After all the food I cooked for Thanksgiving, it’s hard to even think about cooking a big Christmas meal! For quite a few years we have stayed home for Christmas and enjoyed Christmas Eve with a few local families. When we moved to our new house, we began hosting the Christmas Eve get together. In fact, while designing our kitchen renovation, we kept the Christmas Eve party in mind. The first year we hosted, my mom came and did most of the cooking. After that, I decided I wanted to enjoy my Christmas Eve with my friends and family. So, I decided to use a local restaurant to cater the meal. But, there’s still a lot that goes into planning party food.
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It’s Day 5 and we are sharing Holiday Party Food Ideas!Â
I Can Cook…
Growing up my parents often hosted a Christmas party where my mother served only appetizers and desserts. Everything she made she prepared well in advance. Since this was often for my dad’s work friends, I remember her “hiring” me and my best friend to be the servers.
We dressed up in matching Christmas outfits and passed some around and kept the hot items filled on the dining room table. Later in the evening, we switched everything over to desserts. Nothing was bigger than 2 bites.
And I learned to bake and cook all of those with her, I was the one most likely to be helping her in the kitchen.
But, after one year of her preparing most of the food, and still working on renovations right up to the first guest arriving, I decided I wanted to be able to enjoy my guests.
In last year’s 12 Days of Christmas, we had a day dedicated to our Christmas table setting… Yeah, I don’t really do that! But if you want to get an idea of how I prepare table settings for 40+… well, you can read all about it here.
Here’s a hint:
Clean up is so much easier this way, which is especially nice since we go to the Christmas Eve service that evening too.
Planning Party Food
For Thanksgiving this year I made myself a prep sheet, shopping list, and recipe cards. Everything came together so nicely. I decided to make a Christmas set as well.
Even though I probably won’t be cooking more than my 2-Ingredient Potatoes. The hot food will be catered from a local restaurant and I’ll supplement with a few salad kits, rolls and oven ready things from Costco. But I still need to formulate a plan.
And I’m sure I’ll make some cookies. My guests will all bring appetizers and desserts. And Tasha and I will have to make some gluten-free adaptations of things for her.
So recipe cards will definitely come in handy.
Once I know who’s coming and what we’ll be having, I’ll still have to do some shopping. This is where the coordinating shopping list comes in handy.
I’ve listed all of these in the Domestic Deadline Market and you can grab one for free using the code FreeForDecember. And check back, I’ll also be including wine and beer bottle labels, leftover labels, place and tent cards and possibly more! Everything coordinates with the Christmas Tree theme.
With all the great party foods linked up, I’m sure you’ll find some great ideas to add to your party! I just hope I don’t find too many and end up canceling the caterer! lol
Scroll down for many more Holiday Party Food Ideas for your holiday season!
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As always, feel free!
Got stockings? Make personalized hand knit stockings a part of your family’s Christmas tradition
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