Chrismas Brunch 9/21/08

[SparkleNana]

Yes -- I am giving a Christmas party on Sunday. Of course, none of the guests will know that it is my Christmas party. Hopefully, they will just enjoy a delicious brunch. There will be breakfast casaroles from our recipe threads. And a baked turkey and a baked ham -- to slice for make-your-own-sandwiches. And lots of delicious Christmas cookies (along with do-nuts. I think do-nuts are a good Christmas treat.) Fruit breads - like cranberry,banana, etc. Tons of coffee, tea, OJ, and drinks for the children. No eggnog though. It is not in our stores yet.

Why Sunday? Beautiful, beautiful weather is predicted - and my house is small -- but I have lots of outdoor furniture, in a big yard. Also, yesterday my husband told me that he is going to play golf on Sunday. My husband only rarely enjoys entertaining - and he then prefers very small dinner parties. I love huge, sprawling gatherings of people of all ages (with lots of children thrown in for decorative purposes). So - when he is happily off playing golf all day, I can throw the kind of party I love. And my husband is SO happy to avoid the big gathering.

Of course, I have parties WHENEVER he wants to, inviting any guests he wants to include - which is not that often, believe me. This way, we are both very very happy.

The surprising thing is, I have gotten over 90% acceptance rate - although it is only a couple of days notice. December is so busy - I don't think I would have been able to get so many people on any one date.

[Faith4always]

That sounds like loads of fun!!:hello:

[trackrebel]

hope the weather is nice and You´ll have fun and enjoy Your party....sure sounds like a lot of fun!!!

[SparkleNana]

:hello: Party Food:

I made a trip to the grocery store for my normal shopping. (TOMORROW is the party day shopping.) However -- they had turkey breasts for 99 cents a pound! So I bought 4! I will roast them tomorrow until they are golden brown and juicy! I will put each one on a plate, ringed with fresh greens - and slices of orange or lemon. And baskets of small rolls, biscuits and thin-sliced french bread. Also, dishes of mayonnaise, butter and mustard - for sandwiches.

i saw beautiful hams for $1.99 a pound. So I will buy that - unless I find something better. So far - 40 people are coming to the brunch. I know I can do the whole thing for $100. What is that - $2.50 per person? Lets see how it goes!

[JOHNOR]

that sounds great! is it just all the family coming over?

can i come? lol!

[joyful]

Wow, sounds like a wonderful time.
I wish Christmas was in September or October, then it would be easier to plan parties and visits without worrying about nasty driving conditions.

May everything go as planned and you have a grand time.

[SparkleNana]

Johnor - Yes, would you please come to the party? I would LOVE to have you there, KNOWING that it was a Christmas party and not thinking that I am crazy for thinking about Christmas all year. No - no family will be there. The family would be HORRIFIED to think I was giving my Christmas party this early. I am afraid that ALL my children, and all their spouses, take after their father -- thinking that parties should be small and kind of contained. I like the huge,, mardi-gras type of party -- the more the merrier!

Joyful - you are so right! It is SO MUCH EASIER to give parties when the weather is nice - and the adult's calendar is not crowded! (The children always seem to have birthday parties and soccer games and sleep-overs and play dates. It is the adults who don't get that much party time!) My advice is -- give your Christmas party when YOU want to. the only thing missing is that people can't see your decorations. I get around THAT - because my house is really small. So I put TONS of lights = outside! And, I put the Christmas tree in the big window! So people get to see my decorations (lights) that way!

[JOHNOR]

sparklenana - i totally agree with you there on the mardi gras type parties, the bigger the better! if i weren't all the way over in england i would be there like a shot!

[SparkleNana]

Johnor - we Americans KNOW that the English are GREAT party people! With the wonderful English sense of humor -- and making "pubs" world famous for fun and good cheer! Oh - and thanks to the English for their part in helping us Americans out of this financial "tight spot". Actually, thanks to those around the world who are helping us move beyond this distressing period in American history! Friendship - parties - loving holiday celebrations -- a pretty good basis for world peace!

[Head Elf]

Right on!!!! What a great idea. With the party season just getting into the swing of things that is wonderful. I'm glad you are going to have great weather.:tree:And you food ideas sound delicious!

By the way did I say I was hungry?

[Annette1990]

This sounds like it's going to be so much fun. Take pictures if you can to share with us all. =)

[Maureen]

So, what would be an acceptable time to gatecrash????

Would you like me to bring pie or some really good meringue/chocolate chip/pecan drop things I make or just whatever I can smuggle through Customs (a few miniatures and a packet of mixed nuts)??

You can let me know the address and a contact number so I can let you know if the plane is delayed!!!!!!!!!

[SparkleNana]

Maureen - yes!!! Please do come to the party! You NEED people who love parties - to make parties fun! Also - you need good food ! Your suggestions sound delicious! Do bring them! I think that lots and lots of delicious food, and tasty drinks, are very soothing! They make us feel comforted, and relaxed., and ready to enjoy ourselves at a party.

A party made up of the members of this board, would be wonderful!

[JanaBanana]

Why cant I live closer to you? It sounds wonderful.. please share all your tips and advice as a friend and I are planning an Ornament Exchange brunch here soon :) Im nervous a little :)

[trackrebel]

yeah it´ßs a bummer some of us live so far away....a board meeting around the end of november would be really fun

jana again...wish u lots of fun at Your party

[SparkleNana]

:hello:Good Morning Friends!

Did you like my plans yesterday -- to do the cleaning yesterday, and do the cooking today?

Well - I didn't do any cleaning yesterday.

I wrote out pretty invitations on notecards I got for 90% off. Beautiful flowers done by the artist Georgia O'Keefe. I dropped them off at friends houses. I did some grocery shopping. I watched TV news on lots of channels (Fox for the conservative, owned by Rupert Murdock, point of view. MSNBC for the conservative (Joe (Scarborough) In The Morning -- to Keith Oberman (very liberal) at night!) CNN for more "both sides".)

So today is Get It Done Day! (Plus - my husband and I are invited to a fun party at 4:00! So - the work will end at 4:00).

So - am I upset that the house is a mess? That the refrigerator is not cleared out to make room for party food? Yes. And no. Personally, the most important things about a party are great, friendly people and plenty of great food. No worries about those two things. And - I'll just stash any clutter in the office/guest room and lock the door. Do I think Martha Stewart would do that? :hello:

[trackrebel]

yeah it´ßs a bummer some of us live so far away....a board meeting around the end of november would be really fun

jana again...wish u lots of fun at Your party


I meant lots of fun at Your party Sparkle...lol

[Minta]

Sounds like you have a great day planned and I am sure everyone will enjoy themselves. Don't forget to enjoy it youself in between the cleaning, cooking and hostess role.

[SparkleNana]

Thank you each one for your good wishes for tomorrow! Now here is a question to mull over. I enjoy mulling, and I hope you do too! Here is the question:

Should I offer Mimosas?

I was going to offer coffee, tea, OJ, bottled water, and various children's drinks. Now - I am thinking about adding Mimosas to the adult menu. They sound pretty and festive don't they?

What are they?

They are orange juice and something alcoholic - probably vodka (which doesn't have much taste). Do you have to put champagne in them? Maybe it is not vodka. Maybe it is only champagne. (A store near me sells champagne for $4 a bottle - it is very sweet and I think it would be great with orange juice.)

OK. I am going to put the turkey breasts in the oven now. Oh - I went to Whole Foods this morning -- and they had their fabulous Apple Cakes on sale for half price! So I got two! These apple cakes are the perfect food. You can enjoy them any time of the day or night. I have started putting the serving pieces out on the two buffets (to fill with food). I hope these details are making you want to plan your own parties - because I think parties are great! :family:

[Maureen]

Orange juice and vodka = a screwdriver!! You're right - a mimosa needs the champagne (or at least sparkling wine)

What about a Bellini?? Sparkling wine/champagne with peach juice???

THAT'S tasty!!!!!

[SparkleNana]

Bellinis sound fabulous! OK - I will add the Bellinis to the menu. And the Mimosas - without ANY vodka. (We will save those screwdrivers - maybe for watching the election returns in November? Then we won't really care who wins!)

I will make little cards saying "Bellinis" beside one pitcher of drinks and "Mimosas besides the other pitcher of drinks. I think I will put these alcoholic drinks -- and the hot coffeepots and hot teapots -- on the big table in the family room. I won't put any food on that table - so the children (about 8 of them, I think) can be safely out of that room. I'll just use wine glasses - since I don't have very many champagne glasses. The table should look pretty with the bottles of peach juice and the bottles of champagne. One of my rose bushes is still blooming. It is huge. It is one of those old fashioned roses - deep red kind of simple flowers that smell great! I'll cut some today and put them on the table with adult drinks. Billinis and mimosas and roses. That is a lot more fun than cleaning!

OK - I will go clean both bathrooms - and then put little vases of roses in each one. I'll be back in an hour!

[Maureen]

"Bellinis, mimosas and roses - oh my"

Dorothy, eat (drink) your heart out!!!!!

[trackrebel]

oh boy that Belline sure sounds delicious!!!

[Holiday]

Let us know how brunch went!!! :)

[SparkleNana]

Here is your Brunch Report:

First - Maureen is the hero of the brunch -- because SHE suggested Bellinis! The Bellinis were the HIT of the brunch. Not even one person took a mimosa. The Bellinis made the brunch really special - because nobody even knew what one was ! Everyone drank them (even the 92-year old great-grandmother!) Although some people switched to straight champagne, and some to lots of coffee.

Second - I discovered that a brunch makes the guests very comfortable. People can and DO wear whatever they want. Some came in clothes for the sports they were going to play. (Soccer and tennis.) Some came wearing church clothes. Some came wearing something they had just pulled on, and drank lots of coffee. Some came early - some came late. Very casual.

Next - plans are made to be broken. All the kids stayed inside, playing Playstation3. All the grownups sat outside, enjoying the beautiful, beautiful day!

Huge amounts of food were eaten. Food is good.

I did NOT get the kitchen cleaned up before the guests arrived. It was a catastrophic mess. Nobody cared. I did not care. I love a clean kitchen, but.....

So - I truly recommend having your Christmas party some time other than December. That is my story and I'm sticking with it.

[Holiday]

That sounds wonderful!!! I'm glad it all worked out so good!! :-D

[Maureen]

Aww, shucks!!! I'm glad it worked out so well for you. I'm delighted the Bellinis were a hit; I know I like them and they're just sightly different!

:))

[JOHNOR]

so pleased it went well! it sounds like your guests had a lovely day.

[Christmas Snow Angel]

What a wonderful idea! I love it!!!!

[Faith4always]

Sounds like a blast!
Thanks for posting a report!

[trackrebel]

na....if that doesn´t sound like big fun, I don´t know what does.

I think I have to try those Bellinis too after the big praise they got

[Head Elf]

Sounds like it was a hit and everyone enjoyed the party. Congrats to you for the splendid idea. I told my hubby about it and he said that it was a great idea to do. Kudos to you, my hubby can't stand parties or people so the compliment he gave was genuine and sincere.

Maureen, you are the Scottish Goddess after all.