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With all of the holiday giveaway hullabaloo it’s been awhile since I’ve posted some classic content or the wisdom of a guest blogger. But this morning I snuck out of the house at the crack of dawn and left daddy to make hot cereal for my girl so that I could infuse a little additional holiday spirit onto these pages.

First up is a guest post from Lara Kulpa of Crooner Culture who offers solid tips on how to throw a swank holiday party….Enjoy! –Erika Lenkert

How to Throw a Swank Holiday Dinner Party
By Lara Kulpa
The holidays are filled with three “F-words” – Family, Friends, and Food! What’s better than sending the kiddies to the grandparents or the sitter and having a little “grown up time” away from the maddening crowds of the mall?

Part of what makes the holidays so magical is the atmosphere we create. The sparkling miniature lights, the gold and silver on the mantle, the special touches that really set the tone for the season. So make sure that you give yourself at least one full day to do nothing but “set up” your home, because inevitably you’re going to find an old string of lights that doesn’t work, or that most of the glitter has fallen off last year’s tree topper. Get everything out from the basement and make a list of what you’re going to need to replace, and do it.

Now, for the actual evening:

• If you don’t have solar or battery powered walkway lights already, invest in them, especially if you have more than one entrance into your home. You don’t want guests coming in through the garage or side door, but rather you want them to take in the glamour of your sparkly, cinnamon-and-orange-scented foyer! Take your guests’ coats, and don’t put them on the bed, but rather in a closet (even if you have to clear out the kids’ snowsuits first!)

• Keep the appetizers to an elegant minimum. Think about canapés (check the frozen foods section at your local supermarket for some really great choices that won’t eat up a ton of your time in preparation), a cheese platter and a small bowl of various olives. Place little bowls of nuts around the gathering room, but keep it the same type – almonds are always a good choice. If you’re feeling adventurous, try some pâté and big flat round crackers.

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• If you have been storing any special vintage wine or champagne, open it as soon as the first guests arrive. They’ll know early on that this night was the “special occasion” you were saving it for. If not, any nice bottle will do.
• There’s no need for a large “bar” area at any point during the evening. Offer some ginger ale or lemon-lime soda for designated drivers or non-drinkers, or even cranberry juice and club soda with lime wedges. A nice array of wines and some champagne will suit just about everyone else. The bonus to serving drinks without heavy liquor is that guests will tend to drink less, and you won’t wind up with anyone wearing lampshades on their heads!

• Don’t forget the music. Have your guests chat over the hors d’oeuvres and a mix of The Rat Pack, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald. Keep the music low, and hide the sound system somewhere so you don’t run into issues with that one guest who has a secret desire to be a disc jockey and taking over your “mood music.”

• Regardless of what you decided to make for dinner, serve it in this order: small bowl of creamy soup with crusty bread, the main entrée, then either the salad (made with fancy greens, some cucumber slices and halved grape tomatoes with a light oil-based dressing) or a cheese and fruit plate (try thinly sliced wedges of parmesan reggiano with some purple seedless grapes, figs, or apricot slices, and don’t forget the mint leaf for some greenery). After dinner, bring guests back out into the “gathering room” and serve something rich, like a couple chocolate truffles or chocolate covered gelato bonbons with coffees and maybe some cognac. Something small and rich leaves them with just the right taste in their mouths.

• Don’t forget to thank your guests for coming and making the evening truly special. After everyone leaves and you’ve finished cleaning up, relish in the fact that you just threw the most swank party in the neighborhood, kick off your shoes and go back to your flannel pajamas and elf shoe slippers… no one will ever know but you!

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