Herb Vinegar

  • 2 cups white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed fresh herb of choice (basil, chives, dill weed, mint, oregano, rosemary or tarragon)
  • Shake vinegar and herb in tightly covered glass jar or bottle. Let stand in cool, dry place 10 days. Strain vinegar. Place 1 sprig of fresh herb in jar to identify if desired. Makes 2 cups vinegar.
  • Berry Vinegar: Substitute 2 cups berries, crushed, for the herb.
  • Garlic Vinegar: Substitute 6 cloves garlic, cut in half, for the herb.
  • Ginger Vinegar: Substitute 1/2 cup chopped peeled gingerroot for the herb.
  • Lemon Vinegar: Substitute peel from 2 lemons for the herb

Memorable Invitations

Set the tone for your party by creating keepsake invitations. Purchase beautiful ornaments and enough gift boxes for the number of invitations you plan to send. To each ornament, attach a note giving the party details. Include date, time, address, phone number, directions and RSVP date (the date by when they let you know whether or not they can attend the party). Also include any recommendations on dress, such as casual, business, semiformal or black tie. Wrap invitations and ornaments carefully in bubble wrap or tissue paper; place in boxes. If possible, deliver invitations in person, or send through the mail. Not only will guests know they are invited to a special holiday party, but they will have an ornament to remember you by each year as they trim the tree!

Bring in the Light

December is the darkest month of the year, but many holiday traditions include a celebration of light. Bathe your home with candles, twinkling lights and lighted holiday decorations. Place floating candles in glass or crystal bowls filled with water. Add even more drama by first placing cranberries and clipped evergreen boughs in the bowls before filling with water.

Wow your guests as you serve dessert on individual glowing plates. Place servings of dessert on plates, attach a metal clip-on candleholder* and candle on edge of each plate. Light candle, and carefully serve each guest.

When using candles, remember to never leave them unattended, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

*These are the types of candleholders that people used years ago to light their Christmas trees. They are available in German import stores and antique stores.

The Party Goes On

As guests leave, give each a wrapped mini-loaf made from one of Betty Crocker's quick bread mixes. They'll have a nice treat for breakfast as they reflect on your generous hospitality. Each box of quick bread mix makes six mini-loaves. These can be baked up to one month ahead of the party. When cool, wrap each loaf tightly in colored plastic wrap; tie with ribbons. Place loaves in resealable plastic bags, and freeze. Shortly before the party begins, remove loaves from freezer and plastic bags. Place loaves in basket and keep near the door so they'll be ready when guests leave for home.

Lighten Up

Create an inviting party atmosphere as guests arrive. Line your driveway with luminaries. Purchase brown paper lunch bags. Fill each about one-third full of sand. Place a glass votive candle holder and candle in sand in each bag to anchor it. Light candles just before guests arrive.

Set the Mood

Pull out any Mexican or Latin American treasures you have. This could include ponchos, sombreros, pottery, blankets, maracas or piñatas. Place these around the party area to create a south-of-the-border atmosphere. String large, colorful old-fashioned Christmas lights around the room to add color. Play holiday music performed by a mariachi band. Set out plenty of poinsettias--Mexico's Christmas flower.

Party Games

Play Charades. If you've never played Charades before, or if it's been awhile since you've played, here's how. Divide your group into two teams. Have each team write titles of books, TV shows, movies or songs on slips of paper. Have each person take turns drawing a slip of paper from the other team. That person acts out the title using gestures as their team members guess what they are acting out. The other team can be the timekeeper and limit each charade to 1 or 2 minutes. The team guessing the most charades correctly wins. If you like, give a small gift to each member of the winning team.

Spread the Cheer

In the spirit of giving, invite guests to each bring a canned food that reminds them of their favorite holiday memory. Ask guests to share their memories with one another. Then donate the canned foods to the local food shelf.

Let the Party Flow

A few weeks before the party, check out your home's layout to figure out how you can best get two dozen people to move about easily in your home. They will likely be moving from the front door to the buffet table and beyond. Can you move some furniture around to make a clear pathway to and from the table? Set up the beverage station away from the buffet table to keep people moving around. To keep people from clustering in one spot, invite a few people to move to other rooms or areas of the house. As a few people move about, more are sure to follow. Keep a few bowls of nuts, mints or other nibbles around the house to let people nibble throughout the evening without having to go back to the buffet table.

Divide and Conquer

This menu allows you to easily make the food ahead of time, but come party time, you may want a good friend or relative to help out. This frees you up a bit to spend time with guests. Have a list of tasks your friend can help you with, such as baking appetizers, refilling buffet table, collecting used dishes and washing dishes.

Check into renting dishes and glasses. You'll find party rentals listed in the Yellow Pages, and the cost may be no more than good-quality disposable dishes. Usually, used dishes can be returned just rinsed. Or if you prefer a more casual get-together, choose from the huge assortment of available paper napkins, plates and plastic cups in coordinating colors and patterns.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Planning ahead helps prevent making too much or too little food. Depending on the length of the party and whether the party replaces a meal, figure out how much food you want to make ahead of time. For a two-hour party, a general rule to follow is about two servings of each appetizer for each guest. Guests will also want to try several types of dessert, so cut the pieces extra-small. As for drinks, offer a wide variety of choices. Guests may drink three, four or more drinks throughout the evening. Take it easy on yourself by letting guests help themselves from a beverage table or bar stocked with glasses, cocktail napkins, ice buckets and chilled or warmed beverages.

Easy Holiday Centerpieces

These are so easy and pretty, your guests will give you more credit than you might deserve!

Grapevine Wreath with Pillar Candle: Place 12-inch grapevine wreath on table. Place 9-inch pillar candle (any color) in center of wreath. Cluster 2 miniature artichokes, 3 bunches red grapes and 5 pinecones on wreath. Add 1 stem fresh bay leaves, cut into 6-inch sections. Weave 1 yard sheer ribbon, 1 inch wide, loosely throughout wreath.

This attractive holiday centerpiece can be easily adapted using items found around the house. Instead of coffee beans and hazelnuts, try some of these items:
  • Tiny Christmas ball ornaments in any color
  • Gilded pinecones and fresh evergreen sprigs
  • Seasonal red and green candies
  • Fresh cranberries
  • Coarse decorating sugar or salt, which will glisten like snow
  • Wrapped candies and ribbon
  • Red and green pistachio nuts
  • Red and green dried pasta in various shapes
Cranberries and Orange Slices in a Vase: Place 1 bag (16 ounces) fresh cranberries in a vase. Fill vase 3/4 full with water. Place orange slices (1/4-inch slices cut from 1 medium orange) in vase between cranberries and side of vase. Arrange bouquet of flowers in vase, keeping flowers shorter, so they don't obstruct the view for guests seated at the table.

Homemade Food Gifts

There is no gift to be purchased anywhere that equals the one that comes from the heart and is made with the hand that unmistakably says, "You are very special." Consider making your choice from these easy food gifts, such as decorated sugar cookies, decadent ice-cream sauces or herb vinegar, for those on your guest list.

Decorated Sugar Cookie Gift Ideas

Display or give scrumptious Cookies on a Stick (below) in little holiday pots to make them even more tempting! Cut pieces of floral foam (available at craft stores) to fit snugly inside flower pots to within 1/2 inch of tops. Glue or tape foam pieces securely in pots. Carefully poke bottoms of sticks into foam. Cover foam with shredded coconut to look like snow. Or wrap cookies individually in colored plastic wrap for gift-giving.

Cookies on a Stick: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with large (6- to 8-inch) cookie cutters. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Carefully insert a wooden stick into bottom of each cookie. Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until edges of cookie are light golden brown. Frost and decorate as desired.

Christmas Trees: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter. Stir a few drops green food color into vanilla frosting; spread baked and cooled cookies with frosting. Sprinkle with colored sugar. Press tiny candies into frosting for tree decorations. To make star for top of tree, flatten large yellow gumdrop by rolling with rolling pin; cut into star shape with sharp knife. Place on cookie.

Snowmen: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with snowman-shaped cookie cutter. Spread baked and cooled cookies with vanilla frosting. To make hat, flatten large black gumdrop by rolling with rolling pin; cut into hat shape with sharp knife. Place on cookie. To make scarf, cut long strip from any red variety Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot® chewy fruit snack roll; cut small slits into ends of scarf with scissors to look like fringe. Place around neck of snowman. Use raisins or candy for eyes, nose and buttons. Attach small unwrapped candy cane to snowman.

Stars: Make cookies as directed for Kids' Favorite Cutout Cookies on 1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix--except cut dough with star-shaped cookie cutter. Spread baked and cooled cookies with frosting; sprinkle heavily with sanding sugar (available at cake supply stores) or colored sugar. Decorate with tiny candies as desired.

Decadent Ice-Cream Sauces

Pour these sauces into pretty jars and tie on a colorful ribbon with the recipe attached to it.

Divinely Decadent Fudge Sauce: Heat 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk, 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups), and 1/2 cup sugar to boiling in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla until mixture is smooth and creamy. Cool about 30 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken. Store covered in refrigerator up to 4 weeks. Sauce becomes firm when refrigerated; heat slightly before serving (sauce will become thin if overheated). 3 cups sauce.

Divinely Decadent Caramel Sauce: Heat 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup butter or margarine, 2 cups whipping (heavy) cream, 1 cup light corn syrup and dash of salt to boiling in heavy 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly; reduce heat slightly. Boil about 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is caramel colored. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool about 30 minutes. Store covered in refrigerator up to 2 months. Reheat slightly before serving if desired. 4 cups sauce.