subject: Christmas Parties – How To Decide What's On the Menu in 2010 [print this page] Christmas for most is partially about the food. What better way to celebrate this Christian festival with a gigantic festive feast! Although we all may look forward to the meat orientated meal on Christmas day, having a similar meal too often beforehand may in fact make the meal not that special to some. Avoid being too traditional at Christmas parties, and instead of serving the traditional Christmas meal, add a unique and unusual twist to the meal it does not have to be just festive after all!
A well designed starters will prepare everyone for the sort of meal you are going for and should prepare the palette for the rest of the meal. Most Christmas party dinners use as a starter fresh fruit with Coulis, salads combined with smoked fish or delicate cheeses. These refreshing but strong dishes act as a great aperitif and will impress any guest!
Now the mains have to be the crme de la crme of the meal, in order to really satisfy your guests. Stick to the more expensive meats, such as fish, lamb, pork and beef, as these are the more special and traditional meats of the season. Roast the meat, until the juices are perfect and season with the herbs of your choice. Rosemary, mint and sage are all the best traditional herbs that garnish meats perfectly. If you want a meal that is bit more unique, opt for stuffing the meat with beans and nuts as these will give a less subtle flavour to the meat. Side dishes are usually roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Although, wonderfully delicious, adding something a little different may create a more memorable and unique Christmas meal for your guests. Roasted or mashed butternut squash is a delicious complementary side dish to meat as they add a much sweeter flavour. If butternut squash is not for you, mashed potatoes and parsnips are still a sweet flavour to add to the meal.
Not everyone is a desert fan, so consider of having the option of the alternative cheeseboard, which will satisfy the savoury tooth. For those who are sweet toothed, consider a light chocolate or fruit flavoured moose or sorbet. After a heavy meal, most guests may not want a heavy desert, so opt for finer deserts that are not heavy or overly sweet. But if you do want to keep traditional, a mince pie with clotted cream will add that festive treat to your meal.
