HOW TO GIVE A
A WONDERFUL & EASY COCKTAIL PARTY
Think of who you will be inviting – Close friends, Business Associates,
New friends, Club Members or a Mixture ?
I like to invite 6-10 people, not including you. 8 is a good number, everyone gets
to talk without a problem
Don’t worry about seating, At least there will be 2-4 people standing or walking
around. If needed – you can always bring in a dining or kitchen chair.
How to invite them: By Email, Postal Mail (No Telephone or Text) The Dollar Tree has great invites for Postal Mail and the website evite.com has great ones for email. You have to put an RSVP, so you know what to buy and who is coming, if not you can invite someone else…
What to wear: You must look smashing, its your party, your fun/favorite/best
outfit and great make-up (if you are a hostess), a host -shave
People, usually ask if they can bring anything. Say No Remember it’s your party and want to plan it and show your great food, fun, etc. You can say– But if you want to bring a bottle of wine, that’s fine, but it’s not necessary
Alcohol – Lets say that 8 are invited plus you. I would have a bottle of Vodka, Vermouth, Olives, OJ, Cranberry Juice, 2 Bottles of Red Wine, 2 Bottles of White Wine, 6 bottles Reg. Beer and/or 6 bottles of Lite Beer, 6 pack of Diet Soda, 6 pack of Reg. Soda, and a pitcher of Lemonade or Ice Tea, Water. Remember, their may be an designated driver
What to serve: I like to put around on end tables, coffee table, some nuts, chips, and pretzels.
Have 2 things to pass: Cooked Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce & Mini Smoky Hot Dogs wrapped (Pigs in the Blanket)
On your Dining Table or Counter: Have a Crock Pot or Chaffing Dishes, filled with Saucy Meatballs, Saucy Sausage Chunks or Saucy Chicken Cubes. A Cheese Ball with Crackers, Baby wrapped Sandwiches, Cruditie with a Dip & Deviled Eggs. On the Dining table have a beautiful table cloth and candles, if counter put some candles
For the Bar: Use a 4 foot table, a card table with a beautiful tablecloth or a counter – Have an Ice Bucket with Ice, fun small napkins, wine glasses, short reg. glasses, stirers, wine opener
Now the food and how to prepare:
Shrimp Cocktail: Buy the Frozen Cooked Shrimp –Defrost/thaw and put in a beautiful tray/bowl with a small bowl of Cocktail Sauce
Pigs in the Blanket: Wrap the Mini Smoky Hot dogs with Crescent Rolls – I believe there are 8 triangles in a can. Take each triangle and cut from top end make 3 strips. Take each strip and wrap around the hot dog. Put them on a parchment lined cookie Sheet and bake in a preheated oven (350) for 10=15 minutes or till brown
minutes and put on tray with a small bowl of ketchup & mustard & toothpicks
Saucy Meat: Buy Frozen Meatballs, Sausage Links (You cut into ½” slices) or Chicken Tenders (you cut into small Chunks) Saute them in a pan/pot till cooked thru, now add a jar of Marinara Sauce and some red wine. And cook
till all heated thru. Put in Crock Pot on Low or in Chaffing Dishes, with sterno
Cheese Ball: Mix cream cheese with blue cheese or Sharp cheddar, maybe some Chopped Green onions and roll into a ball and before you set it out roll it in Roasted Chopped Nuts and Serve with crackers.
Wrapped Sandwiches: Take 2-3 12 inch flour tortillas and spread each with mayo, S&P. Garlic powder,Lay on top -deli sandwich meat, sliced cheese, jared roasted red peppers, arugula Roll up tight and wrap in plastic wrap & refrigerate till ready to serve. Cut the ends off slice into ½ inch slices & put in a toothpick and arrange on a beautiful tray.
Cruditie: On a Tray arrange Small pieces of your favorite vegetable and a small bowl of Ranch Dressing in the middle of the tray
Deviled Eggs: (do12 eggs/24 halves) Every loves them. Use your favorite recipe and arrange on a tray with finely chopped lettuce to put them on.
Sweets I usually put out some Great Cookies and Candy.
This is a rule you must follow: Once the first guest arrives get out of the kitchen and stay out and be with your guests. The biggest complaints I have ever heard was about the hostess/host staying in the kitchen cooking. Every thing I listed can and should be done ahead of time and displayed before the guests arrive. Don’t forget to be smashingly dressed and made up..
REMEMBER You’re the hostess with the mostest or the host with the most!!
Meredith
941-809-8862
mjm@wineandinemaven.com