7 Ways to Make Your Christmas Party Recipes Anything but Normal

They're Coming Home for the Holidays - What Are You Going to Do?

 

During the celebration of Christmas, the entire month of December is devoted to the festivities for many people. Everything from decorating the fresh-cut living Christmas tree to attending a performance of the Nutcracker, along with the seemingly never-ending round of parties and events at church and school.

If you're planning on hosting a party this year, but not looking forward to spending all your free days in the kitchen – while everyone else is window shopping or just hanging with friends, here is a terrific solution.

Run out to just one grocery store and, within a few hours time, you can put together these Christmas party recipes without breaking a sweat! You can spread the effort out into very manageable sections. Do some the night before and finish it up in the morning. When it's time to set the table, all you'll be doing is some artful arrangements on platters.

The Big Secret Recipe

One of the secrets to presenting successful holiday recipes is to serve your dinner buffet style. Your guests want to mingle and chat, or maybe even play a decorate the tree game, and the food on the buffet table fits right in with people not being confined to the table.

When deciding which recipes to include for your guests, think diversity. You'll want to accommodate a diverse set of appetites. How about vegan guests? Also, even at Christmas, there are people who are trying to watch their waistlines, or subject to strict dietary guidelines.

Party Decorations

Color in your dishes also plays a role in sparking that festive spirit, as well as being visually attractive. Try matching dishes with a contrasting or neutral colored platter that displays your delicious snacks to the max.

So here's our easy lineup of Christmas party recipes that will mark you as a delightful host.

1. The Cheese and Cracker Platter

Pick up several packages of different crackers, the fancy kind you find at the deli counter. While you're there, get a variety of cheeses, including a few low-sodium types.

Be sure to ask the deli clerk to mark the low-sodium ones on the package, so you can serve those on a separate platter. To be safe, allow about ¼ pound of cheese per guest. If you start to run low, you can always replenish the tray.

2. Sandwich Stuff

Before you leave the deli, get a selection of meats with which guests can make an impromptu sandwich of ingredients of their choosing. Most supermarkets now carry freshly baked artisan rolls.

Pick up enough to allow two per guest. When your guests are about to arrive, set your assortment of rolls out in a basket – or two – alongside the meats and cheeses.

3. Nutritional Vegetables - Power Party Animals

The veggie platter is a must. Dieters, vegans and veggie lovers will appreciate this munchy. Go for produce that's colorful and provides a contrast of textures.

Sliced mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower florets, celery sticks, wedges of red and yellow bell peppers and carrot sticks make a tempting plate. Offer a few different types of dips, 'labeling' them with a place card in front of each.

4. The Irony of Deviled Eggs at Christmas

Deviled eggs are a holiday favorite. Here's a neat trick for this Christmas party recipe that keeps the yolks looking fresh throughout the party.

A unique idea .. When you've separated the yolks, add just a small amount of lemon juice to the bowl of yolks, before you add the mayonnaise. This dish tends to disappear fast, so preparing a dozen eggs, for 24 halves, isn't overdoing it!

5. Hors d'oeuvre

Smaller plates of hors d'oeuvre, with such delicacies as marinated artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms and smoked salmon provides tidbits of rich taste to complement one of those rolls or a chunk of Teleme cheese.

6. Remember to Bake Desert

Ah, the sweets! (You thought I'd never get to this end of your Christmas party recipes.) If you enjoy baking, that's one thing. On the other hand, there are so many ready-made, fabulously decorated confections at the bakery, it's hardly worth your time to bake them yourself.

For any diabetic guests on your list, have a bowl of assorted Splenda(TM)-only candies, marked as such with a 'place card'.

7. Refreshment Drinks

Last, but not least, you'll want to have some choices in drinks. A couple of punch bowls are almost always a hit at parties and you can provide a variety of soft drinks and juices or, if you're southern, some sweet and unsweetend iced tea.

Now, this is a Christmas party buffet table I'd be diving into – and the most difficult thing about these Christmas party recipes is the artful arrangement of the ingredients! Have a great time and remember to invite the guests!