We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday! This morning we’re sharing a fun gathering…a holiday tradition for my family that would be a fun, casual event for any time of year! Each Christmas Eve we put on a large pot of Gumbo and open our doors for some of our friends and neighbors who are without family here in town! This tradition began when we began celebrating the evening with our dear friends and neighbors who were native to the Netherlands! It was such a lovely way to share the holiday with extended “family” and bring more joy into our home for this special occasion! Though our friends have since moved back to their homeland we’ve kept the tradition going–adding names to the guest list as we continue to find more friends without family nearby! Lucky for me my parents can travel to be with us for Christmas–and this night of celebrating is a much anticipated event for us all! A wonderful way to come together and fill the house with good conversation, great food, and the laughter of children! (And since Sarah’s family is often here too, we have plenty of children running around making spirits bright!) Putting on a big pot of soup is an easy way to serve up guests and gather friends and family for any occasion! New Year’s Eve is just a few days away…a soup party may be a fun way to celebrate with families to ring in the New Year! As a matter of fact, winter is a wonderful time to ladle up some fun…so don’t let the fact that the holidays are almost over stop you from serving up a good time for all! Check out the fun…
it’s gumbo time!
a simple printed menu tucked into a Christmas pan…
lights loosely draped over top add sparkle and Giggle magnets hold the paper securely in place!
the good stuff simmering…
a beautiful color for the holiday…and the aroma in the kitchen–priceless! green chili rice is a flavorful accompaniment…
this yummy addition not only tastes great but stretches the soup for a crowd! and the addition of a sign helps guests to help themselves throughout the evening!
another tasty meal stretcher… bread! these muffins (from a Trader Joe’s mix) were easy to whip up!
stack everything up for easy access–including extra water (especially if you’re serving up spicy stuff!)
strands of red ribbon are so simple but can make anything look festive! and stack up your mugs and fixins for easy self-serve coffee at the end of the night…
any gathering wouldn’t be complete without munchies…but never worry about keeping it very simple!
cheese, dips, crackers, and chips are easy and always well received!
you can make your spread look great with food tags right from your computer!
place card holders are cute but you can glue your tags to toothpicks or straws to label your goodies!
and at the bar–festive napkins and nuts are cute additions…
and of course, a party isn’t a party without some sweets! luckily, they’re easy to come by during the holidays!
just gather what you’ve got & you’re good to go! whether on a table, cart, or counter…when you cluster desserts together they always look spectacular!
paper plates look as grand as porcelain when displayed under a banner!
and a little sparkle is always welcome!
a simple way to light up the cart…a mini lantern borrowed from my son’s room!
tucked behind the cake stand, this was a great way to illuminate the sweets and safer than candles when little (or big) fingers are near! and i loved the way it back lit the “big guy”!
if you’re entertaining for the remainder of the holiday or planning a winter event…try serving up some soup! an easy way to dish out good fun–with time left over to add easy details to your gathering!
