Felicity Cloake's 60-Minute Entertaining Guide: Effortless Hosting for Unexpected Guests

During the festive season, while there's a lot happening which the most vivacious individuals may sometimes long for a calm respite in January, it is all too easy to neglect details. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has once felt jolted awake while at my desk by a text from someone wondering, "What time are we expected us later?" Don't worry; if you're forgetful, or just prone to spontaneous gatherings, I have you covered.

The Key to Successful Gatherings

First and foremost, and I cannot emphasize this enough, if you have been planning for months or only a short while, the greatest parties are the easiest. All anyone is hoping for is a good chat, something to sip, and enough food that they don't end up chewing an arm off during the ride home. If you're not you are a fictional millionaire, nobody anticipates extensive drinks, gourmet food and a live band.

The most successful parties are the simplest. Still, an idea is useful to cover up the fact you have only thrown this thing together on the way after a long day.

Choosing a Theme to Focus Your Shopping

That said, a theme is helpful to conceal the fact you have just put this thing on on the way home from work. And by theme, think of something like the holidays. Getting a bit focused (Scandinavian Christmas, for instance, with mulled wine, spiced punch, cured seafood and rye crackers, folk tunes playlist; or Mexican Christmas, with holiday punch, chilled brews and cocktails, and plenty of tortilla chips, spicy sauce & avocado dip, and upbeat tunes on the stereo) can narrow your choices on the inevitable grocery run.

Strategic Buying for Your Party

At the shops, select a drink or two (an alcoholic option for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one for others prefer not to) plus some appetizers that match your concept, and buy a generous amount as possible, rather than worrying about giving people endless options. No thing looks as generous and celebratory than a bounty – I would always rather to enter by a container stocked with cold bottles of competitively priced sparkling wine over a single glass with expensive champagne. (Include several packs of ice, too; you'll find seldom plenty of ice.)

Beverages and Punch Made Easy

If you feel the need to show off and serve a special beverage, make sure to mix in advance a big quantity in a jug so that you aren't stuck messing about with preparation while you should be having fun. Once the party begins, ask a partner or volunteer to keep an eye on it and replenish as necessary until it runs out. Apply the same with the soft drink; guests appreciate to take on a task at a party so they can share in the positive vibes.

On the punch front, whichever formula you go for (there are many on the internet), steer clear of any recipe too sweet – any kids there ought to have kid-friendly options – and should you own one, plonk aromatic bitters within reach (avoid adding any in the mix as they are inappropriate for those abstaining from alcohol entirely). Take care with how it looks so the soft punch doesn't feel unimportant; just spend a short time to cut a few rounds of fruit into the bowl.

Nibbles That Shine With Minimal Fuss

For me, I would avoid the readymade platters with "party foods" that appear at grocery stores seasonally; they seem fancy, and often involve turning the oven on (should you go this route, know that all guests secretly likes garlic bread or small hot dogs regardless). I'm convinced you can't beat a couple of sizable bowls with decent chips (plain salted will offend no one), and, provided there are no dietary restrictions, one of those great-value bags of nuts often sold in the South Asian section in stores, with perhaps a few pitted olives for color (it's best to avoid to find stones in your pot plants in the future).

In case, as my mother says, you think chips proper food, a single sizeable chunk of tasty cheese on a board and crispbreads and some beautifully placed fruit always looks artistic. A plate with some salted or prepared salami or salmon arranged there (a single variety, except if money is no object), alternatively an attractive store-bought pastry, like those that appear at delis seasonally, proves more satisfying, and you truly won't fail with rustic pieces of flatbread, since there's no need for spreading butter.

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