Entertaining Made Easy!
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas week with those you love and are now gearing up for the last celebrations of the year. Family gatherings and holiday parties are continuing to roll at our house. We are literally changing out the sheets this afternoon, getting ready for a new round of out-of-town family guests, and of course, we love it!
Amazing holiday parties can be as elegant or casual as your budget affords. What I have for you here today is predominantly pieces of this and that, leftover from the abundance we had at Christmas.
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I have specific items pictured but don’t get stuck on the details. If you have other similar ingredients, be confident to use them. I’m sure they will be just as delightful to your guests, if not better!
A Charcuterie Board expanded with this and that.
Charcuterie (Shahr-Koo-tuh-ree) boards big enough to fill an appetizer bar and Holiday Parties go hand in hand. Spilling over with an abundance of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, crackers, and pieces of bread, they are intended to be as intriguing as they are appetizing.
With a beautiful combination of delicious sweet and savory options, build your board with this guide in mind:
- 3-4 cured slices of meat and sausage
- 3-4 kinds of cheese – a combination of both soft and hard
- 2-3 nuts – shelled and unshelled
- 3-4 fresh and dried fruits
- 2-3 pickles and olives – sweet, spicy and briny
- 2-3 sweet and savory ‘spreadables’ – like grainy mustard, jam, nut butter, and honey
Fitting for a large appetizer bar, in addition to these foundational Charcuterie items, we added an easy Naan Bread Pizza, GF Sausage stuffed Mushrooms, and Chunky Peanut Butter filled Dates with Chocolate. I also included a few last pieces of my Very Cherry Chocolate Fudge with Walnuts and some family-friendly Sparkling Cider for all to festively enjoy.
Use what you have!
Likely you’ll notice, I don’t have ‘proper’ Cheeseboard knives and tools set out with my cheeses. After all these years of entertaining, I still haven’t gotten myself a set! I’ve bought them for new brides, but never myself.
Don’t let that sort of thing hold your hospitality back. In the scheme of life, although lovely and fun, it isn’t necessary. Like me, I’m sure you have some utensils that will suffice for now. Keep things casual. Your pleasant company and delicious food will both be unforgettable!
Happiest Holiday Parties to you and yours! As always, I’d love to chat!! What’s your favorite go-to menu to casually serve your guests?
Holiday Party Food
Ingredients
Charcuterie Items
- 6 ounces Spanish Brand Deli Selection Purchased at Trader Joe's. Contains Salchichon, Del Duca, and Chorizo Cantimpalo sliced meat
- 1 brick Manchego Anejo Cheese best price for quality, Trader Joe's
- 1 brick Horseradish Cheddar Cheese best price for quality, Trader Joe's
- 1 tub Marinated Mozzarella Balls best price for quality, Trader Joe's
- 1 log Plain Goat Cheese best price for quality, Trader Joe's
- 1 Fresh Red Pear sliced to 16 pieces
- 1 Fresh Yellow Pear sliced to 16 pieces
- 2 Mandarin Oranges peeled and loosley segmented
- 1 Fresh Pomegranate opened and partially seeded
- 1 bag Dried Cranberries
- 1 bag Shelled Pistachio Nuts roasted and salted
- 1 16 ounce bag Mixed unshelled Nuts
- 1 jar Spanish Green Olives
- 1 bag Marinated Assorted Italian Olives
- 1 jar Sweet and Spicy Pickle Chips
- 1 jar Cornichon Pickles
- 1 handful Fresh Herbs for decor. I used sprigs of Rosemary and Thyme
- 1/3 cup Grainy Mustard I used TJ's
- 2/3 cup Fig Jam I used TJ's
- 1 box Assorted Entertainment Crackers I use TJ's or Costco
Naan Bread Pizza
- 1 package Naan Bread frozen at Trader Joe's for freshest quality
- 1 package Spinach Artichoke Dip I use frozen at Trader Joe's or fresh at Costco Deli
GF Sausage Stuffed Mushroom
- 15 whole Cremini or White Button Mushrooms washed and stemmed
- 1/3 pound Sagey Breakfast Sausage
- 1 teaspoon Granulated Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
Chunky Nut Butter filled Dates with Chocolate
- 20 whole Deglet Noor Dates sliced and pitted
- 2 Tablespoons Chunky, natural Peanut or Almond Butter divided by about 1/4 teaspoon per Date
- 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips melted
Instructions
Charcuterie Items
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Line appetizer bar with parchment paper. Decide on board(s) you plan to use as well as ramekin dishes and serving utensils for spreads, pickles, and olives. Position these items where you want them. Open the packaging of charcuterie ingredients and divide items as pictured, or in your own unique design, leaving space for the three additional prepared items.
Naan Bread Pizza
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Toast Frozen Naan Bread about 2 minutes in a 400-degree oven. Defrost frozen Spinach Artichoke dip in the microwave according to package directions, or use fresh. Spread Naan Bread generously with dip. Place in the hot oven set on broil and toast until dip is melted and browning. Slice into small wedges for serving
GF Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
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Wash, stem, and dry the whole mushrooms. Set on a baking tray that is lightly coated with olive oil. Sprinkle each mushroom cap with the granulated garlic powder. Fill each mushroom with about a heaping teaspoon or two of raw sausage. Dust each sausage filled mushroom with a touch of nutmeg. Place in a hot 400-degree oven for about 10 minutes. Turn broiler to high and brown sausage, about 1-2 minutes. Serve while warm from the oven.
Chunky Nut Butter filled Dates with Chocolate
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Fill each pitted date with about a 1/4 teaspoon of chunky peanut or almond butter and set aside. Melt chocolate chips about 1 minute in the microwave until chips are melting. Give the chips a stir to help melt together. Carefully drizzle chocolate over the filled dates. Allow dates to set a moment and serve.
Check out our related Grammie&Stache IGTV Video!
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