Money Matters
hoffse
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
MM holiday party menu
Hi everybody, I need some help with a holiday party menu. My firm cancelled the holiday party (scrooge), so H and I are going to host one for the associates in my office next weekend. It's kind of last minute, and we do not have time to get the house ready and cook a huge meal. However, people are coming over in the evening, so we need enough for dinner. We expect about 15 people. I am aiming to do most of the shopping needed at Costco. Here is what I am thinking:
-Sliders two ways: spiral ham with mustard and cheese on the side and Costco chicken salad on Hawaiian rolls. People can make their own.
-Caprese skewers (mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil, drizzled with balsamic vinegar)
-Christmas salsa and chips (avocado and pomegranate salsa)
-Hot sausage crescent rolls
-Cheese straws
-Mixed nuts
-Cheese/cured meat/cracker platter
-Veggie platter
Dessert: Cream puffs, 2-3 varieties of Christmas cookies that I can make in advance and freeze, and either brownies or Ghiradelli chocolate squares (they are on sale at Costco!)
One of my friends is going to make an alcoholic hot cider, and our bar will be fully stocked.
Enough? Too heavy? Please help!
-Sliders two ways: spiral ham with mustard and cheese on the side and Costco chicken salad on Hawaiian rolls. People can make their own.
-Caprese skewers (mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil, drizzled with balsamic vinegar)
-Christmas salsa and chips (avocado and pomegranate salsa)
-Hot sausage crescent rolls
-Cheese straws
-Mixed nuts
-Cheese/cured meat/cracker platter
-Veggie platter
Dessert: Cream puffs, 2-3 varieties of Christmas cookies that I can make in advance and freeze, and either brownies or Ghiradelli chocolate squares (they are on sale at Costco!)
One of my friends is going to make an alcoholic hot cider, and our bar will be fully stocked.
Enough? Too heavy? Please help!
Re: MM holiday party menu
If you want to add anything else buying sushi rolls = easy and popular. Or my friend got bacon wrapped scallops from Costco and they were so good.
Have you ever had the ham sliders that are slathered with butter and baked? Delicious! But more work than what you have planned.
As for the entertainment I'm curious if you are doing any optional exchanges like white elephant/beer/wine. I'm not usually one for planned activities at parties but at holiday parties these are usually a big hit -- and you have the right size for it.
It doesn't look like my company is doing a Christmas party this year either. It'll be the second year they've skipped since I've been here.
As to your question, sounds good to me.
Something to consider Costco does have pre-made sandwich trays. Not sure if that would save you anything (time/trouble/money).
The sushi tray idea is a really good one. So far, no dietary restrictions. There is one person invited who is a pescatarian, so if she decides to come then I will need something else that's a main dish for her. The sushi would work great for that.
We are going to scope out the Costco party aisle this weekend to see if there is anything else they have that might be good (like the sandwich trays mentioned).
I thought about doing the baked ham sliders, and I might still go that direction if we can prep everything else in advance. However, I like having chicken salad as a lighter option too. The holidays get so heavy....
We aren't doing a gift exchange, but our group is actually pretty musical... several piano players, a couple violin players, etc. So right now we are thinking sing-along
For a really light chicken salad that you can use a Costco rotisserie chicken to make, this one is very good, plus it's excellent made ahead: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-italian-chicken-salad-sandwiches-80069 (although more work than the premade chicken salad)
Costco also sells pretzel slider rolls, that would be really good with ham and cheese and mustard.
Caprese skewers are a great idea, I made those when I did the food for a baby shower for 60 people. To save money, I bought the larger "logs" of fresh mozzarella that Costco sells, and cut them into slices then quarters. It was much cheaper to do that than buy the bocconcini mozzarella. I also just bought an entire basil plant from the grocery store, as it was cheaper than buying the little plastic containers of herbs.
For that baby shower, I also bought all the stuff like the skewers and fancy toothpicks on Amazon... way cheaper than any store.
On your hot sausage crescent rolls... and even easier option is to buy full size sausages (I use the fancier uncured spicy hot dogs from Costco) and roll them in puff pastry, then bake, and then just slice after cooking. Less fussing around w/ the smaller crescent rolls.
Also, last year for my office party, we got pinwheels premade from Costco, and they looked Christmassy, and were pretty cheap if I recall. We also did the croissant sandwich platters, but those seem to make appearances at so many get togethers, that I avoid them because I get sick of them.
My only other pause was the cream puffs. I think the Costco frozen ones are awful. Assuming that's what you're intending, can you do something else, maybe a fruit-based dessert?
I would also consider a more "normal" dip (like a queso) to go with the tortilla chips. I'm a kinda picky eater and I would be weirded out by a dip of avocado and pomegranate, but you know your crowd so maybe I'm the weird one.
I love heavy apps and small sandwiches for a party. Those Caprese skewers especially sound awesome.
My work nixed their Christmas party this year also. Another bad sign of their financial straits.
For the dip, I can do a more traditional one too. I just have one guest who hates cheese in all forms, so I am trying to come up with some options where cheese is optional or can be picked out easily. I want him to be able to have a full cheese-less meal. That is harder than it sounds. FYI here is the recipe for that dip - I have made it before and really liked it:
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/black-bean-pomegranate-and-avocado-salsa/
Most importantly, we stocked our bar this weekend.