In part two of the special series, “Real Simple Holidays,” Anne-Marie O'Neill, of Real Simple magazine, shares tips for throwing an easy open house.
What to Serve: A Holiday Open House
There's no month of the year when you have more of a desire to entertain, and less time to actually do it, than December. This holiday season, instead of attempting a dressed-up event, like dinner or cocktails, take an easier tack. A casual, come-and-go family open house keeps the focus on the people, not the preparation, and allows you to make merry with all your loved ones — including those who still believe in Santa Claus.
Invitations:
Photo invitation: For the ultimate December time-saver, combine your holiday card with your open house invitation. Take a photo of your family holding a large sheet of paper that wishes people a happy holiday and also lists the party's specifics. Mount the photo on card stock.
Print-and-mail invitation: A miniature candy cane, a jingle bell or a slim ornament can turn a simple invitation into a sweet gift. Download and print out the invitation on our website. Then punch a hole in the top of the card, loop a ribbon through, attach your chosen seasonal touch, and mail the whole thing in a padded envelope.
How do I encourage people to come within the designated open house hours and not five minutes before the party is supposed to end?
Mark the party's ending time as an hour earlier than you'd like the place to clear out, so that you can enjoy the company of any latecomers without staring at your watch the whole time. Another technique is to specify times for when food and drink will be served on the invitation, ("The buffet and punch will be ready at 4 p.m. sharp!") It will motivate guests to arrive on time.
Food and drink:
Prepare dishes that you can make ahead of time and don't require cooking during the party. After all, you shouldn't be stuck in the kitchen. You should be at the brownie bar.
Winter green lasagna
A hearty, vegetarian recipe for the winter, this is the perfect dish for an open house because you won't be stuck in the kitchen. Just assemble before the party and pop it in and out of the oven. To cut down on time, you can use frozen spinach instead of fresh. Just microwave, drain and sauté with garlic for a few minutes before adding it. The noodles are no-boil noodles, so you don't have to cook them before you add it into the lasagna.
Brownie bar
This DIY dessert spread is entirely store-bought, but that won't stop kids and adults alike from digging in. You just start with a box of brownie mix and pour the batter into a cake pan, lined with parchment paper. This will create a pretty fluted edge. Place the brownie on a cake stand when done and surround it with bowls of whipped cream, chocolate or fudge sauce and dulce de leche. (Note: If you don't want to babysit the whipped cream during your open house, omit the cream and put several pints of vanilla ice cream on ice in a bucket or bowl instead).
On the party table:
Skirt Steak Skewers with Cilantro-Garlic Sauce, Smoked Salmon with Creme Fraiche Frisee, Bacon and Dried Cranberry Salad, Bread
Do I have to set out the dish one of my guests brought over, unasked?
Though you didn't request that guests contribute food, your neighbor Betty showed up with her famous tuna surprise. As much as it might pain you to place the casserole amid your carefully chosen spread, there is no polite way to avoid serving a dish that someone has brought to an open house or a potluck. All you can do is thank the kind cook and set the food on the table — no matter how badly that tuna clashes with the rest of the flavors. On the other hand, you don't have to serve the bottles of wine guests bring. They probably consider the wine a hostess gift, and you should have no qualms about saving it for another occasion.
Hot chocolate
A gentle, yet effective way to let guests know your open house is coming to an end? When the time approaches, bring out a tray of treats that bear a subtle message: Hot chocolate in paper party cups with the phrase "THANKS FOR COMING!" written on them. Add peppermint-stick stirrers to sweeten the deal.
Easy centerpiece
Arrange clementines and peppermint balls in compote bowls for a bright, festive and easy centerpiece.
Clementine snowmen
At an all-ages party, it pays to have something to keep the young — and the young at heart — entertained and occupied. When picking up decorating supplies, buy an extra box of clementines for kids to make these melt-proof snowmen (An adult may need to supervise, depending on the kids' ages). Give each child three clementines, a sturdy plate, some toothpicks, and store-bought frosting. Dollop frosting in the center of the plate and place a large clementine in it. Stick a few toothpicks halfway into the top of the fruit and spear a smaller clementine on top. Repeat with the third clementine. Make a hat out of frosting, a vanilla wafer and peppermints. Use candy-cane pieces for arms and a nose, and cloves for the eyes. And tie on a scarf of red licorice.