Already planning holiday party-need tips!

[DisneyJen0504]

Hi all! I am planning for our annual Holiday party for the 2nd week of December. It may seem early but the invites will need to be mailed Thanksgiving week.
Background info-no children (yet), mostly couples, expecting approximately 25 guests. We started having this holiday part with our friends 3 years ago as we were the first to get married and have our own home.
Issue is for the last 2 years I did light appetizers such a cheese/crackers, shrimp cocktail, and some hot hors deorves (sp). Then I did trays of baked ziti, meatballs, & sausage, salads, bread, and so on. Everything always seems to go well and guests loved the food, but I always hear that our guests were loving the hot appetizers too, so I end up serving dinner later, and then many of the desserts go to waste b/c dinner was so heavy. So, this year we are tossing around the idea of having all appetizers (hot, cold, and lots of them) and then having a large sandwhich tray, salads, etc. What are your thoughts? I have never done anything like this before and only having two holiday parties under my belt, I am hardly an expert.
Would you enjoy attending a party like this? Would I need to specify on the invitation? OR, would you go with Dh's mentality "it aint broke why fix it" and keep doing the small apps and then dinner plan?
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I personally like the idea of having an all-appetizer party. You can have a larger variety of appetizers. Your guests can have a small sample of everything, and not have to worry about a dinner do devour a few hours later.

 

[SDFgirl]

My wedding was during the dinner hour and we just did appetizers - lots of them! Everyone loved the food.

I think, especially if you have some bigger-type appetizers such as chicken fingers and sandwiches, you will be fine.

I would almost rather go to party like this because I'm such a picky eater, I would like to pick and choose what I get to eat.

Have fun!

 

[happybratpack]

I'm hosting my first holiday get-together on Dec 9th. I think we're going to do all appetizers and desserts. I'm considering the sandwich thing but haven't decided yet.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Yay! It is great to hear positive responses!
Now let me pick your brains a little more! What do you think are the best appetizers to have since I will not be serving a main dinner?
So far I was thinking of the following:

Cheese and crackers
Veggies and dip
Shrimp cocktail
Bruschetta
sandwhiches (a few different kinds)
salad
maybe a light pasta salad
Pigs in a blanket
Pinwheels
chicken fingers or wings

Need more ideas! What are your favorites to eat?
Thanks again everyone!

 

[Lorix2]

I love you're choices! I'm going to have some of these too and adding some potato skins to the mix.

P.S. what's a pinwheel?

 

[Saphire]

I think appetizers and desserts would be wonderful. To add to your list, how about some little cocktail meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, or toasted ravioli. Or a hot dip like Rachael Ray's swiss and bacon dip. I also love little quiches or mushroom turnovers, very easy to eat. My absolute favorite appetizer is so simple and can be prepared early in the day...feta cheese foldovers. Let me know if you want the recipe. Good Luck and have fun, sounds like it will be a great party!

 

[Jennifer S]

My Dh and I are having a Christmas Party on Dec. 15th - adult only. I'm doing all appetizers. It starts at 7:00 so most guests will eat something light before they come.

I'm liking your choices of appetizers.

We are doing cut throat pollyanna too. Each guest (who wants to) will bring a $10 gift. Then you choose numbers. Highest goes first and picks a present from the pile and opens it. The next person then picks a present. They can either keep it or take the persons before them. The lower the number you get the better. If you get number one you can choose any present from anyone. Lots of fun.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I am loving everyone's ideas!! Thanks!

My Dh and I are having a Christmas Party on Dec. 15th - adult only. I'm doing all appetizers. It starts at 7:00 so most guests will eat something light before they come.

Our party will also be at 7pm.
Do you make mention of it being all appetizers either on the invitation or word of mouth? I am going to be doing my invitations and wasn't sure if I need to put it on there.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I love you're choices! I'm going to have some of these too and adding some potato skins to the mix.

P.S. what's a pinwheel?

I get these pinweels from Sams Club that are basically puffed pastry/dough rolled around cheese, meats, etc. They look like little pinwheels and are yummy!

 

[Jennifer S]

I am loving everyone's ideas!! Thanks!


Our party will also be at 7pm.
Do you make mention of it being all appetizers either on the invitation or word of mouth? I am going to be doing my invitations and wasn't sure if I need to put it on there.

The party is all good friends so it is word of mouth. Most friends will bring an appetizer for me too. You could tell them when they RSVP.

 

[laurajetter]

I am loving everyone's ideas!! Thanks!


Our party will also be at 7pm.
Do you make mention of it being all appetizers either on the invitation or word of mouth? I am going to be doing my invitations and wasn't sure if I need to put it on there.

I would just casually mention it on the invite, then there are no misunderstandings! Even though they are close friends, I don't see anything wrong with making a notation about it.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[Colorado Mom]

Great seletion of appetizers! You might try a few of Paula Deen's recipes, the baked cheese dip and bacon wrapped chicken bites are good. And when I make the water chestnuts wrapped in bacon and baked people always want the recipe.

You can say heavy app on the invite if you want. And another thought, some caterers do a ready made assortment this time of year. Just easier if you are pressed for time. I'd also do lots of little desserts too, mini cheesecakes, spiced nuts, choc dipped strawberries, etc.

This sounds like a party I want to go to

 

[tevagirl]

You forgot to give us your address.

 

[clh2]

I am loving everyone's ideas!! Thanks!


Our party will also be at 7pm.
Do you make mention of it being all appetizers either on the invitation or word of mouth? I am going to be doing my invitations and wasn't sure if I need to put it on there.

Personally, I like to know what type of food is being served, so I can eat dinner beforehand or not. Also, if people are expecting dinner, and there are only appetizers, they may leave early especially to go get a bite to eat.

We have a neighborhood appetizer party around the holidays, and everyone brings an appetizer. Kind of an appetizer pot-lock. At the last one we were at, someone brought these:

Sausage Cups

2 Cups Hot Sausage, cooked & crumbled
1 1/2 cups grated Sharp Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese
1 cup Ranch Dressing
1 small can sliced black olives (2.25 oz)
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 package won ton wrappers (can be found in produce section)

Preheat oven 350ºF. Blot sausage dry and combine with cheeses, dressing, olives and pepper.

Spray the mini-muffin tin with cooking spray and press 1 wrapper in each cup. Spray with cooking spray. Bake 5 minutes until golden.

Remove shaped won tons from tin. Place on baking sheets and fill with sausage mixture. Bake again for 5 minutes or until bubbly.

Forming the wontons can be done the day before, and the mixture can be prepared the day before too. Just let it sit out for about 30 minutes and then fill the wontons.

Serve.

Have a great time!

 

[Jennifer S]

I make those Sausage Cups all the time - they are a huge hit. I leave out the olives though.

 

[clh2]

I make those Sausage Cups all the time - they are a huge hit. I leave out the olives though.

So do we...I just think they are nasty.

 

[JennaTX]

I think an all appetizer party is a great idea!

This is what my family does for Christmas Eve, and all of my Christmas parties are only appetizers. I don't like how formal a sit down dinner is.

And I think having the sandwiches or something like that is a must, that way there is something that is a little more "heavy" than the lighter type appetizers.

Oh and your menu sounds fabulous! It sounds like you will have a great party!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I'll just give you our family's traditional holiday fare. Chili and toppings, sandwich fixings, Chili cheese dip and tortilla chips, cheese ball and crackers, veggie tray and dip, plus various desserts.

We spend the entire day together and all of the food is available all day. It works great and the prep time is all in advance so we are able to enjoy the day with our relatives.

I would also wonder about tacos for your crowd... if they are fun loving then have all the fixings - soft and hard shells, taco meat, refried beans, salsa, sour cream, cheese, jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes..... Just put the meat and beans in crock pots and leave them on low or keep warm. People can make whatever they want from a couple of tacos to a taco salad or burrito. Of course we also have chili cheese dip available when we do this because we all love it so much!

Good luck!