Hosting a festive cocktail party is a great way to get into the spirit of the season.
But if it's your first cocktail party, what you don't want to do is get yourself all in a twist while you do it.
"People get intimidated by the idea of throwing a party - but they shouldn't," said Linda West Eckhardt, author of the award-winning Entertaining 101 (Doubleday, $25).
"The greatest gift you can give anyone is an evening of food, wine and conversation in your home. But who has three or four days to get ready for company? Get over it," she said. "I've made every mistake in the book throwing a party - Entertaining 101 was meant to help people avoid my mistakes."
Ken Correll, one of the owners of Shackamaxon Catering in Philadelphia, agrees that entertaining, during the holidays or otherwise, doesn't have to be stressful. Correll believes that keeping your menu and decorations simple and emphasizing advance preparation are keys to party success.
"The first step is to sit down and plan the party," he said. "What's realistic for you? Focus on a few items; buy the rest."
Eckhardt agrees.
"Make what you love, and buy the rest," she says. "If you are a good bread baker, have bread and cheese and a good bottle of wine. You don't have to get complicated to have a great party."
Lindsay Gilmour, a chef-caterer whose Organic Planet Productions specializes in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, reminds party givers to offer a few vegetarian choices.
"People are trying to eat less processed and more whole foods. But that doesn't mean you have to feel virtuous and never have any fun. You can do both," said Gilmour, who teaches organic and vegetarian cooking classes and workshops at area Whole Foods markets.
Planning is key, according to Ann-Michelle Albertson, assistant director of Albertson Cooking School in Wynnewood. Every year, she cooks for a crowd of 75 at her family's open house the Sunday before Christmas.
"I choose a menu that allows me to prepare most of the recipes ahead of time," she said.
Here are tips from these experts to help ensure that your entertaining comes off without a hitch.
Forget the major cleaning. Don't spend hours scrubbing every nook and cranny in your house. People aren't going to be looking for dirt - and if you do the lighting right, they won't be able to see it anyway.
