Top Ten Holiday Party Planning Tips:

Keep fuss to a minimum by setting out a cocktail buffet so guests can help themselves. Include hot and cold dips and spreads served with fresh veggies, tortilla chips and pita bread triangles. Tasty finger foods like Spicy Marinated Shrimp and Thai Chicken Skewers will round out your buffet.

Keep a few items on hand for impromptu gatherings, like a bottle of TABASCO® brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce to pour over cream cheese and serve with crackers. Salsa and tortilla chips and quick and easy munchies like Peppered Pecans also let you entertain with minimal effort. Be sure to stock up on cocktail napkins, mixers, wine, beer and ice.

Peppered Pinwheels

Develop a signature party dish, such as Chicken Jalapeño Spread, a mixture of chopped chicken, cream cheese and minced peppers. Or prepare a chafing dish of Sausages in Wine, or fancy-looking but easy Peppered Pinwheels. Try to avoid messy foods that can drip on friends or rugs.

Many people look for healthier options on a buffet, so treat them to our Black Bean Dip – a colorful and delicious combination of black beans, grated carrots, avocado chunks and green onions in a dressing made of red wine vinegar, olive oil and TABASCO® brand Habanero Sauce.

Serve only dishes you’ve made before and know will turn out well.

Pay attention to taste, color and textures. Balance spicy food with a blander counterpart like cheese; add bright touches of fruits, vegetables or flowers; include a variety of textures from soft to crisp and crunchy.

Serve foods that require little last minute attention, so you can enjoy your own party.

To limit your prep time, consider including prepared foods, such as stuffed grape leaves from your favorite Middle Eastern restaurant or frozen Chinese dumplings you can serve with TABASCO® brand SWEET & Spicy Pepper Sauce.

Merry Mary Punch

Plan on plenty of food, especially for an open house. Assume people will eat seven or eight appetizers and consume at least one drink per person per hour, even more if champagne is served.

Liven things up with a special party cocktail. For something savory, try Merry Mary Punch. Or for something sweet, check out Sassy Peach Champagne Punch. Either way, you’re sure to show guests a good time and actually enjoy yourself as well.

All Holiday Party Recipes