I hear you saying “Huh?” and I’ll raise you a “Ho ho ho!”
Ilise and I have thrown a large and joyous holiday open house for each of the last 22 years. Lavish spread of homemade food and drinks; festive décor indoors and out; family, neighbors and friends from all aspects of our lives coming together for fun, frivolity, and did we mention the food?! As hosts, we’ve fallen into a sort of formula for how the party goes. Nothing wrong with all that, and in fact it helps to have a proven and replicable game plan.
Ilise and I have thrown a large and joyous holiday open house for each of the last 22 years. Lavish spread of homemade food and drinks; festive décor indoors and out; family, neighbors and friends from all aspects of our lives coming together for fun, frivolity, and did we mention the food?! As hosts, we’ve fallen into a sort of formula for how the party goes. Nothing wrong with all that, and in fact it helps to have a proven and replicable game plan.
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One key ingredient for a successful party is a well-calibrated playlist.
Here’s a good one -- holiday-themed as you might expect this time of year -- crafted by awesome music + food blog Turntable Kitchen in partnership with Allrecipes for your listening pleasure. Crank it up! |
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But this year we were ready to mix it up and add a little twist to keep things interesting: a Mardi Gras/Holiday Costumes theme. I’m happy to say our guests embraced the concept, unleashing boundless creativity and a flair for the dramatic -- from the Statue of Liberty right down to the littlest snow leopard. Awesome costumes! Festive attire for days! Extreme silliness straight ahead! Even the staunchest anti-costume attendees managed to cut loose a little with the Mardi Gras beads placed strategically around the house, available for the taking.
In case you’re wondering, I was the Christmas Cookie and Ilise was Festival of Lights with a bright strand of LED lights woven through a jester’s hat in Mardi Gras colors. It was truly something to behold!
Take a look at some of the great costumes and happy party people.
Click on the photos below to enlarge them and read the captions.
What did we serve? What didn’t we. Here’s the menu with links to the recipes that've already been posted on Entertain the Possibilities. Be on the lookout for additional party recipes coming in the days ahead.
Specialty cocktail: Hurricane-style Rum Punch
Main courses & sides:
Desserts:
Let’s just say – no one went hungry. In fact, many went home with leftovers!
Specialty cocktail: Hurricane-style Rum Punch
Main courses & sides:
- Jambalaya with Chicken and Andouille Sausage
- Vegetable Gumbo
- Muffuletta Sandwiches – 2 kinds, meat and roasted veggies
- Maque Choux – traditional Creole corn dish
- Basil-Garlic Green Beans
- Pimento Cheese Spread & Hummus – served with crudité and crackers
- Bread Basket: Jalapeno-Corn Mini Muffins; Baby Buttermilk Biscuits
Desserts:
- New Orleans-style Bread Pudding with Whisky Hard Sauce
- Sweet Potato Pie Bars
- Pecan Pie
- Rugelach – 2 kinds, apricot and raspberry, some with walnuts
- Mondel bread – 2 kinds, plain and chocolate chip
- Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
- Carmelitas
- Dark Cocoa Brownies
- Blondies with Chocolate Chunks, Cherries and Pecans
- Chocolate Bark – 2 kinds, peppermint and cranberry-pistachio-lime
- Clementines and grapes – for healthy eating doncha know
Let’s just say – no one went hungry. In fact, many went home with leftovers!
My holiday wish to you – may you enjoy as much laughter, love, joy and community as we had that evening – during this festive season and always.
Now how about a few more party photos! As always, please click the photos to enlarge them and read the captions.
Now how about a few more party photos! As always, please click the photos to enlarge them and read the captions.
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