#ad I have received products from Matthews 1812 House in return for a review, but all recipes and opinions are my own.
The season of sharing…
I love to entertain and have friends over.
But I will admit, we don’t do it often enough.
We always seem to have a reason why not.
Not enough time.
The house isn’t clean.
Too tired to cook.
This year, we made the effort to have more friends
and family over for smaller occasions.
I call it “Entertaining with Ease.”
I am sharing one of my
Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas…
a 10-Minute Mini Buffet.
I am participating in the
Celebrations of Home Monthly Blog Hop.
This month, naturally, is all about Christmas.
Please make sure you follow to the end as I will
be sharing links to all of the blogs participating this month.
Our walls are decked and our stockings are hung…
so now we can relax and have friends and family over
to enjoy the season with.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
We used to have one large Christmas party each year.
I would cook and prepare for days and days, stressing
myself out to no end.
Finally after a few years, we decided it was too much and to
be honest – it just wasn’t that fun.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
So we divided the guest list, lightened the menu…and
made our parties smaller and more intimate.
Also, I am not ashamed to say – I prepare only a
few of the items on the menu myself.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
Even the ones I do prepare are simple and easy.
Like Pancetta-Wrapped Mozzarella.
I always try to have at least two savory and two sweet dishes.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
I will share my recipe for my Tapenade Olive Cheese Ball
later this week. I am serving it with these fabulous
Rosemary-Olive Oil Savories from Matthews 1812 House.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
As with most things, display can make a dish.
These Marinated Mozzarella Balls I picked up at the deli
look more festive laying on a bed of fresh rosemary.

Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas | The Everyday Home
I know “fruitcake” isn’t a favorite with everyone, but I just
need to tell you that these mini Fruitcake Bites from
Matthews 1812 House will totally change your mind.
They are filled with lovely dried fruits which have been
marinated in brandy. I love that they are bite-sized
and best of all, not messy.
Finally – the piece de resistance ….
This sumptuous and mouth-watering
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Tart from Matthews 1812 House.
Yes. It is as yummy as it looks.
“..laced with Kentucky bourbon, topped with a layer
of pecans and finished with caramel bourbon sauce.”
It was all we could do to wait for the party and not cut into
it as soon as it arrived at our door.
😀
I always offer an assortment of red and white wines…
– as well as, some non-alcoholic beverages, too.
I used one of the centerpieces that sits on
our kitchen island for Christmas…
a rosemary topiary planted in a white, ironstone tureen.
The base is surrounded by festive balls
and bells and lots of snow.
To keep things easy, I pulled out some of my vintage
pink and white salad plates. These can be easily washed
and placed back in the hutch. They go beautifully
with the traditional plaid napkins.
And that’s it.
Nothing extremely fancy.
Light the candles, turn on the music, open the wine to breath.
Our friends were happy to see us and we them.
It didn’t matter that I had not worked in the kitchen
preparing homemade dishes all day. All that mattered was
we were able to spend time together – enjoying the Christmas
season, and remembering what the important things in life are.
It’s Christmas.
Take time to enjoy the season a little more.
Thank you for letting me share some of my
Easy Christmas Entertaining Ideas with you.
Perfect for “Busy Girls” like you!
xxoo, Barb
Did you happen to catch these other easy other “Busy Girls”
Christmas ideas from The Everyday Home last week?
Chocolate Covered Peppermint Oreos | Easy DIY 3-Step Wreath
Thank you to Matthews 1812 House for sharing some
of their fabulous gourmet items with me.
Please make sure you pay a visit to
“We offer handmade specialty treats made in small batches with high quality
ingredients. We are proud to be family owned and operated since 1979.
You’ll taste the quality in every bite.”
I love that this is a small, family run and owned business
for 35 years, started in the kitchen of an 1812 Farmhouse in
Cornwall, Connecticut. You will love their selection of
gourmet foods – both sweet and savory – for any
holiday or occasion.
They make “Busy Girls Entertaining” even easier.
Find them on:
Matthews 1812 House is offering The Everyday Home
fans a $50 Gift Certificate to help you with your
Christmas Entertaining needs.
Simply enter to win in the Rafflecopter below.
Do you follow me on Pinterest?
I would love it if you would share these images on your
on your Social Media sites…
{simply scroll over the top left corner and click on the social media icon of your choosing}
Now, please make sure you visit all of these ladies
and see what they are sharing for the
Celebrations of Home: Christmas Blog Hop
Thank you for spending a few
minutes of your day here with me.
You can follow along with
The Everyday Home here….
xxoo, Barb
Here are some of the Link Parties I may be sharing this post with.
You can find more parties on my Linky Party Page.
Wow, that chocolate bourbon pecan torte would have to be on the list ! A glorious giveaway, thank you !!
View CommentWhat a beautiful post. Love all the ideas you shared…especially the mozzarella balls! Going to use that one this year!
View CommentYour spread looks beautiful. . . and I love the idea of a few high-quality prepared items. I LOVE to make Christmas goodies, but you’re right–sometimes making all the goodies makes the hostess too tired to enjoy the party! Thanks for the introduction to Matthews 1812 House–I’ll check them out!
View CommentI forgot to say what I’d get if I won. . . I might have to try that Bourbon Pecan torte–but I’m also a sucker for marzipan, so I might go with those marzipan chocolates!
View CommentGorgeous post! Not sure what looks more delish – the photos or the sumptuous goodies in them! I’m going to go with the pecan tart, because… y’know… bourbon… 😉
View CommentWow everything looks so delicious!!! I am coming to your house for Christmas!
View CommentEverything looks wonderful Barb…especially that tart 🙂
View CommentWhat a beautiful blog! Everything looks wonderful! I agree with you about the large Christmas gatherings each year — that sounds like me. Your idea of doing a few small ones sounds great.
View CommentI am with you on this Barb – small intimate groups with little preparation. However everything looks like you spent hours on it – such a delicious looking and sounding buffet. I would love to try those mini fruitcakes. Thank you for introducing us to Matthews 1812 House. Cathy
View CommentEverything looks so yummy and so festive, Barb! I am with you on diving right into that cake! Have a great week!…hugs…Debbie
View CommentThat looks like a fabulous menu for a festive party – I, too, make several cheese balls at Christmas, as well as cookies and fudge. A crockpot full of meatballs is easy as are little biscuit covered mini cocktail franks or sausages. No point in spending the whole day or evening in the kitchen. I sometimes wrap an asparagus spear in thinly sliced ham and serve cold.
Thanks for sharing all your ideas and your beautiful home.
View CommentThe apple crumble torte looks amazing. I can’t make up my mind, there is so many things that look awesome
View CommentThe food looks wonderful! Yum, I wish I could have some of the cake!
View CommentThe chocolate bourbon pecan tart..oh my.
View CommentThe butter cookies look lovely too.
Beautiful table & delicious food makes for a wonderful party. I love cheese balls! Anxious to entertain using all your ideas & recipes.
View Commentgreat ideas for get togethers at the holidays…thanks
View Comment