I need some help please! We decided (at the last minute) to have a NYE party at our house this year and I am scrambling to decide what/how much food and drinks to provide. It started out as just 1 couple coming over and now there will be a def. number of 10 with a possibility of 13-14. Its going to start at 9 and then people can leave whenever. Here is what I have so far:
Food: cheese and crackers; buffalo chicken (crack) dip + chips; salsa + chips; peanuts; veggie tray; assortment of cookies
Drink: DH wants to get a keg of a local beer here and said it serves about 8 cups per person (with the amount we have coming);
wine - red & white (but I don't know how many bottles)
Margarittas; champagne; and then sodas, water, juice, etc.
We don't want to go crazy but I also don't want to run out of food and drink. Everyone coming is a drinker, guys more so then the girls and typically either drinks beer or wine (with the exception of one girl who like margarittas). What do you think?
Re: NYE party - HELP
For the wine, maybe three or four bottles of each. How many pitchers of margaritas will you make? Also, 8 cups per person for about 12 people seems like a lot of beer--especially since you're having wine and margs.
There is so much alcohol, serve something a little more substantial. I know it's past dinner time, but people will be staying up later and will get hungry and need something to absorb the alcohol. Suggestions: meatballs, fried ravioli, mini-pizzas, shrimp cocktail, pinwheels, bruschetta, kabobs, wings, fried polenta sticks--they're all finger foods that aren't too heavy but will provide more sustenance than chips and dip. I'm not saying to serve all of these things, just one to three
We're having about the same number of people over. We always have cocktail ingredients so we're providing those (ironic that the youth pastor is the one with a fully stocked home bar). I'm going to make a few pizzas, something sweet, and we have chips and salsa ready to go. Other than that I've asked two people to bring champagne for the midnight toast and I'm leaving everything else up the guests... bring some food to share and beer/wine to share if you prefer beer/wine over cocktails. That way we're not doing too much or spending too much $.
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I think you're good with the keg. 2 cups = 1 pint, so 8 cups per person would be 4 pints, which spread out through the night on a "drinking" holiday isn't that ridiculous, especially if most are beer-drinkers.
I would probably estimate close to one bottle of wine per wine drinker. I may switch to more reds than whites though, reds seem to be more popular, IMO, and the champagne is kind of like a white.
The margaritas sound great!
But I definitely agree that you'll need some heavier food with all the drinking.
Munkii's suggestions for apps were great- I especially love the meatballs and pinwheels. If you have a crock pot, mini meatballs are SO easy. Make them ahead and keep them warm, put out some rolls and cheese, and people can make mini-meatball sandwiches. It's not fussy, and definitely hearty and filling. The pinwheels are easy too- great to make ahead, versatile, and substantial.
Sounds like fun!
Sounds like you've got the booze situation really well planned out. I agree with serving something heavier. This may or may not fit the bill, but I thought these looked really cute and couldn't resist sharing. They look pretty easy, too.
http://www.zupas.com/index.php/2010/12/recipe-pepperoni-pinwheels/
Thanks so much for all of the help! We changed it up some based on your suggestions. Here is what we decided:
Drinks -
Keg of beer, 2 whites and 2 red wine, champagne punch, margarittas, cokes etc.
Food -
Crack dip + chips
salsa + chips
mexican dip + chips (I don't like crack dip so I'm making this one for me)
cookies
meatballs
mini sandwich tray
peanuts
Better? Again, thanks for all the help...you're all welcome to attend
I think this sounds great. I was going to suggest a sandwich tray. Too bad we live so far away- we would SO be coming over tomorrow night!