5 Recipes for Holiday Fun

Why settle for the same old, same old holiday party? This season, cook up a whole new plan

By Mary Fons
CTW Features

The holiday party season starts in December and lasts well into the New Year. If you’re hosting one of these dozens of bashes, your party had better have some pizzazz if it wants to be remembered – or even well attended.

Brenda Leopold, owner and president of event planning company Next Big Event in Appleton, Wis., says that if you want to throw a memorable holiday party, make sure the planning process will be fun for you. “The more fun you are having with the concept and planning, the more memorable the event is going to be. Your enthusiasm will be visible in all of the little details. If you feel like you are getting carried away or being over the top, you’re probably right on target for a truly memorable event.”

For a party to be memorable, according to those wise in the ways of party-giving, you must strive to be different.

St. Louis resident and holiday party-thrower Will Nedved wouldn’t be caught dead throwing any old party. “A great party is equal parts planning and spontaneity. I always have food and drink bought, supplies in place, activities organized and, of course, a great mix of people. But I remind myself to let the party have its own life. Host the party; don’t control it.” By structuring his parties around unique themes, Nedved says his gatherings end up taking care of themselves.

Leopold recommends a change of scenery as a good way to breathe new life into your holiday bash. Consider throwing a party someplace other than at home. “I recommend using a neutral space whenever possible,” she says. “You don’t have to worry about giving your house that extra cleaning the night before or day of your party. The day after your event, when you are exhausted from all of the fun you had, you don’t have to worry about the cleanup. Usually the cost difference is minimal. The host location often has some of the supplies, equipment, staff, etc., [which] you can use at no additional cost.”

Whether you choose to throw your party in your house or in a different location (or, in the case of the “Take It Outside” party, outside of a building altogether) Chicago-based private party planner Katherine Zwick reminds hosts and hostesses that “the party is always about your attendees – not the host or hostess. Even if it’s your birthday party, ask yourself what [your guests] want to see, feel, touch, smell, taste and hear. And then go do that.”

Here are some “recipes” for unique, memorable holiday parties that offer exciting twists for all five senses.

Party Recipe #1

DIY Decorations

The trend in home decoration these days definitely is do-it-yourself. Without spending a fortune, you can create an art space for your guests to channel their inner Martha Stewart and have a blast while they do it.

Ingredients: Supplies for any crafts that interest you. “I suggest cotton balls of various sizes, Sharpie markers, Elmer’s glue, sequins, glitter, and tiny felt Santa caps,” offers Zwick, adding that paper plates, paper cups, newspaper and paper towel rolls are all good supplies for craft making.

Yields: Homemade holiday decorations created by your guests. They can take them home to use as decorations to give away as gifts.

The Menu: Anything that can be nibbled on while glue dries: finger foods like stuffed mushrooms, baby cheesecakes chocolate chip cookies.

NOTE: Keep food in a separate room from the craft area as to avoid getting art projects messy and make sure you have plenty of napkins.

The Tunes: Think ’80s pop music. It’s energetic, most everyone can sing along, and it’ll give another memorable layer to your party.

Serves: As many people as you can fit around a big table, keeping in mind that guests can rotate in and out once they’re happy with their creation.

Party Recipe #2

Goodwill Towards Men

The holiday season is a time for helping those less fortunate. Leopold suggests figuring out how many ways you could incorporate the “good Samaritan” theme into every detail.

“Perhaps the invitation is a plastic bag with the event details on it and a request for guests to bring the bags to the event filled with non-perishables. Perhaps the invitation [itself] could be a non-perishable item, or all of the dinnerware could be brought by the guests and then donated,” she suggests.

Ingredients: A good cause. Whether you choose to support a food drive, a research foundation, a homeless shelter, or some other charitable organization, make sure it’s a reputable one. Local organizations may be most meaningful to you and your guests.

Yields: A much larger charitable donation of food, funds, clothes and support than any one person could come up with on his own.

The Menu: “I always think Champagne is great for a fundraising party,” says Nedved. “It makes you feel rich, which often makes people feel generous.” Other sophisticated menu items might include lox platters, caviar, and organic chocolate cake

The Tunes: Holiday jazz classics, standards

Serves: The more the better!

Party Recipe #3

Kids in a Candy Shop

Why were Aunt Bea’s holiday treats always the best? Because Aunt Bea made Christmas candy. Fudge, caramels, meringues – making homemade candy is an experience made sweeter with friends. Due to the large kitchen space needed for this party, this might be a party to move out of your house into a bigger space.

Ingredients: Everything you’ll need for candy production. This list can get expensive, so ask guests to bring one specific ingredient to help out with cost. One can bring pecans, another brings sugar, etc. Don’t forget items like a candy thermometer and a double boiler.

Yields: Candied orange slices, marshmallows, peanut brittle, petit fours – any kind of candy your sweet heart desires. (May also yield a trip to the dentist…)

The Menu: Think savory to balance out all that sugar. Nuts, herb dips, veggies, olives, or a salty caprese salad. Hot Irish coffee will go perfectly with buttery toffee.

The Tunes: Make a playlist on your iPod with every candy related song you can find: “I Want Candy,” by Bow Wow Wow, “Candy” by Dinah Shore.

Serves: A group of about 5-10, unless you’ve got surplus kitchen space.

Party Recipe #4

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Everyone is happy to be called a tree hugger these days – and what tree is more huggable than a Christmas tree? Take your hopes for a greener world and turn it into a holiday party with some sustainable fun.

Ingredients: From the invites to decorations, go green from the start. Reuse old decorations and skip the plastic silverware. Gather tips on holiday greening (recycling wrapping paper, energy conservation) and write them on the back of guests’ place cards.

Yields: Awareness, comfort for you and your guests in knowing your party’s “eco-footprint” is no bigger than Rudolph’s hoof.

The Menu: Use local, organic ingredients wherever possible. Load the menu with veggie dishes. Try a few raw foods. Create your own “green” cocktail with organic liquors and exotic fruit juices.

The Tunes: The upcoming “Live Earth” live album.

Serves: The more the merrier – but encourage car pools!

Party Recipe #5

Take It Outside

The great outdoors gets a bad rap during the winter months, and it’s too bad. At night, winter skies can be breathtaking. As long as you’re bundled up, there’s no reason to miss a beautiful, snowy afternoon. Ice skating at a local pond or rink is a great way to soften the blow of long winters in Northern climes – and it can be a change-of-pace activity for those who live in warmer regions. “I would invite people to a skating event and follow it up with inexpensive appetizers and drinks at a nearby restaurant,” Leopold says.

Ingredients: A winter sport activity that doesn’t require too much skill. Ice skating, hiking in a park, or even an official snowball fight all are accessible options.

Yields: Burned calories, ruddy cheeks and exhilaration

The Menu: Heading to a neighborhood restaurant works, but if you’re hosting the after-party, go for chili, soups, hot rolls and warm drinks like cocoa, hot toddies and peppermint tea.

The Tunes: Beach Boys, Beatles, Hawaiian ukulele music – anything that makes your guests think of a warm, sunny beach.

Serves: Any and all of your active, fun-loving friends.