Xmas dinner nightmare .....?!
Ok guys, i have invited the family round to mine for xmas dinner this year ( !.!.!. gulp), i will be cooking for 9, this might not seem alot but i am only used to cooking for 4 and have a tiny kitchen!. Due to fussy eaters im having to do 2 starters (prawn cocktail and stuffed mushrooms), then main course traditional and desert of xmas pudding and chocolate pudding (again fussy eaters!)!. Shall i stop waffeling on and get to the point!?!?!!?!!? OK OK
1) One person is a veggie what should i give him instead of meat (he doesnt like meat substitute)!.
2) Any advice/tips on things in general
3) I hate being hostess cause im always worried converstation will run dry, i feel abliged to get up and sing or something - and guess what i cant sing a note!
Anyway guys im stressing about this already!! Help!!Www@FoodAQ@Com
1) One person is a veggie what should i give him instead of meat (he doesnt like meat substitute)!.
2) Any advice/tips on things in general
3) I hate being hostess cause im always worried converstation will run dry, i feel abliged to get up and sing or something - and guess what i cant sing a note!
Anyway guys im stressing about this already!! Help!!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
okay, relax, looks like you got most if it under control already, and the rest will be easy!.
i'm vegetarian and always feel guilty for going to other people's houses for dinner and making them cook something different for me!. Chances are your vegetarian guest feels the same!. Go round to your local shop and write down all the vegetarian options (nut roast, quorn roast, quorn beef and ale pie, quorn mini scotch eggs!.!.!.) then call your guest and ask if he likes any of these things!. If not, suggest a few other things that would go well with your dinner (portabello mushrooms with vegetarian stuffing, veggie quiche, goats cheese in filo pastry!.!.!.)!. Chances are he'll like at least one of them, and if you ask beforehand it'll take the stress out of it for both of you, knowing you won't end up surprised!
it's all about preparation!. As much as you can do beforehand, do it!. If you can take things out of the fridge and serve/cook them, rather than prepare them from scratch whilst your guests are there, it'll be much less stressful!. And if you look relaxed, it'll have a good effect on your guests!.
WINE!. Honestly, if you have a good amount of wine flowing, the conversation will come on its own!. People always find things to say when they've had a few glasses, and none of them will look to the hostess for entertainment!. Be sure you don't have too much wine whilst you're still cooking though!. Burnt food won't help you!.
christmas crackers are always good fun, especially after a drink or two!.
have some nice and easy cocktails with your appetizers!. I quite like a mixture of vodka, redbull and apple juice, or the Asda value tropical orange vodka based drink!.
hope that helpsWww@FoodAQ@Com
i'm vegetarian and always feel guilty for going to other people's houses for dinner and making them cook something different for me!. Chances are your vegetarian guest feels the same!. Go round to your local shop and write down all the vegetarian options (nut roast, quorn roast, quorn beef and ale pie, quorn mini scotch eggs!.!.!.) then call your guest and ask if he likes any of these things!. If not, suggest a few other things that would go well with your dinner (portabello mushrooms with vegetarian stuffing, veggie quiche, goats cheese in filo pastry!.!.!.)!. Chances are he'll like at least one of them, and if you ask beforehand it'll take the stress out of it for both of you, knowing you won't end up surprised!
it's all about preparation!. As much as you can do beforehand, do it!. If you can take things out of the fridge and serve/cook them, rather than prepare them from scratch whilst your guests are there, it'll be much less stressful!. And if you look relaxed, it'll have a good effect on your guests!.
WINE!. Honestly, if you have a good amount of wine flowing, the conversation will come on its own!. People always find things to say when they've had a few glasses, and none of them will look to the hostess for entertainment!. Be sure you don't have too much wine whilst you're still cooking though!. Burnt food won't help you!.
christmas crackers are always good fun, especially after a drink or two!.
have some nice and easy cocktails with your appetizers!. I quite like a mixture of vodka, redbull and apple juice, or the Asda value tropical orange vodka based drink!.
hope that helpsWww@FoodAQ@Com
First off, stop getting your knickers in a twist! Try to get some help from other people - they can peel veg, do dishes etc to take the stress off you so much!. The fussy veggie can just have veg or ask them what they would like (nut roast!?) Don't sing! Play some board games or charades and have fun!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
you could try this recipe i found at http://www!.bbc!.co!.uk/food/recipes/databa!.!.!. i tried something similar last year and it work realy well, if it doesn't work then there are a few other in that area to!. As for the entertainment soz i don't know but board games a good for after the meal!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
nut roast for the veggie, fussy eaters can go to hell, love it or lump it is my moto, its your christmas to remember!. im sure there will be enough to eat for everybody, Www@FoodAQ@Com
When/if anyone says "can I hep" say yes!.
get as much done as possible the day before!.
search the internet for simple vegie recipes you can prepare and if possible cook in advance!.
Good luck and never, ever offer again!Www@FoodAQ@Com
get as much done as possible the day before!.
search the internet for simple vegie recipes you can prepare and if possible cook in advance!.
Good luck and never, ever offer again!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Make sure you prepare plenty of time ahead!.
Be confident!. Trust yourself!
SMILE!
All the best!. It will work out fine!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Be confident!. Trust yourself!
SMILE!
All the best!. It will work out fine!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Perfectly Pious Pannacotta
1 orange
1 vanilla pod
300ml soya milk (unsweetened)
150ml soya cream
1 ? tsp Vege-gel
55g caster sugar
6 large purple plums (approx 400g), not too ripe
150ml vegetarian port (eg!. crusted)
1 small stick of cinnamon
4 cloves
To garnish
? orange, fine strips of zest only
1 vanilla pod
METHOD
1!. Blanch the whole orange briefly in boiling water to remove the bitter taste of the skin!. Then grate the zest and squeeze the juice (keep separate)!.
2!. Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod and reserve seeds!. Add the pod to the soya milk and bring to just below boiling point!. Stir regularly to avoid milk sticking to the pan!. Take off the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 1 hour, before straining into a jug!.
3!. Whisk the Vege-gel into the soya cream with a fork or small whisk!. Place in a small saucepan and add a good pinch of orange zest, the vanilla seeds, 40g sugar and infused soya milk!.
4!. Heat gently and keep whisking lightly until the mixture reaches boiling point!. Then pour into 4 ramekins or pudding moulds!. Allow to cool and then chill for 1 hour!.
5!. Cut the plums into quarters, removing the stones!. Place the plums in a large saucepan with 1 tsp grated orange zest, the reserved orange juice, 15g caster sugar, the port and spices!. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 3-4 minutes, so that the plums have softened very slightly but still hold their shape!. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes!.
6!. Drain the cooking liquid from the plums and reduce by half in a small saucepan until slightly syrupy!. To serve: place the pannacotta on a plate with 3 plum quarters!. Drizzle the port syrup over the plums and it will also encircle the pannacotta!. Add strips of orange zest and a fresh vanilla pod!.
Don’ts
Do not focus your energy solely on the buffet, thinking food is what draws workers to the Christmas parties, the attendance will drop off because those parties are predictable!.
The most deadly type of holiday party is a sit-down dinner at the boss’s house, which often has a pressure-filled conservative atmosphere!. Try having a different entertainment each year!. Holiday party hosts can play a major role in keeping their friends and families safe by looking at alternatives to alcoholic beverages!. There are a few common sense rules that should be followed when hosting a holiday party!. If alcohol is going to be served at a party, this Safe Holiday Party Guide will give you a few pointers when planning an event!.
Organize & Prepare
You can start by sending out the invitations with a note included that there will be a prize for the person that decks out in the most Christmas gear!. This can include anything from a Christmas costume to guests wearing garments that display cheerful holiday clothing, jewelry, hats, or anything that their imagination can dream up!. The person that shows up to your party that is voted by all as wearing the “best dressed” Christmas outfit wins a wrapped gift of their choice from the gift table!.
You can have a designated receptionist announce the names of each new arrival, crown them with a Santa hat with their name, while reading something humorous about them!. This works great especially at large Corporate parties when customers or large number of employees participate and not everyone knows each other!. First names on Santa Hats work much better than name badges and the hats then double as party favors everyone gladly takes home!.
But the energy of the party starts with the invitations…!. or Christmas Greeting cards… one of our customers had a great idea to take a picture of all employees in Santa hats, personalized with employees names and use the postcard as a corporate Christmas card as well as Christmas party invitation for their customers!. The Hats were then saved for the holiday party gala!.
Entertainment:
Make sure you have some fun program with games and activities for your Holiday Party!. Our holiday party activity guide has many Christmas party games to spruce up the event!. also make sure you have some great Christmas Party music!. Most Christmas CD’s on the market are geared towards slow tunes, not much of a Party time material, so we have compiled some really original Christmas party tunes that will make you a star Christmas party DJ! If you head over to our MySpace page, we have some really cool Christmas music there!. You need to click on the MENU button to move around the playlist: lots of fun Christmas mixes and remixes to choose from!
If you like this Christmas party music mix - You can play it at your Christmas Party! Just head over to our MySpace where you can find info on our blog how to save these songs on your computer and use your laptop to DJ your Christmas Party!. …!. and don’t forget to say high there!
Www@FoodAQ@Com
1 orange
1 vanilla pod
300ml soya milk (unsweetened)
150ml soya cream
1 ? tsp Vege-gel
55g caster sugar
6 large purple plums (approx 400g), not too ripe
150ml vegetarian port (eg!. crusted)
1 small stick of cinnamon
4 cloves
To garnish
? orange, fine strips of zest only
1 vanilla pod
METHOD
1!. Blanch the whole orange briefly in boiling water to remove the bitter taste of the skin!. Then grate the zest and squeeze the juice (keep separate)!.
2!. Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod and reserve seeds!. Add the pod to the soya milk and bring to just below boiling point!. Stir regularly to avoid milk sticking to the pan!. Take off the heat, cover and leave to infuse for 1 hour, before straining into a jug!.
3!. Whisk the Vege-gel into the soya cream with a fork or small whisk!. Place in a small saucepan and add a good pinch of orange zest, the vanilla seeds, 40g sugar and infused soya milk!.
4!. Heat gently and keep whisking lightly until the mixture reaches boiling point!. Then pour into 4 ramekins or pudding moulds!. Allow to cool and then chill for 1 hour!.
5!. Cut the plums into quarters, removing the stones!. Place the plums in a large saucepan with 1 tsp grated orange zest, the reserved orange juice, 15g caster sugar, the port and spices!. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 3-4 minutes, so that the plums have softened very slightly but still hold their shape!. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes!.
6!. Drain the cooking liquid from the plums and reduce by half in a small saucepan until slightly syrupy!. To serve: place the pannacotta on a plate with 3 plum quarters!. Drizzle the port syrup over the plums and it will also encircle the pannacotta!. Add strips of orange zest and a fresh vanilla pod!.
Don’ts
Do not focus your energy solely on the buffet, thinking food is what draws workers to the Christmas parties, the attendance will drop off because those parties are predictable!.
The most deadly type of holiday party is a sit-down dinner at the boss’s house, which often has a pressure-filled conservative atmosphere!. Try having a different entertainment each year!. Holiday party hosts can play a major role in keeping their friends and families safe by looking at alternatives to alcoholic beverages!. There are a few common sense rules that should be followed when hosting a holiday party!. If alcohol is going to be served at a party, this Safe Holiday Party Guide will give you a few pointers when planning an event!.
Organize & Prepare
You can start by sending out the invitations with a note included that there will be a prize for the person that decks out in the most Christmas gear!. This can include anything from a Christmas costume to guests wearing garments that display cheerful holiday clothing, jewelry, hats, or anything that their imagination can dream up!. The person that shows up to your party that is voted by all as wearing the “best dressed” Christmas outfit wins a wrapped gift of their choice from the gift table!.
You can have a designated receptionist announce the names of each new arrival, crown them with a Santa hat with their name, while reading something humorous about them!. This works great especially at large Corporate parties when customers or large number of employees participate and not everyone knows each other!. First names on Santa Hats work much better than name badges and the hats then double as party favors everyone gladly takes home!.
But the energy of the party starts with the invitations…!. or Christmas Greeting cards… one of our customers had a great idea to take a picture of all employees in Santa hats, personalized with employees names and use the postcard as a corporate Christmas card as well as Christmas party invitation for their customers!. The Hats were then saved for the holiday party gala!.
Entertainment:
Make sure you have some fun program with games and activities for your Holiday Party!. Our holiday party activity guide has many Christmas party games to spruce up the event!. also make sure you have some great Christmas Party music!. Most Christmas CD’s on the market are geared towards slow tunes, not much of a Party time material, so we have compiled some really original Christmas party tunes that will make you a star Christmas party DJ! If you head over to our MySpace page, we have some really cool Christmas music there!. You need to click on the MENU button to move around the playlist: lots of fun Christmas mixes and remixes to choose from!
If you like this Christmas party music mix - You can play it at your Christmas Party! Just head over to our MySpace where you can find info on our blog how to save these songs on your computer and use your laptop to DJ your Christmas Party!. …!. and don’t forget to say high there!
Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm really not going to be any help on the food- All fussy eaters I know are of the child variety and wouldn't like prawns or shrooms! haha!. However, I will say while hosting a large holiday dinner last year I had a game called "Table Topics"!. This was mostly because I had a mixed crowd!. Each person drew a topic and then that is what they discussed at dinner!. It included everyone, so the over chatty people and the quiet ones had a balance!. It broke the ice and led into natural conversation about other things!. You might want to make your own version of this game using cardstock or index cards and Christmas clip art!. You could even make a Christmas version yourself!. What is your favorite holiday movie, why!? What was the worst/funniest Christmas present you ever received!? How have your views on Christmas changed since adulthood!? I don't know, things like that!. It should help get in the holiday spirit and bring some conversation pressure off of you! Good luck! Just relax the best you can!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
For your vegetarian guest maybe have a nice salad filled with extra veggies in it, something bulky!? and maybe consider buns on the table, with Brussels sprouts, yams, mash potatoes and the rest (minus the turkey) theres enough for this guest to be filled, or at least enough tell he goes home, look into a vegetarian friendly stuffing!? you don't have to stuff your bird, you can put it out on the table as an option for those who like it/
I wouldn't worry to much about this guest!.!.!.youll be fine,, its xmas, theres plenty to talk about!plus if its awkward, your the cook, excuse yourself into the kitchen and take a big gulp of the wine sitting on the counter! goodluckWww@FoodAQ@Com
I wouldn't worry to much about this guest!.!.!.youll be fine,, its xmas, theres plenty to talk about!plus if its awkward, your the cook, excuse yourself into the kitchen and take a big gulp of the wine sitting on the counter! goodluckWww@FoodAQ@Com