<p>Every year H wants to invite people over the week between Christmas and New Years and every year I say please no and every year he invites people anyway and says he’ll do all the work and of course he does none of the work and instead of relaxing after Christmas I have to make sure the house is in order and come up with food ideas and make the food.</p>
<p>So…the guests are coming tomorrow night. I don’t currently know how many but it will be a small group - under 8 for sure. Over the years I’ve made all the standard dips and hors d’oeuvre. I need ideas!</p>
<p>With such a small group I could actually serve a sit down meal, but I don’t want to. </p>
<p>I was thinking of a mashed potato bar. I try to be gluten free, so anything bread or roll or pizza based is out.</p>
<p>The easiest thing on record…get a spiral ham. Make some potatoes and some veggies…and some nice rolls. Tada…a meal. Get your desserts from Costco or BJs. They have nice cakes and cheesecakes. You can do all of this ahead and set it up as a buffet. Then YOU can enjoy the evening too.</p>
<p>And the ham bone will be all yours for split pea soup.</p>
<p>Thumper, that was my first idea, but I made a spiral sliced ham for a party about 6 weeks ago…different guests, but my family feels like they just finally got rid of the leftovers.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing salad bars lately and people seem to like them. They do involve some prep work, of course. Last one I did: mixed greens, chopped sweet peppers (red, yellow and orange), cucumbers, artichoke hearts, thinly sliced red onions, Kalamata olives, feta and gorgonzola cheeses, croutons, chopped pecans, roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes. If this was all I was serving, I’d probably added chopped hard boiled eggs and some other meats or cheeses as options.</p>
<p>I think your idea of a baked potato bar is good too, though. Greek yogurt is so good now that you could offer that instead of sour cream.</p>
<p>pollo loco (if it is in your area) or a take out/cut up non fried chicken. Or two or three homemade soups (one vegetable, one lentil etc) or a chili with all the sides.</p>
<p>Missypie, make it again. As you know, it’s easy and well received. You can freeze the leftovers in small packs and bring them out at a much later date. Send the ham bone to ME!</p>
<p>Make different side dishes…maybe a fancy mac/cheese combo, nice salads, different kind of rolls (how about mini muffins…corn, bran, blueberry). </p>
<p>If they are sick of ham, get a turkey breast…same idea.</p>
<p>For Christmas eve, we had appetizers only…but the “no work” kind. Got shrimp, hummus/pita, veggies/dip, cheeses/crackers, olives, and a few kinds of breads.</p>
<p>We love the roasted chickens from Costco as well. In our area they have wonderful chicken pies at Costco, they make them there - great for a group as they are large, you only have to heat it up. Serve with a green salad and get a great dessert from there as well. Put out cheeses and crackers with some good olives for appetizers and your set.</p>
<p>Around here, baked brie seems to be a go-to item for parties this year. I’m sure there’s a gluten free variant out there, although most I’ve seen are not.</p>
<p>Do a combined potato bar w/ taco stuff. People can make salads, wraps, potatoes with whatever they like. taco meat, tortillas, taco salad shells,potatoes, shredded cheese, onion, sour cream, guac, lettuce, tomato, refried beans, bacon bits. Most everything can be made quickly or bought already made. Beer and a pitcher of margaritas would finish it off nicely!</p>
<p>Go to a caterer, get a tray of chicken(lemon) 1/2 tray of meatballs,1/2 tray of sausage and peppers, and 1/2 tray of eggplant rolatini…add a salad and some bread and your done</p>
<p>I can send you my tortilla soup recipe. Super-easy and hits on all cylinders. Makes a lot. People can forgo the tortilla strips if they’re going gluten-free.</p>
<p>Oh, and I just went to a party with the yummiest meatballs. They were from HEB, in a crockpot with plum jelly and BBQ sauce. Nothing easier than that.</p>
<p>Yes, my friend thought plum made it a little more haute cuisine, lol!</p>
<p>Here’s the recipe. I’m making it tomorrow for a party. It’s easy to mix everything but the chicken the night before, then add the chicken when you get home from work. My kids aren’t big on soup, but they love this …</p>
<p>Sopa de Sabores (Soup of Many Flavors) or Tortilla Soup</p>
<p>6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in bite-size pieces
3 cans chicken broth (14.5 oz. cans)
1 can Del Monte Mexican recipe stewed tomatoes (14.5 oz. can)
1 can crushed tomatoes (14.5 oz. can)
1 can Hunts diced tomatoes and green chilies (10 oz. Can)
2 cups water
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
2 heaping tablespoons ground cumin
2 heaping tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ bundle cilantro leaves (trimmed, chopped, without stems)
juice from 1 small lime
½ cup picante sauce</p>
<p>In a large pot, mix all ingredients except chicken pieces and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat until boiling. Stir occasionally. Serve in bowls with condiments on the side so guests can add as much or as little as they like. Recipe says it makes 10-12 servings, but I think it makes more than that! </p>
<p>Condiments:
2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
4 limes, sliced
3 avocados, cubed
Corn tortillas or tortilla strips (I buy corn tortillas, cut them into strips and toast them in the oven until crunchy)</p>