Celebrate the Season Hero
CELEBRATE THE SEASON
Entertainment Guide

 

The holidays are upon us, and the celebratory gatherings are in full swing. Whether you plan to entertain a handful of friends and family or host a grand holiday soiree, you don’t want to leave your guests thirsty. Be sure to have enough wine, spirits and snacks on hand for your holiday gatherings. Knowing a few basic guidelines for how much of each beverage to have on hand will help ensure that your get-together goes off without a hitch.
In general, plan for two drinks per guest in the first hour of your party, and one drink per guest each hour after that. Of course, whether those drinks are wine, cocktails or beer is dependent upon your preferences and what you anticipate your guests will choose. Always make sure to have nonalcoholic beverages available for guests as well.
A standard formula caterers often use when planning a gathering is to have one bottle of wine per person for a party that will last several hours, based on the assumption that it’s best to have unopened bottles of wine left over than to run out. More conservatively, you could plan on half a bottle per person. If festivities may last longer than four hours, adjust your plan accordingly, figuring that one 750ml bottle of wine will yield about five glasses filled halfway; one 750ml bottle of spirits contains 16 1.5-ounce shots; and one 2-liter bottle of soda will yield about ten 8-ounce glasses.

 

Holiday drinks by fireplace
SIP ON THIS
A Holiday Toast
 
Need a clever line for your holiday toast? Try this quote from American poet Ogden Nash: “Here’s to holly and ivy hanging up, and to something wet in every cup.”
Aerial View of appetizers
Food Pairing Presented by MGM

 

Take a gander at your menu for your party, and consider the best libations to pair with each food item on the list. For meat-centric dishes, serve a red wine with a bit of body such as Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon. Cheese trays and light yet flavorful IPAs make a likely pair, and Champagne goes with just about anything at a holiday celebration.

 

Be sure to have the right amount of food to pair with the beverages. In general, it’s best to plan for two to three appetizers per person, per hour if served before or after meal times, and five to six pieces per person, per hour if served as a meal. Here are a few helpful guidelines for some customary party fare:

 

Charcuterie Tray

Meat: 3 ounces per person

Cheese: 3 ounces per person

Crackers: 2 ounces per person

Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp (large): 3 to 4 per person
Sauce: 2 tablespoons per person

 

Fresh Vegetables with Dip
Dip: 3 tablespoons per person 
Vegetables: 1-2 ounces per person  
 
Fresh Fruit with Dip 
Dip: 3 tablespoons per person 
Mixed fruit pieces: 1 cup per person 
 
Finger Sandwiches: 3 per person 
 
Olives: 2 ounces per person

 

Mulled Wine
CELEBRATE THE SEASON
Mulled Wine

 

Makes about 15 servings 
 
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
Lemon peel from ½ lemon cut into strips
18 whole cloves
2 (3-inch) sticks cinnamon
2 (750ml) bottles dry red wine
Orange slices for garnish, if desired
  1. Dissolve sugar in water in large saucepan. Add lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon. Boil five minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Reduce heat to medium; pour in wine and heat to piping hot but not boiling.
  3. Strain out peel and spices. If desired, transfer to punch bowl or pitcher or keep warm on low in slow cooker.
  4. Ladle into mugs and serve, garnished with an orange slice or cinnamon stick.

 

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