Bah Humbug Dining 101

ok little hags, you next lesson to surviving the holidays is "the buffet"! now before i go any further, don't just click off my blog--give me a chance to help you! you have all been brainwashed into elegant dinners from the commercials and hollywood movies!! it's groovy to be martha and rachel but you DON'T have to be!! it's not a lifetime requirement!!
my trick is to set up an elegant but SIMPLE and CHEAP buffet style dinner. see, at Christmas i have 50 plus people descend like the plague at our home on Christmas Eve. these people are family, not total strangers. although i believe that strangers would be less bossy! so after all of the cleaning,setting up tables, and wrapping gifts (not to mention getting ready for Santa's late nite arrival.) the last thing i want to do is set a formal table,oops, correction 8 formal tables. so, in the weeks beforehand i hit the sales on paper plates that are cute and Christmassy oh, and CHEAP!! also, napkins, big plastic cups and plastic silverware. (note: do not go CHEAP on the plastic silver ware, it will break. been there done that) i even have cute plastic oil clothes for all of the tables. (now as i mentioned in the previous blog, i have little magic tricks i use to prepare the meals and i will continue to tell you allll about them in another blog! the buffet is an art unto itself!! lol) in the kitchen i clean off the counters and begin a serving line based on my own kitchen layout. you will have your own too! i have an area just for drinks complete with ice,cups etc..,then we move on to the plates,napkins and silverware. (tip:use cute holiday mugs or just cups to keep the silverware in place!!) next, will be finger foods, then salads,then hot stuff & main course! candies and deserts can be place on each table if you want or just make it the next stop on the buffet train!
be sure to start this nite with a clean dishwasher (if you have one.) so you can just pop the "must be washed" dishes right in! also, invest in a large trash can that you can keep right there in the kitchen or where you diners are eating-they just pitch those plates etc. right in it when they are done! ok, ok, for all of you "greenies" out there- you can use washable plates and silverware IF you have a enough and it is not a burden on your family or self! remember, i am not a festive holiday sort of gal,although i want people to think that i am, so the less i have to do the better!! this works for me for Hanukkah and yule too! i have dinners to celebrate them too-only on a smaller scale!
my little hags,be blessed and enjoy your family!!