Party Ideas for Newbies
Friday, November 30, 2012 at 4:00AM 
Special Fork celebrates Entertaining Week. Stay tuned for party tips and recipes from our Special Fork bloggers all week long. This week also kicks off our annual holiday kitchen tools sweepstakes. Please check our Facebook page to learn about the tools we've selected for the sweepstakes and how you can enter to win our prize package (estimated retail value: $122).
By David Hu
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Especially during the holidays, when friends drop by unexpectedly, it’s nice to have a nibble or two on hand. Even beginning cooks can make Honey Crystal Almonds, which takes nominal time to prep and cook, and you’ll be all set to welcome company before you know it.
These nuts are great for parties, too. You can have them in small bowls to enjoy before dinner, or serve them on a cocktail buffet.
Growing up, my family hosted a cocktail buffet every holiday season. And along with the excitement, there would be a fair amount of prep work for everyone to do.
For my brother (the Special Fork child) and me, prep meant helping with the housecleaning while dad did the shopping and mom did the cooking. In its heyday as many as a hundred people would come by to enjoy mom and dad’s parties.
Those parties were my frame of reference when I started my own holiday entertaining (albeit on a much smaller scale). Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:
Don’t feel like you have to make everything yourself
For our first party, my wife and I purchased some additional sides like pate and hummus. A store-bought crudité platter saves a lot of tedious vegetable prep work. Pre-cooked ham makes a great centerpiece. It looks lavish, but it’s easy to heat; guests just slice off pieces and make sandwiches with cocktail buns.
As I got more parties under my belt, I started making more of our dishes – including Katie’s excellent Faux Foie Pate and our delicious (but so easy) tapenade.
Cooking is all about timing
When you’re making a lot of dishes, it’s hard to get them cooked and ready on time. The key is to have some things that can be made ahead and reheated, or served cold. The Honey Crystal Almonds is one you can make ahead.
Here are a few other great party recipes:
- Bean dip
- Poached shrimp with aioli
- Pomegranate yogurt dip
- Curry chutney deviled eggs
- Stuffed Asiago basil mushrooms
- Easy microwave candy
- How to whip cream
- How to beat egg whites
- How to skin hazelnuts
- How to blanch almonds
- How to make sugar cookies
- How to ice cookies
Go with the Flow
Funny how at every party, people always end up in the kitchen. To get people moving, think through the traffic patterns. Spread out the food and the drinks to keep people circulating. If you’ve got the space, have a food station, a drink station (or two), and the ever-popular dessert station.
Holiday decorating doesn’t need to be difficult
There’s so much other stuff going on (cooking, cleaning) that sometimes it’s easy to neglect holiday decorating. Here are a few easy things we’ve done in the past:
Most importantly, enjoy yourself
You’ve spent a lot of work to put together your party. Don’t forget to breathe and have fun!
May your holiday party be stress-free, and the odds be ever in your favor.
To get the recipe and shopping list on your smartphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android device) or PC, click here.
Honey Crystal Almonds
2 cups whole natural almonds
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup turbinado sugar
Spread almonds in a shallow pan. Place in cold oven; turn oven to 350°F and roast 12 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until well roasted. Over medium heat in medium saucepan, heat honey and butter to boiling. Reduce heat to medium low, simmer 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add almonds; simmer and stir 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer almonds to baking sheet lined with parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray; spread in single layer and cool slightly. Toss almonds with sugar to coat using a medium plastic food storage bag.
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