Sounds like a great party, and if you hold it on the 26th, it becomes a Boxing day party, right?

My thought would be lots of finger food, along with maybe a ham or a roast that could serve as a main protein, but could still be sliced small enough to put on small plates...

My only recipe contribution is one of the few appetizers I can make that are always a huge hit, in addition to being super easy... Take a bunch of mushroom caps, spritz or rub with olive oil, fill the caps with Boursin herbed spreadable cheese, and bake at 374 for 15 or 20 minutes until the cheese is browned. SO good!

Have fun!
Emily

I think your soup idea would work well, because it would provide a hot item that would hold easily in crockpots for the duration of the party.

Let me know if you need some soup ideas. I have done an annual soup party for the last 6 years or so, so I have lots of T&T soup recipes!

Linda

Fearlessem, thanks for the mushroom recipe. I'll try that.
Doucanoe, thanks for offering soup recipes - not sure I know what "T&T" stands for, though. Do you have a recipe for something vegetarian?

T&T stands for "tried & true" meaning the recipe is one which is known to be a winner!

Like Linda I have had several soup parties and they are always well received.

Choose 3 or 4 soups, hold then in crock pots and have lots of neat toppings on the side. If you want to do this I guarantee you this forum will give you so many recipes you will have a hard time choosing.

Following on Em's suggestion a selection of mini sandwiches works well. The last time I did this I provided big baskets with sliced mini croissants, mini bagels, small rye buns and regular buns and platters/bowls of various fillings.

I had platters of corned beef, sliced ham and salamis, smoked salmon, bowls of cream cheese, egg salad, crab salad.

At the end of the counter I had, lettuce leaves, cheese slices, roasted red peppers, several mustards, mayo etc.

It was a real hit. Everyone just assembled their little mini sandwiches the way they wanted them.

Ooops forgot! What university did your daughter attend? I'm a Toronto girl born and bred now I live in Oakville just outside Toronto.

Hope her experience in TO was a good one!

Thanks for all these lovely ideas. I really like the mini-sandwich idea. I'll search the site for soup recipes, too. Oh, and my daughter is at Ryerson U. She's a performance dance major in the theatre school. She LOVES Toronto!

dancing don't bother to search the site......really if you would like soup recipes just ask, if there is a certain type you have in mind, just ask......... trying to decide on which will be the problem!

Glad to hear she loves Toronto, it's a pretty nifty city. Ryerson is a fabulous University, very well acclaimed in the arts. Be careful though, Toronto is second only to New York City for live theater in North America, she may never come home!

Yes, I have several vegetarian soup recipes. My daughter-in-law is vegetarian so every year I make sure there is at least one vegetarian soup at our party for her.

Here is a list of some I have served in the past. I'd be happy to share the recipes if any of them appeal to you. I have starred the vegetarian selections.

Baked Potato Soup
Cajun Shrimp Soup
Lasagna Soup
Cannellini Minstrone**
Fantastic Black Bean Chili
Butternut Squash Bisque**
Crab & Corn Chowder
Sour Cream Mushroom Soup**
Hearty Pork Stew
Minnesota Wild Rice Soup (could leave out chicken for veg)
Great Lakes Salmon Chowder
Italian Wedding Soup
Sherried Mushroom Brie Soup**
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup**
Tomato Bisque with Tortellini**
Turkey Spaetzle Soup
Winter Tomato Soup**

Another idea for mini sandwiches... My sister always makes mini cream puffs and fills them with chicken salad. They are always the first thing to go at parties! Again, I can post a recipe if you'd like it.

Linda

I would do the Tea stuff at 4.....and remove that more toward cocktail hour and add cocktail nibbles..
Keep a big pot of soup or 2 on the stove on low all afternoon and evening so when anyone wants it it's there....but keep changing the hors d'ouvres kind of things.
But remember....enjoy your party....don't spent the whole time in the kitchen prepping a relay of lovely dishes.
Linda C

Linda, since you're sharing, I'd be very interested in your Lasagna Soup and Hearty Pork Stew. It's soup weather around here!

Claire, the Lasagna Soup is Marilyn's and it is aweome! Here are both recipes.

Lasagna Soup

1 pound ground beef (sirloin or chuck)
1 large onion; chopped
5 cloves garlic; minced
4 cups beef broth
15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can CampbellÂs tomato soup
1 teaspoon dried basil
4 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 cup mafalda pasta (mini lasagna noodles)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions and continue to cook until onions are tender, stir in garlic and sauté for another minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, soup and basil; bring to a simmer and cook covered for 30 minutes to blend flavors. Meanwhile cook pasta until al dente, drain and toss with olive oil. Add spinach and pasta to the soup and simmer uncovered until spinach wilts, 1 or 2 minutes. Taste soup and season with salt and pepper.

To serve, place 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese in the bottom of bowl and ladle hot soup on top to melt cheese. Garnish top with parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Serves 4 generously.

Hearty Pork Stew with Squash
Source: PenzeyÂs One 2/09

1-1/2 lb boneless pork loin roast, trimmed and cubed
(I used boneless chops)
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4" slices
1 medium onion, chopped
2 c peeld parsnips, cubed
1-1/2 c butternut squash, peeled & cubed
4 c chicken broth
1 T fresh sage or 1 tsp dried
2 tsp fresh thyme or 3/4 tsp dried
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 T flour
3 T butter, softened

In 4-5 quart slow cooker, mix the pork and remaining ingredients except flour and butter. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours. OR... place in a covered pot in the oven at 350F for 2 hours.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour and butter. Gradually stir into stew until blended. Increase setting to high or return to oven. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally until thickened.
6 servings

Linda

Sorry I'm responding a bit late - work got in the way of planning my party! Anyway, I'm going to blend your ideas together, bake stuff for tea, make appetizers to serve a bit after the tea stuff, and make several soups. This will give me a great opportunity to test out my new induction range to see how well it keeps soups at just the right temperature with no/minimal attention from me. Then I'll leave my kitchen to my guests to explore and hopefully "ooh and aahh" over all my lovely new cabinets, maple/black cherry counter tops etc while I mingle :) Thanks for all your help and advice. Love this site! Happy holidays to everyone.

would you please share your recipe for ..tomato bisque with tortellini.. sounds like a great soup for the winter loong and cold days in sw pa. thank you!