Felicity Cloake's 60-Minute Party Plan: Simple Hosting for Last-Minute Company

Throughout this holiday season, while there's plenty happening that the most energetic people may occasionally anticipate a calm break of January, it's very easy to neglect things. I expect I cannot be the only one who has once been surprised back to reality while at my desk because of an inquiry from a friend asking, "What time should we come us later?" Don't worry; if you're distracted, or simply likely to make spontaneous plans, I've got you covered.

The Secret to Successful Parties

First and foremost, and I cannot stress this enough, whether you've been planning long in advance or only 15 minutes, the most enjoyable parties tend to be the simplest. All everyone expects are pleasant conversation, something to drink, plus enough food so they don't feel like gnawing an arm off on the bus home. Unless you're Jay Gatsby, no one expects professional bartending, fancy food and a live band.

The best parties are the easiest. That said, a concept helps to cover up the fact you've just thrown this thing on while coming back from the office.

Selecting a Theme to Direct Your Shopping

Nevertheless, a theme works well for disguising that you have only thrown this thing together while returning after work. By concept, think of something like Christmas. Getting slightly more specific (Nordic holidays, for instance, featuring spiced drink, aromatic cocktail, fish snacks and crispbreads, Nordic beats selection; or Latin American celebration, including ponche navideño, chilled brews or cocktails, and lots of snacks, spicy sauce & guacamole, and Luis Miguel playing) will focus your choices on the inevitable shopping trip.

Smart Shopping to Support The Party

In the store, select one or two beverages (an alcoholic option for those who do, one not in case others don't want to) and a couple of snacks suited to your concept, and buy as many within your budget, rather than worrying about providing too much choice. No thing appears as generous and as festive as a bounty – I would consistently prefer to be welcomed by a container stocked with cold bottles of affordable sparkling wine over a small serving of swanky bubbly. (Add some bags of ice, too; you'll find never sufficient ice.)

Drinks & Punch Simplified

Should you show off and provide a special beverage, then prepare ahead a big quantity in a container so that you aren't stuck faffing around with it while it's time to having fun. After starting, request a close friend or volunteer to watch it then replenish if required till it's gone. Follow suit for the soft drink; guests love to take on a role at a party so they may experience a share of goodwill.

Regarding punch, whatever recipe you pick (they abound on the internet), skip anything overly sugary – children there ought to have their own drinks – and should you own one, put aromatic bitters within reach (don't add them in the mix as they are inappropriate for individuals abstaining from alcohol altogether). Take care with how it looks so the soft punch doesn't seem like an afterthought; just spend a minute to cut several pieces of lemon or orange for garnish.

Food That Shine With Minimal Effort

For me, I recommend passing on the pre-made assortments with "party foods" that pop up at grocery stores at this time of year; they feel fancy, and often involve using the oven (if you must opt for these, remember that everyone quietly prefers toasted bread or cocktail sausages anyway). I'm convinced it's hard to top a couple of sizable containers with decent chips (plain salted pleases everyone), and, assuming no allergies, some of those great-value bags with nuts available in the South Asian section in stores, and maybe some pitted olives for colour (try not to discover pits in your pot plants months later).

In case, like my mum, you don't consider snacks substantial fare, a single sizeable chunk of tasty cheese on a board with crackers and some elegantly arranged grapes always looks painterly. A plate with some salted or prepared salami or salmon displayed on it (only one type, unless you're wealthy), alternatively a handsome ready-made tart, of the type available at delis seasonally, proves more satisfying, and you truly won't fail with rustic pieces of focaccia, since there's no need for buttering.

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