Last Saturday we had a few friends over for a little Christmas cheer. Nothing too much, just a little bit fancy. I think keeping things simple is the only way to ensure you have people over more regularly than once a decade. The less you do the more often you'll do it.Despite giving it a red hot go with surprising regularity, I am not a natural entertainer. I don't especially like cooking; I forget to top up drinks and we never have any ice. I'm not good with crowds. As a matter of fact, I'm rather anti-social. But I do love to set a pleasing table, I love a good laugh and I especially love not having to go anywhere to get it. Hence, I bring the laugh to me.
Of course, I also love to theme! So I set the scene with a few random hanging Christmas decorations. Those little Italian drink bottles that I use in just about every party in one form or another became little vases that I strung up with some jute and popped water and festive(ish) herbs into. They looked magical when darkness (finally) fell and the herbs smelt wonderful.
As mentioned, food is not my strong point, but I do like to cater a good spread. The secret is choosing things you can make ahead so you're not stuck slaving in the kitchen for the entire party. Nothing worse than missing your own party!
We started with olivey, dippy, bready, antipasty things and we sat down for a throw-it-in-the-oven and glaze and glaze and glaze baked ham with a cranberry and raspberry vinegar glaze (kinda like this one, only cranberry instead of redcurrant jelly and raspberry vinegar instead of balsamic); a marinate-before and then throw it in the oven lemony chicken dish; a sweet potato salad that I've been making to much fanfare for about 10 years; a lentil, mint and lemon salad (I sprinkled goats cheese rather than haloumi) - this was a the surprise hit of the night and I will be rolling out again on Christmas day; and a potato gratin that was scrummilicious. A menu that basically shouldn't have gone together, but did so well.
I like to feed the kids before we groan ups sit down to enjoy ourselves. I spread out a big picnic blanket (okay, so it was the quilt pulled hastily from Maxi's bed) and they had mini-chicken or beef sausages on freshly baked rolls with a cucumber and tomato salad that went largely uneaten. The huge fruit bowl was devoured, however, so we all felt like they had earned their mini-vanilla ice cream cones with a choice of sprinkles to dip. Hmmm... do put the sprinkle-dip station outside... days later I am still picking up sprinkles from the living room floor, despite two vacuum runs and a sweep. When will I learn?
Hosting without fear means you are not scared to ask your guests to help out with a starter or a dessert. After dinner we enjoyed a delicious fudgey chocolate cake that my friend Jen baked and, my all-time favourite, a sticky date pudding made by my mate Linda. I could have kept eating dessert for hours and hours...That's pretty much the extent of it at my place. Keep the wine flowing, the beer cold and token bottles of mineral water on the table so you fancy yourself just a little bit sober and you've got yourself the makings of a really easy, really fun night. The real trick is not worrying about the screech and mayhem that is 16 young children let loose while their parents kick back. I like to put the dad's to work pushing swings and kids into pools and making drinks and earthquakes on the trampoline. Despite their best efforts, however, we are still cleaning up the mess... but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Do you have a favourite entertaining meal to share?
I would love the recipe!!!
I would love the recipe!!!