How to host a festive Holiday Christmas Cocktail Party

Creating a Christmas cocktail party for your friends or neighbors can be a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday season together. Here are some steps to help you plan and host a memorable event:

  1. Send out invitations: Start by sending out invitations to your neighbors. You can choose to send physical invitations, or you can opt for digital invitations using platforms like Evite or Paperless Post. Make sure to include the date, time, location, and any other important details about the party.
  2. Set the theme and decorate: Choose a Christmas theme for your party. You can go for a traditional red and green color scheme or get creative with a winter wonderland or rustic theme. Decorate your home with Christmas lights, garlands, ornaments, and other festive decorations to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
  3. Plan the menu: Decide on a selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks to serve at the party. Consider offering a signature Christmas cocktail, such as a cranberry margarita or a peppermint martini, along with classics like eggnog or mulled wine. Make sure to have a variety of options for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, plan a selection of appetizers and finger foods that are easy to eat and complement the drinks.
  4. Plan the menu: Decide on a selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks to serve at the party. Consider offering a signature Christmas cocktail, such as a cranberry margarita or a peppermint martini, along with classics like eggnog or mulled wine. Make sure to have a variety of options for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, plan a selection of appetizers and finger foods that are easy to eat and complement the drink
  5. Plan the menu: Decide on a selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks to serve at the party. Consider offering a signature Christmas cocktail, such as a cranberry margarita or a peppermint martini, along with classics like eggnog or mulled wine. Make sure to have a variety of options for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, plan a selection of appetizers and finger foods that are easy to eat and complement the drink
  6. Create a holiday playlist: Prepare a playlist of Christmas songs to play in the background during the party. Include a mix of traditional carols, contemporary holiday tunes, and instrumental music to set the festive mood.
  7. Arrange entertainment: Consider adding some entertainment to your party to keep your guests engaged and entertained. You could hire a local musician or DJ to provide live music or create a festive ambiance with a holiday-themed photo booth or a DIY hot chocolate station.
  8. Plan activities: Incorporate some fun activities into your party to ensure everyone has a good time. Set up a gift exchange or a Secret Santa game, organize a Christmas trivia competition, or even have a gingerbread house decorating contest. These activities can help break the ice and create a sense of camaraderie among your neighbors.
  9. Provide festive attire suggestions: Encourage your neighbors to dress in festive attire to add to the Christmas spirit. Suggest wearing holiday-themed sweaters, Santa hats, or even hosting a costume contest for the best-dressed guest.
  10. Offer a small gift or favor: As a gesture of goodwill and appreciation, consider preparing small Christmas-themed favors or gifts for your neighbors. These can be as simple as homemade cookies, holiday-scented candles, or small ornaments.
  11. Be a gracious host: On the day of the party, make sure to greet your neighbors warmly and introduce them to each other if they don’t already know one another. Take the time to mingle and chat with everyone, ensuring that they feel welcome and included.

Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy the company of your neighbors and create a joyful and festive atmosphere. Happy hosting and Merry Christmas!

SUPER SIMPLE BUTTERNUT SQUASH & PEAR PURÉE

This quick and easy recipe will have your baby smacking their little cutie pie lips asking for more!

Take a quarter section of butternut squash and roast it in the oven for about 30 minutes on 350 degrees. Poach a peeled and deseeded pear, careful not to overcook it.

Blend the pear and squash together with a bit of water and voila you have a super easy and healthy purée for your little one.

Until Next Time!

Coq Au Vin WITH A TWIST

This is my quick and easy Coq au Vin recipe, except I didn’t actually have any ‘vin’ on hand! So I substituted Disaronno for the red wine and the results were phenomenal!

You will need the following:

  • all purpose flour
  • bacon
  • butter
  • carrots
  • chicken
  • organic chicken stock
  • onions
  • garlic
  • thyme
  • red wine or in this case Disaronno!
  • mushrooms

Chop all vegetables finely.  Pan fry the bacon and remove from the stove.  Sweat the onions and garlic in the juice remaining from the bacon.  Add mushrooms and cook further.  Add a small amount of Disaronno on low heat and reduce.  Add butter and flour to make a rue.  Add chicken stock to thin out the sauce and season to taste.  In a separate pan, sear the chicken breast. Shred the breasts and add to the first saucepan along with finely chopped bacon and carrots.  Add a bit more chicken stock and thyme and cover.  Simmer over a low to medium heat for a further 30 mins.

That’s my take.  For a more accurate recipe, check out my inspiration from Ina Garten’s recipe : http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coq-au-vin-recipe4

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If you would like to see my Coq au Vin being prepared, check out the video!

Until Next Time!

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President’s Day Brunch

We really enjoy entertaining at home, and with the forecast for a sunny and mild long weekend, my family and I were super excited to host a President’s Day Weekend brunch for our very dear friends.

I decorated the table with a crisp white tablecloth and used some faux flowers and American flags from our July 4th decor as centerpieces.

Once the table is set, I focus on the food. The menu consists of a large fruit salad, smoked salmon and capers, bacon, homemade quiche and a selection of fresh bagels, pancakes and waffles. It is super easy to use the frozen pancakes and waffles – you can just heat what you need and save yourself loads of prep time!

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For drinks we serve coffee using our Keurig 2.0,  creamer, fresh orange juice and champagne. It’s never too early for a light aperitif! I set all the drinks out on a drinks station in the living room, away from the dining table.  This encourages our guests to serve themselves and move around freely. This really helps to establish ‘a make yourself at home’ connection.  After the main meal, we carried a few drinks and nibbles out onto the patio to enjoy the fantastic weather.

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It was such a lovely day holiday weekend with friends, hope you enjoyed the long weekend as well!

Until next time!

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Meal Planning Prep 101 – The Mommy Meal Plan

My daughter has been back at school for a month now, and I feel like I have finally gotten our home routine back on track. So with a better home routine down, I am also beginning to incorporate healthy food choices for myself into the everyday task list.  With a healthy body I feel like I can accomplish any goal, without that nagging feeling of lethargy and tiredness that comes with eating a poor diet. That’s where my “Mommy Meal Plan” comes into place, and I will show you how to get a meal plan down for yourself too!

Continue reading “Meal Planning Prep 101 – The Mommy Meal Plan”