Cold cuts, jacket potatoes, some salads, quiche, and a good chutney can be a least one meal. All of these make a great lunch or even as a Christmas buffet for the next day - cold platters are always tasty, even with guests round. If you have lots of bits and bobs to use up, why not have a buffet?
Full Answer
What should I make for Christmas dinner for a crowd?
Feed a Crowd With These Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas. 1 Spinach Pinwheels. Credit: smartt. View Recipe. "Three simple ingredients with great results! Even when they're messy to cut, they still end up ... 2 Baked Brie with Quebec Maple Syrup. 3 Vidalia Sweet Onion Dip. 4 Jimmbo's Garlic Knots. 5 Cranberry Dip. More items
What are the best Christmas party food ideas?
They are an ideal Christmas party food idea. Chef John At All Recipes provides this gorgeous and delicious Christmas cheese ball recipes. The almonds are so pretty, and the tangy goat cheese spread inside is delectable! If you have a large crowd coming, a charcuterie board is a great way to go!
What do I need for a weekend guest grocery list?
My Weekend Guest Grocery List 1 Non-alcoholic drinks 2 Wine and/or beer 3 Coffee beans 4 Milk, half-and-half, or other coffee additions for guests 5 Ingredients for Breakfast Day 2 6 Ingredients for Breakfast Day 3 7 Shelf-stable snacks (chips, nuts, crackers, etc.) 8 Refrigerated snacks (crudité, cheeses, dips, etc.) 9 Ingredients for Dinner Day 3
What are the best meals to make for house guests?
Meal Ideas for House Guests, with Recipes Breakfast #1 Make Ahead Breakfast #2 Fast Breakfast #3 Big Breakfast Breakfast #4 In the Kitchen Lunch #1 Sandwiches Lunch #2 Instant Pot Lunch #3 Healthy Lunch #4 Make Ahead Dinner #1 Take-Out BBQ Dinner #2 Instant Pot Dinner #3 Simple Dutch Oven Dinner Dinner #4 Holiday Dinner #5 BBQ Grill
What food can be prepared the day before Christmas?
Make & mature Christmas cake. This traditional festive fruitcake is best made well in advance, and can be fed regularly with brandy, sherry, whisky or rum. ... Easy mince pies. ... Golden roast potatoes. ... Super-simple cranberry sauce. ... Best ever Yorkshire puddings. ... Pigs in blankets with a twist. ... Make-ahead gravy. ... Spiced red cabbage.More items...•
What do you feed guests when they come over?
Items like canned beans, jarred olives, artichokes and peppers, crackers, Chex mix, dry pasta, jarred sauce, seltzer and even baking mixes are lifesavers.
What is the traditional Christmas Eve meal?
One of the more popular Christmas Eve dishes is fish, particularly fish pie. "This is a Catholic tradition related to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Some Catholics still include seven different fishes in the meal – not difficult if you're making a pie," says Brown.
What do you serve to guests?
11 Quick and Healthy Party Foods to Serve Your GuestsSpicy Pecan Popcorn Chicken. These spicy and crunchy pecan-crusted chicken nuggets are paired with a quick, creamy ranch dip. ... Zesty Bean Dip & Chips. Stirring salsa into versatile canned refried beans makes a quick and healthy bean dip. ... Green Pizza.
What should a 2pm guest serve?
Consider these options:fresh baguette.chocolate croissants.eclairs.a variety of cheeses.apple slices or other seasonal fruit.sparkling water, wine, beer, or juice.olives, pickles, and other pickled vegetables.
How do I stock my kitchen as a guest?
9 Tips for Stocking a Healthy Kitchen for HouseguestsAsk about allergies and dietary restrictions. ... Provide plenty of breakfast options. ... Swap sugary items with better-for-you options. ... Clean out and organize the fridge. ... Put together a platter of cold foods. ... Leave a basket of grab-and-go snacks.More items...•
What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods?
Top 10 Christmas Dinner RecipesClassic Bread Stuffing.Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pecans.Pillsbury™ Tourtière.Roasted Rosemary-Onion Potatoes.Crispy-Coated Lemon-Pepper Salmon.Perfect Apple Pie.Simple Cranberry Sauce.Slow Cooker Wild Rice with Cranberries.More items...
What is the most popular main dish for Christmas dinner?
Today, I am sharing my 25 most popular and favourite best Christmas mains and entrees.Holiday Glazed Baked Ham.Roasted Pork Tenderloin.Best and Juiciest Roast Turkey.Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb.Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken.Roast Beef.Honey Glazed Roast Pork with Vegetables.Ground Beef Meat Pie.More items...
What is the most popular food for Christmas?
The Most Popular Christmas Dishes The #1 pick is roast potatoes, with a win percentage of 76%. Mashed potatoes came in second (75%), and turkey was third (73%)—the only protein in the top five.
What do you serve an unexpected guest?
7 ways to cater for unexpected guestsSave the day pancakes. Whip up speedy pancakes using self-raising flour, milk, egg and whatever is in the fridge. ... 2-minute star popcorn. Popping corn, a little oil and your imagination… ... Speedy dip. ... Everyone loves pasta. ... Jazz up a cheese toastie. ... Dessert in a glass.
What do you put on a nibbles platter?
Ingredient ideasbaked cheese, such as brie or camembert, topped with herbs and olive oil.figs, grapes, prepared pomegranates or dried fruits.thinly sliced cured meats, such as sausage or chorizo.savoury crackers, crusty bread or breadsticks.nuts and olives.dips, such as hummus, chutney or taramasalata.More items...
How can I feed a lot of people cheap?
What is the Best Way to Feed A Lot of People?Chose a recipe that can be scaled up without having to cook or bake more batches.Create a “Bar” and feed everyone cafeteria style, such as a potato bar. ... Slow cooker/Instant Pot to the rescue!Make as much food ahead of time as you can.
What do you serve when a friend comes over?
Nothing is easier than a platter of cheese and crackers. Nothing is tastier either. Keep a selection of gourmet crackers and cheeses and you can slide them all onto a platter when your friends appear at your door. Try Triscuits with Havarti or Saltines spread with creamy brie.
What do you serve an unexpected guest?
7 ways to cater for unexpected guestsSave the day pancakes. Whip up speedy pancakes using self-raising flour, milk, egg and whatever is in the fridge. ... 2-minute star popcorn. Popping corn, a little oil and your imagination… ... Speedy dip. ... Everyone loves pasta. ... Jazz up a cheese toastie. ... Dessert in a glass.
What to bring when you're told not to bring a thing?
What to bring when you're told not to bring a thingChocolate-covered strawberries. These are the perfect treat to bring along to a brunch gathering as they're light, fruity and a bit of an indulgent sign-off without being heavy like rich cake. ... Olive oil. ... Hand wash or lotion. ... Rocky Boulevard. ... Home-made granola and coffee.
What food do you bring to a party?
25 Best Party Foods To Feed a CrowdMeatballs.Potato Skins.Sausage Rolls.Chocolate Truffles.Chicken Empanadas.Steak and Cheese Quesadilla.Parmesan Crusted Baby Potatoes.Chicken Tenders.More items...•
Spinach Pinwheels
"Three simple ingredients with great results! Even when they're messy to cut, they still end up looking pretty decent and tasting wonderful," reviewer cookntaste says. "This is a keeper."
Baked Brie with Quebec Maple Syrup
"Made this once for an appetizer at our Christmas family dinner, and now I have to bring it every year!" -- TFULL
Vidalia Sweet Onion Dip
"Absolutely loved the recipe. Made this for a Christmas Day appetizer, and everyone loved it -- from ages 15 to 85. Sweet, creamy, and delicious," writes home cook Loves2Bake.
Jimmbo's Garlic Knots
Transform a can of refrigerated pizza dough into your family''s new appetizer obsession with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, and crushed red pepper.
Cranberry Dip
"This recipe is a great addition to a Christmastime appetizer buffet —simple to make and pleasing to the eye. Easy and delicious, it's just what I'm looking forward when things are so busy," says Stacy Peterson of this 32-serving Cranberry Dip.
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Though the recipe serves eight, you can easily cook five times the amount. "I made enough for 40 servings. There was none left!" – hcg
Tom Szaller's Great Pan or Bird Stuffing
"I tend to try a new stuffing recipe every year," reviewer REDDRAGONQUEEN76 says. "But I'll tell you something, I tried this one for the first time this year. Next year, I am going to use the same one. This is the best dressing ever."
Getting Organized
If you haven’t already read it, check out Faith’s post on 10 things she does to prepare for houseguests, which has some great tips for getting ready both in the kitchen and elsewhere in the house.
What to Serve
I usually make a snack (or two) that keeps well in the refrigerator before guests arrive, and focus most of my cooking on breakfasts during their visit, with an easy dinner thrown in.
Tips for Feeding House Guest
Do not get overwhelmed, taking it step by step and making a plan will make this so much easier. Here are a few tips when planning meals for your guests:
How to Start Planning for House Guests
First, plan for how many meals your guests will be staying with you. Then, if there are any special events when you will be eating out, remove those from your list.
Meal Ideas for House Guests, with Recipes
Here are a few recipes and meal ideas to make planning for and having house guests a breeze!
Make ahead Dinner Recipes
Purchase Pork tenderloins a couple of weeks before, marinate them and freeze them. Our favorite pork tenderloin marinade is Barefoot Contessa’s Herb Marinated Pork tenderloin recipe. Make sure you take them out at least the day b/f to defrost. You can do this with chicken or steaks too.
Make Ahead Dessert Recipes
Chocolate Eclair Cake Icebox Cake can be made the night before, it requires 4 hrs of chilling time so it can be made earlier the same day.
Make ahead Breakfast Meal Plans for House Guests
Make-ahead Breakfast meat & Egg casseroles or Egg casseroles also come in handy for brunch the next day. I made ours Friday afternoon for Saturday late morning.
How long can you freeze desserts before serving?
When I’m planning party menus, I appreciate dessert recipes like this; you can make and freeze it up to two weeks before serving. A refreshing slice is welcome after a big meal.—Cassie Alexander, Muncie, Indiana
What to do with leftover eggnog?
To use up leftover eggnog, cranberries and pecans from the holiday season, I added them to a classic coffee cake recipe. Mix it all together the night before, and bake it in the morning. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Can you make salad for breakfast?
Salad for breakfast? Absolutely. You can prep everything except the dressing and chill it overnight. In the morning, dress the salad and poach the eggs. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Is eggnog a holiday drink?
Sipping homemade eggnog is a holiday tradition for many families. Our slow cooker version of the classic drink couldn’t be easier to make. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
How long can you keep Chex party mix?
Make it well ahead of time, storing it on your counter top in an airtight container, up to 4 weeks.
How long to freeze mini pulled pork sandwiches?
The pulled pork cooks low and slow in your oven, for tender and juicy meat. Make the meat and freeze it up to 2 months ahead in airtight bags. To serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the oven, moistened with some extra barbecue sauce.
How long can you make beet hummus ahead of time?
Not only is this recipe healthy, with beets, tahini, and spices, but it tastes great! Make it up to 3 days ahead, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. All you have to do on party day is add pita wedges or crackers and serve. 12 of 19.
Can you make pizza wheels with crescent roll dough?
These fun pizza wheels are a snap to prepare with store -bought crescent roll dough. Simply fill the pastry with your favorite toppings, roll the whole thing up, and s lice it into wheel s for bak ing. If making in advance, prepare up to the point of baking, cover well, and freeze. Then bake straight from the freezer and serve with some warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Can you make baked potatoes in advance?
This twice baked potato appetizer is just right for fans of dressed potato skins, and can made in advance, to reheat on party day. Baked potatoes are hollowed out, and the flesh is mixed with sour cream, bacon, and cheddar cheese, then stuffed back in the skins, and baked until puffed up and golden brown.
How to make a house guest feel uncomfortable?
There's no better way to make a house guest feel uncomfortable than to be working, cleaning, and cooking the whole time your guests are with you. Give you and your guests a chance to relax and enjoy each other. No one will care if the kitchen is sparkling or the sheets are ironed. And when there is work to do, accept every offer wash ...
What to do if you have a couple of days of visitors?
If your visitors are going to be with you for a couple of days, you might be able to prepare most things ahead of time. If the visit is extended, include dining out options, both informal and special. You can call for pizza, and ask your guests to plan and prepare a meal or two.
What to do when your kids are sick?
For an activity that doesn't cost a penny, give your guests a tour of your lives. Visit your children's school, show off your daughter's music school or your son's workout gym. Take a break with a stop at a favorite coffee shop or ice cream parlor. Or plan a day tour of your hometown's hot spots or historic landmarks.
