Felicity Cloake's Quick-Fire Entertaining Guide: Simple Hosting for Last-Minute Company

Throughout this festive time, when there's plenty going on that even vivacious individuals might occasionally anticipate a quiet break of January, it is all too easy to forget details. I expect I'm not the sole one who has once felt surprised back to reality while at my desk by a message by a friend asking, "What time are we expected us tonight?" No worries; if you are distracted, and simply inclined toward last-minute invitations, I have some solutions.

The Key to Memorable Parties

Firstly, and I can't emphasize this sufficiently, if you have been planning long in advance versus just 15 minutes, the best parties are the easiest. All anyone expects is a good chat, something to sip, and sufficient food that guests do not end up chewing their arm during the bus back. If you're not you're Jay Gatsby, no one expects professional bartending, gourmet catering and musical performances.

The greatest parties tend to be the easiest. Still, a theme is useful to mask the reality you've only thrown the event together while coming home from work.

Selecting a Concept to Guide Your Preparations

Still, a theme can be useful to conceal the fact you have only put the party together while returning from the office. And by theme, think of such as Christmas. Going a bit more specific (Nordic holidays, for instance, with glögg, warm beverage, fish snacks and crispbreads, Nordic beats playlist; or Mexican Christmas, with holiday punch, refreshing lagers and cocktails, along with plenty of tortilla chips, spicy sauce & green spread, and Luis Miguel in the background) helps direct your options on the necessary grocery run.

Smart Shopping for The Event

While shopping, pick one or two beverages (one alcoholic if you drink, one not for others don't want to) plus some snacks suited to your concept, then purchase as many as you can afford, rather than worrying about offering guests endless options. Nothing looks more abundant and as festive than a bounty – I'd consistently prefer to enter by a container filled with iced containers with competitively priced bubbly than a small serving of fancy champagne. (Chuck in several packs of cubes, as well; you'll find never plenty of ice.)

Cocktails & Punch Made Easy

Should you impress and serve a cocktail, then mix in advance a big quantity in a pitcher so that you're not left messing about with drinks while you ought to be enjoying yourself. Once the party begins, enlist a close friend or volunteer to keep an eye on the drinks and top up as necessary till it's gone. Do the same with the non-alcoholic punch; people love to have a role while socializing allowing them to enjoy the goodwill.

Regarding punch, whatever recipe you pick (there are many via search), skip anything too sweet – children present should have separate beverages – and should you have one, plonk aromatic bitters close by (don't add them to the bowl since they're unsafe for those who avoid alcohol altogether). Take care with how it looks so the alcohol-free drink doesn't feel neglected; it only takes a moment to slice a few rounds of citrus for garnish.

Snacks That Work Without Preparation

For me, I would avoid the readymade trays with "party foods" that appear in shops during the holidays; they feel fussy, and frequently require using the oven (should you go this route, be aware that all guests quietly prefers toasted bread and/or cocktail sausages anyway). I truly believe you can't beat a couple of really big bowls of good-quality chips (salted will offend no one), and, assuming no issues, one of those large and economical bags of nuts available in the international aisle in stores, along with a few ready-to-eat olives for colour (try not to discover pits in your pot plants in the future).

In case, as my mother says, you feel snacks proper food, one sizeable chunk of good cheese served simply and crispbreads and some beautifully placed fruit often appears visually appealing. A plate with some preserved or ready-to-eat meats or fish displayed there (just one sort, unless you have a large budget), or an attractive ready-made tart, of the type that appear in specialty sections at this time of year, proves more satisfying, while you truly will succeed by serving rustic chunks of flatbread, since they require no buttering.

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