Christmas Party Menu

[Deleted]

Hi all, I am having a Christmas Party next Saturday and I am trying to decide on the menu. It is going to be a buffet type meal that allows people to eat at different times if they like. I am thinking spiral ham and scalloped potatoes, spinach salad, a cheese and pickle tray. Devilled eggs of course. Dessert will be Christmas baking and apple pie and ice cream.

I think I answered my own question.

[Deleted]

What time should I be there?

[Deleted]

5:00 would be good.

[chiver78]

might I suggest leaving the vinaigrette to the side of the salad (so it survives the day...?) and adding a few sides that are good served hot/cold/room temp? you could also pre-prepare some canape-type things that can be baked off as needed throughout the day.

how many people are you expecting?

[kittensaver]

Add some mini buns or dinner rolls and mustard/mayo so folks can make mini sandwiches (if they want).

Your menu sounds great!

[Apple]

Adding some crack*ers and other meat to the cheese tray would be good to (some people just don't like ham). My dad doesn't care for Hickory Farms anymore, so he'll cut up a roast or a cooked turkey breast (usually leftovers), then cut them into a size that fits well with the crack*ers. (really? Do we have enough white-people-bashing to warrant the censor? I guess I just haven't seen it, maybe I should spend more time on P&M...)

The menu does look good though--and pretty easy to keep out.

[Deleted]

So far I am at 14 people with the potential for 20 or so. I am one of those awful hostesses that doesn't cater to different tastes too much. The main point of the party is fellowship, if they don't like the menu they can compensate before or after like I do when I go out.

What other sides would be easy to keep out?

[swamp]

Veggie tray, fruit tray. Baked Brie.

[chiver78]

aw, I wasn't asking numbers to imply you had to cater to anyone specifically, more for my own curiosity to offer helpful advice. I do think that having stuff out that won't wilt or go bad over the whole day is just generally a good idea w/o being an over-the-top hostess.

fruit and veggie trays will definitely hold for awhile, just keep an eye on the dips you put out with them. if you buy store-bought trays that come with dip, maybe split up the portion into small bowls and leave half in the fridge for a few hours. chips/pita chips/etc would do well. I put out pita chips with spinach/artichoke dip. mine is tasty hot and at various stages of cooling off. I'll make a batch and put it out in a foil pie plate, popping it back in the oven if someone asks me to. if nobody does, whatever. it's cream cheese and mozzarella, so it's not going to go bad sitting out for hours. the recipes in the recipes board, if you're interested.
hummus and tabbouleh will sit out well, bread chunks and dipping oils too. crushed red pepper, fresh grated parmesan cheese and a little rosemary in some EVOO makes a very tasty dipping oil.

do you have a crock pot? I'd probably put the potatoes in that and keep them warm for most of the day. with warm potatoes, you probably won't have too many people asking to nuke the ham if it's cooled off more than they like.