Hostess Hack: The Self-Serve Meal
Five holiday entertaining ideas that take the work off your plate—and keep the good eats on your guests’.
Photo: Joss & Main
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I wish I could claim to be like the cooking-show hosts on TV who relish the preparation and plating part of hosting a winter meal. But if I’m being honest, I don’t actually enjoy playing chef during parties. It takes away from the time I could spend with my visitors, and I get panicky about making sure everyone’s fed on time.
Enter the serve-yourself celebration. By setting up stations where guests can help themselves to the food and drink, I've found a way to make hosting easier and more fun. And since I’m more relaxed, my guests are, too. (I think they also appreciate being able to put as much cheese or gravy on their plate as they want, sans judgment.)
All it takes to create a festive, easy spread is the right serveware and a lineup of foods and drinks that are best served family-style. Here are some of my favorite ideas for turning every occasion into a PIY (plate it yourself) party.
For Cocktail Hour: The Drink Dispenser
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What's better than tending bar all night? Mixing up one large batch of a crowd pleasing cocktail (my go-to is sangria) and letting guests pour their own drinks. Set up a station with a filled beverage dispenser, a stack of clean highball glasses or mason jars, and cocktail napkins, and place a saucer below the spigot to catch errant drips. For an extra flourish, garnish your punch with slices of fresh citrus and sprigs of cocktail-friendly herbs, like rosemary or mint.
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Who doesn't love the make-your-own waffle station at a hotel breakfast buffet? Create one at home by setting up a preheated waffle iron and a mess-free batter dispenser. Add bowls of fresh fruit, whipped cream, syrup, and plates and flatware, and your guests will feel like they're at a comfy B&B.
Photo: Thinkstock
Grilled sandwiches are a crowd-pleaser, and a definite upgrade over a platter of cold subs. Arrange a variety of deli meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board or tray by a waiting panini press, and let guests choose from a number of sliced breads. Add condiments and garnishes like pickles, relishes, and olives so that visitors can craft their own custom combinations.
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Step one: Make a giant pot of killer tomato sauce with meatballs. Step two: Boil pasta. Step three: Place each prepared dish into a covered casserole or chafing pan, and set them on a counter or buffet table with serving utensils and plates. Step four: Relax. Of course, if you want to go the extra mile, you can add other Sunday-gravy extras, such as grated Parmesan cheese, toasty garlic bread, and a simple green salad. Whatever you do, set out enough plates for guests to grab seconds. (They will.)
Photo: Thinkstock
Both kids and adults will get giddy at a sight of a build-your-own sundae bar. Place pints of ice cream in chilled ice buckets to stay cool, then lay out scoops, dishes, and toppings like crushed cookies, nuts, caramel, and chocolate syrup. For guests who prefer to take a treat to-go, add waffle cones to the spread.
