Throw a Great Holiday Party
for 20 People (for under $150)
By Dianna Buff, Sweet Tomatoes Café

Before you go shopping for decorations, take a new look at the items you already have around the house for perfect Holiday décor. A nice Hurricane lamp with some holly around it or some spray painted pine cones, looks and smells great with a candle. Try some white string lights around doors and in windows to add dramatic lighting to a room, pillar candle in different sizes can look very dramatic or fun. Our local Dollar General in Woodstown has some great items, and I will reference some in the Party Plan, along with a couple of easy recipes from Sweet Tomatoes!

Décor:

As I said,candles are great, in the kitchen, bathroom and on the buffet. Dollar General has several in Holiday Scents and colors, ranging from $1.00 to around $6.00. Try not to have anything too overpowering or they will take away from your food. Grab a nice red, green or gold tablecloth ($5.00 DG). Use cake plates and other colorful plates to add dimension, and even “platform” the dishes by placing items such as a bucket or small box with a coordinating tablecloth or napkin over them to add different dimensions. Use small 16 ounce crock pots ($10 DG) or small tealight food warmers for dips and for warming chocolate.

Invest in or use one larger item for a centerpiece, such as a santa or snowman cookie jar or a tiny tree with ornamants. Have holiday music playing when your guests arrive. Use inexpensive throw rugs (DG $5-$10) to greet guests at the door and in your bathrooms. Use holiday towels in the kitchen (DG $2.50). Wrap up a small box of chocolates for each guest to take home with a nice ribbon.

Menu:

• Pork Loin with Chutney and mini rolls
• Sweet Tomatoes Brushetta with garlic toast
• Crab Dip with Crispy chips
• Chocolate Fondue with Dipper’s
• Cheese and Crackers
• Pepperoni and Sausages with spicy mustard
• Cookies and Assorted chocolates
• Holiday Cupcake Display
• Assorted Nuts
• Punch
• Auburn Road Wines (Try the Rosalita @ $12.99 a bottle, and the Sole @$15.99)

Shopping List:

All of the above items are easy, fun and can be purchase inexpensively. Check the recipes below for the specifics, a lot of which is already in your pantry and then add the following to your list:

At the Dollar General, you will find the crispy white corn chips, chocolate chips, crackers, cookies, sausage sticks, holiday cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers, red velvet cake mix for perfect holiday cupcakes, sour cream icing, assorted canned salted nuts, spicy mustard, hawaiian punch, sprite or ginger ale, and really cute small plates and cups for your table. At Acme, purchase the pork loin (boneless, figure 5 lbs per 10 guests), rolls, crab meat ($8.95 for a pound of "special" right now, great for your dip, cream cheese, Acme assorted block cheese, milk, orange juice, pepperoni , and sherbert. Use plum tomatoes as ripe as you can find for the tomatoes, and ripe strawberries and melons for your dippers. A trip out to Auburn Road Vineyards to pick up the wine and you are all set!

Recipes:

Brushetta
Use 4-6 ripe plum tomatoes, diced into tiny pieces. Add ¼ cup balsamic vineger, ¼ cup sugar, 1/8 cup white vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, 2 teaspoons each basil and oregano, 2 tablespoons diced onion, 1 tablespoon wet garlic. Mix well, chill for 1 hour. Serve on bread that has been coated with thin amount of olive oil and garlic and oven toasted and cooled.

Crab Dip
Make rout of ½ pound margarine, melted and ½ cup flour in sauce pan. Add 1 ½ cups heavy cream, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup cheedar cheese, and 1 block cream cheese. Heat, stirring constantly until smooth, When, thick and hot, add can of crab. Mix well, serve in warmer. Serve with toasted bread or white corn chips.

Chocolate Fondue
1 bag semi sweet choc chips: Use double boiler or bring appox 3 cups water to boil in saucepan and place heat proof metal bowl over pan with chips in bowl to act as double boiler. Add ¼ cup vegetable oil and ¼ cup heavy cream and 2 teasppons vanilla extract (can also use rum, orange, or your favorite). Stir constantly and carefully until smooth and liquid. Put in warmer right away. Serve with dippers such as marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers, melon, strawberries, rice crispy treat cut into pieces, the list is endless.

Punch
In punch bowl or other cool dipenser (Like your Iced Tea one that’s been put away until next summer!) combine the following, 2 cans punch, 1-2 litre sprite or ginger ale and 2 Giant Mega Spoonfuls Rainbow Sherbert!

Holiday Cup Cakes
Make Red Velvet Cake to box directions and place a hersey kiss in each one before baking. Once cooled, ice with canned sour cream icing and spinkle with holiday sprinkles!!!! (We make the real thing , but these are great in a jam!!!!!)

Pork Loin
Cook as directed topped with garlic, salt and pepper. Heat a jar of your favorite chutney and place on top of thinly sliced pork when done with mini club rolls.

Remember, have fun, don’t stress, and less is more. If you have fun, so will your guests! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!