Holiday Blitz

When it comes to holiday entertaining, I like to hit it hard and hit it fast. This year, that meant getting the tree and other decorations up before Thanksgiving; planning a party for forty-something upon returning from New Orleans; and giving an open house on the first day of December before anyone had a chance to get sick of all the madness.

Those who know me, know that I am a meticulous party planner. This means that I:

• Begin to think about the menu months in advance.
• Pull recipes as I find them and keep copies in appropriately labeled files.
• Start a shopping list weeks before with complete breakdown of what needs to be purchased from where.
• Create a list of what need to prepared in what order.
• Consider serving pieces and tablescaping far in advance.
• Make intricate sketches of how the serving pieces should be arranged.
  

This year, I just threw it together in about three days. Honest. I didn't even decide on the final menu until the Wednesday night before the party. Of course, this sort of lackadaisical approach took its toll on the host, and I spent the week after recovering at an undisclosed location frequented by many celebrities. Anyways, it all turned out magnificently and I hope you enjoy the photos of the spread...



Savories:
Mixed nuts
Peanuts with rice paper (my favorite addiction)
Pub mixed
An array of fine cheese, with fig compote, quince paste, dried apricots, fruit and nuts
Raw and roasted vegetables with green goddess dip and hummus
Polenta squares with tomato olive relish
Potsticker baskets with cherry, cashew 'chicken' salad
Hot onion souffle
Wheatsville Co-op Popcorn Tofu w/apricot dipping sauce

Sweets:
Chocolate cakes with peppermint whipped cream
Ruth Johnson's Almond Roca
Crème puffs

To drink:
Beer and wine (everyone was drinking beer, which was strange)
Sodas
Spiked Angel Punch

Glad you came if you were there, wish you had if you didn't...

Happy Holidays!