuts (this will only take a little over 1 minute, not as long as the recipe recommends) check the texture of the maple syrup on the spoon (you'll see how to do this). It will feel like a thin yet still slightly liquid caramel when it's done. Pull the pan off the heat. Dump the nuts onto a greased baking sheet and use the spoon to break up the clumps. This will be a little fiddly.
Three cups of nuts is a lot in this application. If you do four, you'll be in good shape for a big party.
If you overcook the sugar, it will dry grainier and thin on the nuts - it will still be pretty good, but it's tastier if it's smooth.
This will literally take you ten minutes to make. I made them for the first time this weekend and they were widely widely praised. I actually felt pretty embarrassed because people were acting like they were a special fancy rare food and they're so simple.
posted by Frowner at 5:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Use pecans and raw cashews if available; they are the tastiest. Increase the maple syrup to 3 T per cup of nuts. When you dry fry the nuts, the goal is to heat them through without burning them - make sure they are warm to the touch before you add the syrup, and keep stirring while you heat them. Pre-measure the maple syrup and pour it all in at once. It will hiss and bubble a surprising amount. As you stir the nuts (this will only take a little over 1 minute, not as long as the recipe recommends) check the texture of the maple syrup on the spoon (you'll see how to do this). It will feel like a thin yet still slightly liquid caramel when it's done. Pull the pan off the heat. Dump the nuts onto a greased baking sheet and use the spoon to break up the clumps. This will be a little fiddly.
Three cups of nuts is a lot in this application. If you do four, you'll be in good shape for a big party.
If you overcook the sugar, it will dry grainier and thin on the nuts - it will still be pretty good, but it's tastier if it's smooth.
This will literally take you ten minutes to make. I made them for the first time this weekend and they were widely widely praised. I actually felt pretty embarrassed because people were acting like they were a special fancy rare food and they're so simple.
posted by Frowner at 5:42 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
If you're willing to let guests help you, be specific. You can set out the dishes, napkins, and silverware and ask someone to set the table. Another can be in charge of water -- filling water glasses and replenishing them; same for wine. When it comes time for dessert, you'll need new plates and forks/spoons, and maybe coffee...each of these can have its own boss. If you have appetizers/hors d'oeuvres, the only way they're going to get distributed is if they're passed from time to time, or at least are switched from one side of the room to the other. You can put someone on that ahead of time, or just ask someone when the time comes. It's okay to ask a couple of people to come early if that would be helpful.
Don't allow guests to just get up from the table and start clearing, because it ruins the conversation and also you just don't have enough room. One can clear and scrape plates, and another can load up the dishwasher or organize everything to be washed later. This can happen after every course, even if you just have dinner and dessert. Certain people feel uncomfortable sitting if other people are doing kitchen duty, so you might have to be very firm.
posted by wryly at 5:46 PM on November 12, 2013
Don't allow guests to just get up from the table and start clearing, because it ruins the conversation and also you just don't have enough room. One can clear and scrape plates, and another can load up the dishwasher or organize everything to be washed later. This can happen after every course, even if you just have dinner and dessert. Certain people feel uncomfortable sitting if other people are doing kitchen duty, so you might have to be very firm.
posted by wryly at 5:46 PM on November 12, 2013
A slow cooker full of good hot chocolate, with accessories next to it, is nice to have. (Marshmallows, candy canes of stirring length, loads of liqueurs and a brown spirit or three.) It's a plus to have an area with something that draws people in and DIY drink whatnot is good for that.
Cucumber 'cups' (dig into 1" cuke slices with a melon baller) filled with creamy egg salad, piped in with a frosting bag, keep decently in the fridge for a day and are nicely not-too-heavy while also being sufficiently filling to sop up some of the booze.
posted by kmennie at 5:58 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Cucumber 'cups' (dig into 1" cuke slices with a melon baller) filled with creamy egg salad, piped in with a frosting bag, keep decently in the fridge for a day and are nicely not-too-heavy while also being sufficiently filling to sop up some of the booze.
posted by kmennie at 5:58 PM on November 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Planning: If you know any of your neighbors, ask around and see if anyone has a card table you can use (surprisingly, a lot of people do!), so your guests have something to put their food down on. Also, those cheap C-shaped tables might work for you here and you might even consider getting one or two because they will come in handy if you decide to go this thing again.
Lay out your serving bowls and utensils with the food you plan to put in each one in a "trial run" to make sure you have enough of everything Christmas Eve.
Appetizers: One of the easiest appetizers I've run across for a holiday party: hostess took a simple styrofoam pyramid coney shape, pierced cocktail shrimp with toothpicks and stuck them all over to cover it up, and set it out with with cocktail sauce. Oddly, a little Christmas tree made of shrimp is surprisingly attractive!
Decorating: Put ornaments in bowls. Hang some greenery (wire and green floral tape) and add your Christmas cards to the display. Change out regular lightbulbs with softer, colored ones. Maybe a nice centerpiece on the table where you will lay out the food. A wreath on the door (you can even make edible candy or herbal wreaths if you're crafty or just buy a nice wreath to reuse year after year)
Gingerbread: I don't have a favorite gingerbread recipe, but want to suggest you make your gingerbread at least a day or two ahead of time. Keep the oven open the day of for your turkey! You can also make gingerbread cookies, leave them undecorated and put out all the toppings along with the desserts so guests can be creative. We did this at my sister's Christmas party and ended up with everything from delightful gingerbread "pimps" (big golden icing chains in the shape of dollar signs, elaborate icing hats, fists of green icing money, etc.), to Tiny Tim (making the best of a broken cookie) to Regency style gingerbread women in Spencers.
posted by misha at 6:56 PM on November 12, 2013
Lay out your serving bowls and utensils with the food you plan to put in each one in a "trial run" to make sure you have enough of everything Christmas Eve.
Appetizers: One of the easiest appetizers I've run across for a holiday party: hostess took a simple styrofoam pyramid coney shape, pierced cocktail shrimp with toothpicks and stuck them all over to cover it up, and set it out with with cocktail sauce. Oddly, a little Christmas tree made of shrimp is surprisingly attractive!
Decorating: Put ornaments in bowls. Hang some greenery (wire and green floral tape) and add your Christmas cards to the display. Change out regular lightbulbs with softer, colored ones. Maybe a nice centerpiece on the table where you will lay out the food. A wreath on the door (you can even make edible candy or herbal wreaths if you're crafty or just buy a nice wreath to reuse year after year)
Gingerbread: I don't have a favorite gingerbread recipe, but want to suggest you make your gingerbread at least a day or two ahead of time. Keep the oven open the day of for your turkey! You can also make gingerbread cookies, leave them undecorated and put out all the toppings along with the desserts so guests can be creative. We did this at my sister's Christmas party and ended up with everything from delightful gingerbread "pimps" (big golden icing chains in the shape of dollar signs, elaborate icing hats, fists of green icing money, etc.), to Tiny Tim (making the best of a broken cookie) to Regency style gingerbread women in Spencers.
posted by misha at 6:56 PM on November 12, 2013
Don't over-think it. Parties are ruined for everyone when the hostess is stressed out.
Take a deep breathe, do your best, and let it be what it will be.
posted by Flood at 6:58 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Take a deep breathe, do your best, and let it be what it will be.
posted by Flood at 6:58 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Gramercy tavern gingerbread. Made with Guinness. Google it :)-absolutely amazing. Make the day before. I like it best with chopped crystallized ginger added to the batter.
posted by purenitrous at 7:19 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by purenitrous at 7:19 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
My traditional Christmas decorations for a number of years was tree boughs which I would drape around the apartment, along with lights. The whole apartment looked like a tree.
(Also, the bacon-wrapped dates are an AMAZING dish.)
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:43 PM on November 12, 2013
(Also, the bacon-wrapped dates are an AMAZING dish.)
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:43 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Appetizers: Gougères, aka "French cheese puffs," are delicious and can be made in advance and either served at room temperature or warmed up briefly in the oven just as guests are arriving. Another good appetizer option: crackers, cheese, and homemade chutney (which usually involves dumping ingredients in a pot and simmering for a while, and can be made days earlier). This cranberry black pepper one or the apricot rosemary version here both sound festive.
posted by rebekah at 6:08 AM on November 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by rebekah at 6:08 AM on November 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
Shrimp is a great appetizer and there's nothing to it. Buy Peeled and Deveined and boil them up and put them in the fridge until party time. Easy and elegant. Serve with cocktail sauce:
Ketchup
Worchestershire sauce
Horseradish
Lemon juice
Tobasco Sauce
Ruffles and Lipton Onion Soup mix is pretty much how I know I'm at a party. It can sit on your coffee table for people to munch on.
I'm with rebeka on the Gougeres, easy to make, yummy to eat!
Bruschetta is good too. You can chop the tomatoes, onion and garlic and mix with olive oil. Let it sit out at room temperature getting delicious. Serve with pre-made crustini. Trader Joes makes them.
As for cocktails, how about mulled wine? It's nice and warm and you can use Two-Buck Chuck for it, so it's cost effective. I'm also a fan of the Beaujolais Nouveau for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you can, do source a card table and set up so that people can eat properly. TV trays are another way to eat in the living room on the sofa. If you will be eating out of your lap, everything should be fork ready. So cut the meat into bite sized pieces.
Have fun! Don't make yourself nuts (which is the lie I tell myself as I'm cracking walnuts for a recipe.)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:05 AM on November 13, 2013
Ketchup
Worchestershire sauce
Horseradish
Lemon juice
Tobasco Sauce
Ruffles and Lipton Onion Soup mix is pretty much how I know I'm at a party. It can sit on your coffee table for people to munch on.
I'm with rebeka on the Gougeres, easy to make, yummy to eat!
Bruschetta is good too. You can chop the tomatoes, onion and garlic and mix with olive oil. Let it sit out at room temperature getting delicious. Serve with pre-made crustini. Trader Joes makes them.
As for cocktails, how about mulled wine? It's nice and warm and you can use Two-Buck Chuck for it, so it's cost effective. I'm also a fan of the Beaujolais Nouveau for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you can, do source a card table and set up so that people can eat properly. TV trays are another way to eat in the living room on the sofa. If you will be eating out of your lap, everything should be fork ready. So cut the meat into bite sized pieces.
Have fun! Don't make yourself nuts (which is the lie I tell myself as I'm cracking walnuts for a recipe.)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:05 AM on November 13, 2013
For the gingerbread, consider making it in the style of an upside-down cake, the same way you do with pineapples, but use pears or apples instead. I don't have a favorite recipe, but the next time I make it I'm going to try the Gramercy recipe.
posted by CathyG at 11:38 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by CathyG at 11:38 AM on November 13, 2013
Best answer: Drink ideas: I think a classic champagne cocktail is very holiday-festive, and it's easy enough to make that you don't need to prep anything.
If you have space to put it out, punch can be made ahead of time and is perfect for a Christmas party. I served this at a party over the summer to great merriment. Google "classic punch" or "elegant punch" for more ideas that aren't nightmare juice concentrate sugar bombs. If you have time/freezer space, make an ice ring with an angel food cake pan by pouring in layers of water, 1/2 inch to an inch at a time, and layering in orange and lemon slices or whatever looks pretty and complements your punch recipe.
For hot drinks, a cranberry hot toddy could be nice, and would make your apartment smell delicious and clove-y.
Maybe consider a nice bottle of port or sherry for after dinner (when you're telling your traditional Christmas ghost stories...)?
This salad is really tasty and in Christmas colors to boot! It could be fun to leave the endive leaves whole and serve scoops of the salad in them for finger food. (If this is too fussy, maybe prepare just a few, then place them out next to a big bowl of the salad and a stack of endives so people can serve up their own.)
If you could share more specifics about your space and layout, we could give you specific setup ideas. Generally, I try to set up things that will attract people in different areas, to keep them circulating and to prevent everyone jamming up in one place. So, if possible, drinks station in a different room (or at least opposite corner) from buffet table, maybe some easy-to-eat snacks in a third location.
posted by hilatron at 6:37 PM on November 13, 2013
If you have space to put it out, punch can be made ahead of time and is perfect for a Christmas party. I served this at a party over the summer to great merriment. Google "classic punch" or "elegant punch" for more ideas that aren't nightmare juice concentrate sugar bombs. If you have time/freezer space, make an ice ring with an angel food cake pan by pouring in layers of water, 1/2 inch to an inch at a time, and layering in orange and lemon slices or whatever looks pretty and complements your punch recipe.
For hot drinks, a cranberry hot toddy could be nice, and would make your apartment smell delicious and clove-y.
Maybe consider a nice bottle of port or sherry for after dinner (when you're telling your traditional Christmas ghost stories...)?
This salad is really tasty and in Christmas colors to boot! It could be fun to leave the endive leaves whole and serve scoops of the salad in them for finger food. (If this is too fussy, maybe prepare just a few, then place them out next to a big bowl of the salad and a stack of endives so people can serve up their own.)
If you could share more specifics about your space and layout, we could give you specific setup ideas. Generally, I try to set up things that will attract people in different areas, to keep them circulating and to prevent everyone jamming up in one place. So, if possible, drinks station in a different room (or at least opposite corner) from buffet table, maybe some easy-to-eat snacks in a third location.
posted by hilatron at 6:37 PM on November 13, 2013
This pumpkin gingerbread is rapidly becoming a classic at our house. It's super gingery, can be served hot or cold, with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or plain, and it tastes great for days.
Enjoy your party, it sounds like a blast!
posted by paddingtonb at 3:53 PM on November 18, 2013
Enjoy your party, it sounds like a blast!
posted by paddingtonb at 3:53 PM on November 18, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also! I threw a Christmas party in my tree-less apartment a couple of years ago and hung festive lights in the general shape of a tree on one wall. It didn't take up space but gave off a vibe similar to a lit up tree.
posted by justjess at 4:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]