You’re almost certain to host or attend a dinner during the season of perpetual partying. Making some inspired food and drink core dishes and asking guests to bring something along is a good idea when doing the former. This way, you avoid a full, festive stoveside meltdown. The key to making guests’ lives easier, is to prepare something easily portable that requires minimal assembly when it’s time to leave. Here are several ideas to get you started.
Pies
A large pie is an excellent choice for when you are looking for a way to feed up to 15 people. To make a hand-raised pork pie look impressive, you could layer chicken, ham and apricots together. Try making a vegetarian puff pastry slice if you want something more universal. When packing your pie, make sure it is tightly sealed and well-glazed. This will help the pie survive the trip.
Pate & Terrine
Set terrines are ideal for parties because they look impressive and are less likely to break in transit because of their firmness. They are also easy to wrap in foil for transportation. You could also serve pâté with a baguette to spread it on. If you like, you can even slice and grill it for extra brownie points on melba toasts.
Party Vol-Au-Vents
While mini burgers, pot pies, and other such bijou party foods have become popular, retro vol-au-vents are time-tested classics. The pastry shells should be baked in advance, and your filling should be ready separately to spoon in when you arrive.
Cheesecake
It’s easy to overlook sweet-toothed partygoers when it comes to buffets. Finish the evening with a dessert to ensure everyone is satisfied. Play it safe with a creamy cheesecake by mid-December when many people have already become bored with mincemeat, which is something that divides people in the first place. You may want to carry the cake in a decorative cake cloche to make it look more impressive.
Salad & Sides
The host is typically responsible for creating a large centerpiece for the event, so bringing side dishes can alleviate some of the pressure, allowing the cook to concentrate on the main event. Side dishes that can be eaten cold, such as rice, pasta salad, and bread, fit in well with the main dish. Consider something that blends into a wide variety of dishes, so it won’t be too niche.
Pulled-Pork
Rather than bringing a huge joint of meat, it would be best to slow-cook a pork shoulder for seven hours. You can then shred the meat with a fork because it will be soft and tender. Put the meat in a tub, and then place the cooking liquor in a separate pot to drizzle over the meat when serving. You can also create your own accompaniment sauce such as barbecue, hoisin, or chipotle.
Something a Little Bigger
It’s not only possible to cook dishes like shepherd’s pie, lasagnas, and casseroles in one baking dish, but they can also be par-cooked before being finished under a grill or in the oven. Making vegetarian lasagna is always a hit – everyone can tuck in. You can make the mashed potatoes and meat sauce for shepherd’s pie at home, then assemble and crisp them at a party. Be sure to factor in how much oven space your host has.
Infused Vodka
Okay, it’s not a dish, but a party isn’t complete without a round of drinks. A home-flavored vodka will definitely break the ice with the host!
Trifle
Make-ahead desserts like trifles are ideal. You can layer sponge, fruit, custard, and cream ahead of time and serve it in a transparent glass bowl. Just make sure you hold onto it tightly! Try out different flavors, as well. Make it festive by using Christmas pudding, or go for a more classic version with sherry.
Pastries
You can pre-assemble sausage rolls, cheese straws, and mini pastries to bring to a party and bake them upon arrival. Usually, you can freeze them as well, so you’ll have them on hand in case of an emergency.