Christmas party
20
Festive Fun
Christmas Parties
BY JAMIE MEDWELL
C
HRISTMAS is a time for family, friends and togetherness, and the best way to celebrate is to heed those classic words of wisdom: “eat, drink and be merry”. With that in mind, lock away that dusty bottle of port, put on your finest party-wear and embrace the festivities by bringing your loved ones together for a fun family do. If you’re spending the season surrounded by your nearest and dearest, as well as a few dozen distant relations, then arranging a stylish, contemporary soiree is a great way to break the ice - whether that’s between your guests or in a delicious Christmas cocktail!
macaroni sliders when mac-and-cheese squares are put inside mini ciabatta rolls with watercress and sriracha sauce. A real winner for the vegetarians in your party. A final round of sweet canapes may push your guests’ appetite to the limit, but what is Christmas for if not excess? Serve up a batch of crunchy toffee bonbons or even some sticky-sweet cashew caramels. For the traditionalists among you, buttery shortcrust mince pies will hit a sweet spot every time.
All you need to pull off a successful Christmas party is a handful of crowdpleasing recipes, a couple of cocktail ideas and a few innovative decorations to set the scene for your show-stopping night in.
COCKTAILS
With the canapes squared away, you’re ready to crack out the cocktail shaker. Christmas recipes are all about hearty, warming flavours that heat you up from the inside, and Christmas cocktails are no different. Spiced rum, prosecco and mulled alcohols all make for great bases, so why not mix up some Christmas favourites like hot buttered rum or mulled wine with vanilla pods, bay leaves and star anise.
CANAPES
Canapes are cheap and easy to make, and when paired with a cocktail they provide the perfect welcome to any seasonal soiree. Sweet or savoury, meaty or veggie canapes always make a truly sophisticated party opener. A classic idea is to pair smoked salmon with soft, springy blinis before adding a few sprigs of fresh dill and a handful of Sicilian capers to create a light and moreish appetiser. A simple macaroni cheese can be transformed into deliciously indulgent
A simple prosecco cocktail with demerara syrup, angostura bitters and brandy provides an elegant alternative to richer,
Festive Fun
21
heavier flavours and will make a refreshing accompaniment to your seasonal starters.
DECORATIONS
Christmas decorations should be the finishing touch to your party, never just an afterthought. Beautiful decorations can be made cheaply and easily by getting out of the house and searching around the garden for holly, mistletoe and other festive foliage. It takes no time at all to knock up a DIY Christmas wreath purely from foraged materials. On your next country stroll, head somewhere pretty and look for a few evergreen boughs to form the base of your wreath. Simply attach the sprigs and pine needles to a wire frame and adorn with berries, rosehips and holly leaves. Weaving some warm LED fairy lights through the wreath will only add to the effect. The key to ambience is lighting. Whether you’re going for a subtle, warming glow or something a bit more bold, lighting should never be left to the last minute.
Get creative and fill up some frosted jars with LEDs, holly leaves and redcurrant sprigs. The berries’ crimson colour will stand out against the white of the glass and emanate a lovely warm glow.
PARTY GAMES
When your guests have made themselves at home, bring everyone together for a few well-chosen party games. Charades, sardines and the snowman contest are all party favourites, but two truths and a lie - a game in which each person tells two stories about themselves, two of which are true and one that is not - is a fantastic ice-breaker that will allow your guests to really get to know each other. If you follow these simple steps, the combination of good food, fantastic company and cozy Christmas ambiance is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the most hardened grinch - and if not those prosecco cocktails are guaranteed to do the trick!
Festive Fun
Christmas Parties
BY JAMIE MEDWELL
C
HRISTMAS is a time for family, friends and togetherness, and the best way to celebrate is to heed those classic words of wisdom: “eat, drink and be merry”. With that in mind, lock away that dusty bottle of port, put on your finest party-wear and embrace the festivities by bringing your loved ones together for a fun family do. If you’re spending the season surrounded by your nearest and dearest, as well as a few dozen distant relations, then arranging a stylish, contemporary soiree is a great way to break the ice - whether that’s between your guests or in a delicious Christmas cocktail!
macaroni sliders when mac-and-cheese squares are put inside mini ciabatta rolls with watercress and sriracha sauce. A real winner for the vegetarians in your party. A final round of sweet canapes may push your guests’ appetite to the limit, but what is Christmas for if not excess? Serve up a batch of crunchy toffee bonbons or even some sticky-sweet cashew caramels. For the traditionalists among you, buttery shortcrust mince pies will hit a sweet spot every time.
All you need to pull off a successful Christmas party is a handful of crowdpleasing recipes, a couple of cocktail ideas and a few innovative decorations to set the scene for your show-stopping night in.
COCKTAILS
With the canapes squared away, you’re ready to crack out the cocktail shaker. Christmas recipes are all about hearty, warming flavours that heat you up from the inside, and Christmas cocktails are no different. Spiced rum, prosecco and mulled alcohols all make for great bases, so why not mix up some Christmas favourites like hot buttered rum or mulled wine with vanilla pods, bay leaves and star anise.
CANAPES
Canapes are cheap and easy to make, and when paired with a cocktail they provide the perfect welcome to any seasonal soiree. Sweet or savoury, meaty or veggie canapes always make a truly sophisticated party opener. A classic idea is to pair smoked salmon with soft, springy blinis before adding a few sprigs of fresh dill and a handful of Sicilian capers to create a light and moreish appetiser. A simple macaroni cheese can be transformed into deliciously indulgent
A simple prosecco cocktail with demerara syrup, angostura bitters and brandy provides an elegant alternative to richer,
Festive Fun
21
heavier flavours and will make a refreshing accompaniment to your seasonal starters.
DECORATIONS
Christmas decorations should be the finishing touch to your party, never just an afterthought. Beautiful decorations can be made cheaply and easily by getting out of the house and searching around the garden for holly, mistletoe and other festive foliage. It takes no time at all to knock up a DIY Christmas wreath purely from foraged materials. On your next country stroll, head somewhere pretty and look for a few evergreen boughs to form the base of your wreath. Simply attach the sprigs and pine needles to a wire frame and adorn with berries, rosehips and holly leaves. Weaving some warm LED fairy lights through the wreath will only add to the effect. The key to ambience is lighting. Whether you’re going for a subtle, warming glow or something a bit more bold, lighting should never be left to the last minute.
Get creative and fill up some frosted jars with LEDs, holly leaves and redcurrant sprigs. The berries’ crimson colour will stand out against the white of the glass and emanate a lovely warm glow.
PARTY GAMES
When your guests have made themselves at home, bring everyone together for a few well-chosen party games. Charades, sardines and the snowman contest are all party favourites, but two truths and a lie - a game in which each person tells two stories about themselves, two of which are true and one that is not - is a fantastic ice-breaker that will allow your guests to really get to know each other. If you follow these simple steps, the combination of good food, fantastic company and cozy Christmas ambiance is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the most hardened grinch - and if not those prosecco cocktails are guaranteed to do the trick!
