Christmas Wrapped

When it comes to hosting a party, you can never have too much ice. The typical mid-party ice run means spending money on something you can make better for free. And who wants to leave their own party in the middle of all the fun?

Fill your freezer with as much ice as you can fit in there. But remember ice can do more than just keep a drink cold. It can be pretty. It can be a conversation starter. It can be fun!

In addition to using creative ice trays, like this one that makes ice kebabs, there are a few simple things you can do to make your ice gorgeous.

~ Make Clear Ice
Homemade ice is usually cloudy. To make ice crystal clear, use distilled water and boil it before putting it in the tray. Make small, clear cubes and it is like chilling your drinks with diamonds.

~ Make Flavored Ice
Choose flavors that will compliment the beverages being served. Then, make flavored ice cubes by using two tablespoons flavored syrup for every cup of water. As the ice melts, a subtle flavor will be added to the drinks rather than watering them down. For instance, lemon ice cubes would compliment iced tea or a gin and tonic, while cherry ice cubes would compliment a cola or bourbon.

~ Make Special Ice
After filling your tray with water, add berries, edible flowers or mint leaves so they’ll be suspended in the ice. Get creative! This is a chance to make an edible garnish that will make your drinks stand out.

~ Make Ice That Doesn’t Pick Up Unwanted Flavors
Keep the ice safe from being the other things in the freezer by storing it in a covered container.

I’m always surprised by how busy the holiday season is. We keep things simple at my house, so it’s not as if I have lots of baking to do or guests to host. Even so, I’m starting to feel the time crunch.

Last year, my neighbor introduced me to a wonderful way to share the holidays with a large group of friends and family with very little stress: the holiday open house. She invited guests to drop by any time between 4pm and 9pm and asked everyone to bring along a plate of their favorite appetizers or desserts. All she had to do was tidy up the house, turn on the music, and set out some egg nog and a few paper plates and cups. After that, she sat back and enjoyed the steady stream of guests, and her party practically ran itself.

We all had a wonderful time. Families with young kids could come early, eat a few bites, then cut out without feeling like they were offending anyone. Neighbors got reacquainted without the pressure of having to carry on dinner-length conversations. Even the busiest of friends could drop by for a few minutes. Everyone enjoyed sampling the wide array of goodies (the dining room table was laden with delicious contributions), and, best of all, the hosts were relaxed…the key to a fun party.

At the end of the open house, a few hangers-on helped clean up, and everything was washed and put away by 10:30pm. Lots of fun and celebration for very little effort and time.

So, if you’re hankering to host a party but don’t have the time or wherewithal to throw a full-scale holiday event, consider an open house. Let your guests help you celebrate, and everyone will have a great time.