Sunday, December 28, 2008
Scripps Howard
Whether you’re busy with holiday bake sales, class parties and family get-togethers or elegant soirees and glitzy cocktail parties, most social calendars are fuller in December. But with the economy in the dumps, rising unemployment and a general aura of fear, there’s a lot of tension around holiday parties this year.
It’s probably not a champagne-and-caviar kind of year. But throwing a holiday party on a budget doesn’t have to mean potluck, no alcohol or no decorations. It means careful planning and reasonable expectations.
E-mail invitations or call people. Set a start and end time so people know what to expect. Scheduling a party from 2 to 5 p.m. makes it clear that you won’t be serving a meal.
Strictly limiting the number of items you’re going to serve will save you money in a number of ways. The more ingredients you must buy, the more over purchasing you’re likely to do. Limiting variety also means that people will do less sampling and more actual eating.
An easy, inexpensive and fun menu might include deviled eggs and meatballs along with gingerbread cookies, homemade chocolate pudding and some kind of simple loaf cake.
For a more healthful option (or for vegan guests), you could serve hummus (which is easy and much cheaper to make yourself) and pita chips or vegetable crudites; if you’re a baker, you might make focaccia with caramelized onions.
Festive beverages
Drinks are an integral part of a holiday party, but they’re also an easy way to go over budget. Some people may happily choose to skip the alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip a festive drink. Again, make one kind and make sure it’s something relatively simple.
Hot apple cider will make the whole house smell delicious, instantly setting a festive mood. If you’d like an alcoholic option, you can also keep a bottle of spiced rum in the kitchen or on the side for people to doctor their drinks as they like. Serve drinks in small cups so that people don’t wind up setting down half-full cups and losing track of them.
Thanks to boxed wine, and dirt-cheap brandy, mulled wine is also surprisingly affordable, and it’s also a lot more amenable to experimentation. Most recipes call for approximately four bottles of wine to a bottle of brandy. Add some lemon and orange juice (fresh squeezed will help make up for super-cheap liquor), cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Heat on the stovetop and leave at a very low simmer (barely bubbling) for about 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Even if you normally turn up your nose at box wine or cheap liquor, remember, mulled wine is cooked and heavily flavored by spices and juice, so it’s a waste to use top-quality ingredients.
Simple but nice
Be creative with decorations. Try using greenery and pinecones from your yard or a nearby park. Line a bowl with a brightly colored napkin (cloth or paper) so that the edges spill over the bowl. Fill the bowl with pinecones – instant centerpiece. Wrap some of last year’s ribbon around a length of greenery and drape it over a bookshelf or a mantel.
For another idea, visit your closets or the dollar store. Use salvaged or cheap ribbon, metallic tissue paper, cranberries, oranges, tinsel and holiday ornaments. The idea is to create a festive mood, not impress your guest with your ability to channel Martha Stewart.
Rather than asking people to contribute food or drink, use them as resources for other items. Borrow tablecloths and a punch bowl, and ask people to bring holiday music. People like to make contributions.
While all of this simplifying can seem depressing, there’s a significant upside. You may actually be able to plan and throw your party without last-minute errands, stressed-out baking and frantic attempts to redecorate your house overnight.