I have suddenly found myself in the position where I am hosting up to 17 people for Christmas. I read somewhere that the key to a successful party is hospitality so I am looking to create a buffet meal that I can prepare the day before.

Deck the halls, I am looking for any advice that has helped you make you Christmas party pleasurable for the hostess and her guests.

Yes, it was called catering.... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

lucky

Loy,
When I hosted Christmas dinner I always made Lasagna the day before and just baked it Christmas morning - then had bread and tossed salad. I don't know if that is what you are looking for but it was always nice to just have to pop it in the oven.

How about stuffed pork tenderloin, delish, easy, and you can prepare it the day before, just throw it in the ovenan hour before and you have the stuffing and the meat.

It's also BEAUTIFUL, bonus.

PS - always made the lasagna meatless and made meatballs and sausage for the meat lovers.

Jelly - Do you have the recipe? That sounds yummy!

why yes I do, I will go dig it up for you B. I also do a delish carmelized onion pork tenderloin, YUM

me too! Those sound great, Jel. yum!

Loy, what were you planning on serving? If you have a Costco or Sam's club near you they have some dishes you can just pop into the oven and are quite good!

Stuffed pork tenderloin


1pork tenderloin (1 pound)
1/2 C chopped onion
2 T butter
1 C soft bread crumbs
1/4 C minced fresh parsley
1/4 t rubbed sage
1/4 t dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 bacon strip

Make a lengthwise slit about three-fourths of the way through the PTL, open PTL so it lies flat. Flatten to 1/4 in. thickness, set aside

In a small skillet, sauté onion in butter until tender. Add bread crumbs, sauté until crumbs are golden brown. remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, sage, rosemary, salt, pepper and enough egg to moisten the ingredients

Spread stuffing on one long side of PTL to within 1/4 in. of edges. Close meat and place bacon on top, tie with kitchen string. Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, bake, uncovered at 350, for 50-60 min. Let stand for 5 min. before slicing.

Ok here is some help . I often give parties for up to 300 people. I bought a cooked ham from Walmart -spiral cut and a smoked already cooked turky from there as well. Heat them up in oven and bingo meat is ready. Now day ahead you can make potatoe salad, macaronie salad. ect. I made 2 cakes day ahead, crackers, cheese, chips dip, veggie trays -buy them already cut up, with a dip. Olives, ect. I did hot rolls from oven -buy them fozen and only take 15-20 minutes in oven. Have cranberry sauce out ect. I have also had lasgane but alot of work prep time. You would need tow big pans for that amount of people. Buy cheese cake ect. It will look very festive. Put some red clowers out with greenery. Bingo christmas.

Do you have a cuisinart? if so,
scallopped potatoes

grease an oblong baking dish (spray is fine)
any kind of potatoes, unpeeled but washed and scrubbed and eyes removed
flour
grated cheese
chopped onions (about 1 cup)
milk
oleo or butter
salt & pepper

No exact measurements. Just slip the potatoes through the cuisinart, using the blade that cuts them the thinnest. Spread a layer about 1/2 inch think on bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle flour (using a sifter or tapping the flour through a tea strainer) over the bottom layer. Slice oleo,Sprinkle grated cheese, salt, pepper, and the onions over this. Pour milk until it comes up to the level of the potatoes. Spread another layer of potatoes, repeat until you get to the top of the baking dish. On the top layer, spray butter flavored cooking spray over the final layer of grated cheese. Bake 350 for an hour.

If you assemble the day before you can cook it in the morning. Guests can slice & serve themselves.

sausage bread is always a favorite here...and its good as it cools also on a buffet.

a beautiful antipaste platter us always good. good breads and flavored oils and spreads. fried turkey if you can...cooks much quicker. a sliced ham is always easy. some kind of roast...like a prim rib is also a good one...i have a killer recipe for pasta in vodka sauce....let me know if i can help...i do this kind of catering often.