Feeding a lot of people doesn't have to be difficult. With our tips and recipes, it can be downright fun, whether you're throwing a casual birthday party for adults, having a housewarming, or hosting a big holiday celebration.
First:
Decide what kind of party works for you and your guests: cocktail, buffet, sit down, etc.
Plan the menu
Draw up the shopping list
Take an inventory of pots, pans, dishes, flatware, glasses, napkins, and serving utensils and vessels to make sure you have all the equipment you need for cooking and serving
Quick Tips
For a quick, easy, and informal party, keep things simple. Purchase snacks like chips, salsa, nuts, cold cuts, bread, crackers, pickles, olives, and prepared salads (potato, coleslaw).
Before you go shopping or start prepping, clean out your fridge to make room for all those prepared foods and make-ahead dishes.
They're your friends; feed them right. Incorporate healthier dishes based on fruits, vegetables, and grains.
If you are feeling a little more ambitious, add a few dishes to the menu above that can be made or assembled a day or two ahead and heated just before serving. Main dishes like casseroles (lasagna, mac 'n cheese, eggplant parmesan), stews, hearty soups, honey ham, smoked brisket (any large meat will do) are perfect. For sides try caponata, marinated salads, a vegetable vinaigrette, or dried bean dishes. And to finish things off, cake, cookies, or pie are all great make-ahead desserts.
If you are serving buffet-style, then you'll want to plan a little crowd-control. Don´t create a buffet table jam by serving everything on one big platter. The proceedings will run smoother if you spread things out on smaller platters with the sides and meat pre-sliced.
There's no need to foot the bill for the wine as well as the food. Make it a BYOB and ask your guests to bring wine, beer or soda. And ask them to bring a particular type of wine or beer to go along with the food you're serving, if you like.
Make well placed and clearly marked areas for trash.
Have plenty of ice made.
Set and dress your table before your guests arrive.
If serving a buffet, make small cards to identify the dishes.
Be creative: use your water glasses for crudités, breadsticks, and even flowers.
For easy access and a prettier presentation, have all related condiments in small bowls with spoons, all in one area.
Wrap utensils (either plastic or silver) in napkins and place them in a basket for your guests to easily grab and hold.
Keep plastic bags and containers handy to pack leftovers for your guests and yourself.
Portion Control
Count on 3 drinks per guest.
Provide guests with non-alcoholic drink choices.
Assume some of your guests will be vegetarians.
Count on 4 to 6 hors d'oeuvres per person if you're serving a meal. If you're just serving hors d'oeuvres with cocktails, the amount goes up to 12 pieces per person.
A portion of meat per person is 1/4 to 1/3 pound.
A portion of vegetables, rice, pasta, or salad is 1/2 cup.
A 9-inch pie or tart (after a large meal) will serve 8 to 10.
Always prepare a selection of items that can be served at room temperature. That way you don't have to worry that your hot entree will be getting cold, or your cold dessert will be melting.
Start a new family holiday tradition this year.
Creating New Christmas Traditions
For millions, much of the joy of Christmas comes from participating in family traditions that date back many years or possibly many generations. But although nostalgia and reminiscence has always been a key part of the Christmas experience, there's always room for new ways to celebrate. If you, your family, or your friends are in a bit of a holiday rut, try doing something a little different this year by starting a brand new Christmas tradition.
Chef J, a.k.a. Jason Harley, is an accomplished restaurateur, event producer, author and TV personality who sees to the culinary needs of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, in 1989, Harley went on to train with some of the world's greatest chefs and start several very successful restaurants, including Chef J's Kitchen in Los Angeles, where he creates healthy and exotic dishes far a star-studded clientele. Here he offers some suggestions for new ways to celebrate at the holidays:
Throw a fondue party.
One fun and inexpensive idea is to throw a fondue holiday party. Invite friends and family members, asking each person to bring a different food to fondue. For a chocolate fondue, for example, have guests bring different varieties of fresh berries to dip into the delicious melted chocolate.
Repair & donate toys.
Another great idea is to set up a toy workshop for the kids. Find all the broken toys and game sin the house, or ask others to bring some over. Then get the toys all fixed up so that you can donate them to a charity that will make sure they get to needy children.
Create photo ornaments.
And finally, it's always fun to personalize your ornaments using family photographs, Using scissors and hot glue, or by printing photos onto sticker paper, it's easy and inexpensive to put images of yourself, friends and family members onto ornaments for the tree. Your tree will look all the more festive when the faces of your loved ones decorating it.
Keep it simple!
Try to be creative with your holiday traditions this year, but don't forget to have lots of fun and keep things simple. The most important tradition, Harley believes, is just to spend quality time with the people who mean the most to you.
For more Christmas celebration ideas, check out the following organizations or websites:
