Let’s have a party!  Now that you have invited the guests you will want to plan your buffet, but where to start?  Below are lots of ideas and loads of pictures for 3 different parties.  

• Minnesota Evening on Highover
• Holiday Coffee & Brunch
• Elegant Cocktail Party on Elshire

Minnesota Evening on Highover

Fresh evergreen, mercury glass candles, tree chargers/stumps, and lots of pine cones set the stage for this winter wonderland gathering on Highover Court in Minnesota.

A tray of assorted cheesecake slices was easy to create with this store bought assortment from the freezer section of a local grocery store.  Tilting the tray on the wood charger, instead of leaving it flat, made the arrangement just that more inviting.

A tower of cookies gives more visual interest to the setting.  The Christmas bow at the top can be swapped out for any party throughout the year.

Cheese wedges are a staple of any hors d’oeuvres table.  Many of the party cheeses are white, so I like to add a yellow cheddar wedge and dry Italian salami for color.  The long cracker boat from Crate and Barrel is a fun shape versus a basket.

The hot casserole dish sits atop a wood charger cut from a fallen tree in the yard.  The stump from the same tree is topped with pine cones and adds another height element.  The carrots in a glass bowl sitting on a small silver platter add additional color.  Antique pewter salt and pepper shakers contrast nicely with the woodsy theme.

Presenting silver forks on a glass plate is much more elegant than a napkin-lined basket.

Holiday Coffee & Brunch

Years ago I hosted an annual Christmas Coffee, for my bible study group, complete with breakfast casseroles, sausage links, fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, and cookies.

Yummy & easy Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole was served with maple syrup in a small crystal pitcher.

Quiche Lorraine, melon slices, muffins on a glass Christmas tree platter, banana bread, danish loaf, and a tower of yummy sweets.

One year a guest brought a beautiful and edible vegetable Christmas tree.

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole is an easy staple of any brunch.

Chorizo Egg Casserole served with salsa and sour cream is a spicy addition.

Elegant Cocktail Party on Elshire

When we moved to Iowa, I discovered a lovely group of people who play tennis at the early hour of 6:30 am.  I love this group so much, I began hosting a holiday cocktail party on Elshire Street. 

Sam, my son, was set up to serve mixed drinks and  Peppermint Martinis, Pomegranate Margaritas, and Vampire’s Kiss (wrong holiday, but a beautiful & tasty red martini).

For a non-alcoholic option I served Christmas Punch (renamed Jingle Juice) with cranberries and lime slices in a large beverage dispenser.  My vintage wine glasses served as punch cups.

Red wine and white wine, in a chilled wine cooler, were presented with wine glasses on a decorative tray.  Beer and sparkling cider were iced in a large metal tub.

Normally, I lay colorful napkins under my food items, but this granite was so beautiful I decided to add color with my hors d’oeuvres instead.

With this cheese tray I stepped it up a notch and included ceramic labels and green grape clusters.

Baked Brie with Raspberry Preserves wrapped in phyllo is my daughter’s, Kate, favorite and always a hit.

A Crudite with Ranch Dip adds beautiful color and the Christmas chips with homemade salsa added a festive touch.

The hot appetizers were Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce served with frilled toothpicks in a snifter glass, 3-Ingredient Cream Cheese Sausage Dip with Fritos in a clear square glass, and Spinach Artichoke Dip purchased at Costco.

Truffles (from Costco), served on my green glass Christmas tree platter, and homemade Peppermint Sugar Blossom Cookies were welcome sweets.  The fairy lights on the deck viewed through the wall of windows were simply magical.

Placed around the room were small bowls of delicious Rosemary Roasted Cashews.  Of the 3 Amaryllis I purchased, only the Red Lion bloomed in time.  Next year I will have to start them a bit earlier for party time blooms.  

Now that you have read this post are you ready for your Holiday Party?  Let me know in the comments below what you liked or what you do for your Party Buffet.

For more Christmas posts, click the links below:

• Beautiful Interior Christmas Decorating Ideas You Will Love!
• Festive Exterior Christmas Decorating You Will Love!
• How to Create Beautiful Bows for Stunning Christmas Packages

 

Meanwhile, Best Wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season!