Our First Christmas Party of the Season

We are hosting a sit down, fancy china Christmas party for about 50 people this weekend. As you are reading this post, I will be very busymaking/baking/creating and maybe even improvising, if necessary! Everything will be made fresh and from scratch, with the finest ingredients; no mixes, no pre-packaged food, etc.

This is our menu:


First Course:
Split Pea Soup
Corn Chowder


Entrees:
Elegant Chicken Cordon Bleu
Apple, Currant and Chestnut Stuffed Pork Loin with Spiced Cider Sauce
Macaroni and Cheese Supreme


Vegetables:
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Puree with Pecan Streusel
Green Beans with Mushrooms
Honey Glazed Carrots


Warm Rolls with butter


Dessert:
Fresh Ginger Cakes with Lemon Butter Sauce and Whipped Creme Fraiche


I am making three of the recipes that I used at Thanksgiving; Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Puree with Pecan Streusel, and Green Beans with Mushrooms. They turned out amazing, this is a totally different crowd, so I'm sticking with three tried and true recipes. That's actually a good idea when you entertain. Make recipes that you have perfected and could make in your sleep, and your guests have loved. Just keep track of who ate what, when, so you don't serve the same meal twice!


Our plan is to serve the soup to our guests sitting at the tables. While our guests are eating their soup course, we will put the finishing touches on the 3-table buffet area; taking the food out of the ovens, adding garnishes, etc. When the food is in place, the guests will dish up their plates from both sides of the tables. Hopefully all of this will happen simultaneously. I will be happy when every one has filled their plates and are enjoying their dinner.

While everyone is eating their meal, we will be plating the dessert plate; a smear of lemon butter sauce on the plate, topped with a warm individual ginger cake, with a spoonful of whipped creme fraiche on the side.


I have got to run! I have mirepoix to chop, meat to fillet and stuff, cheese to grate, potatoes to peel, beans to blanch, mushrooms to chop, sauce to make and cakes to bake!