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[thundering_m]

I'm contemplating hosting a Christmas cocktail party ...
It will be a pain to host, but it'll give me at least one night's respite from having to put some fake smile on my face...would you go to new colleague's place for a cocktail party...

I think I follow your logic, Prof. Smartypants, and have even used a similar strategy when Bombastic Thundercloud Family Member is around. However, I'm pretty careful who I throw into the conversation as fresh meat to distract the beast from devouring me. Also, the short term respite from concentrated unwelcome attention could cost a long term impression of you by your colleagues of being long-suffering and self-centered. It's not like they want to put on a fake smile, either. I'm just saying.

[biomancer]

LuvsToWrite, I second Barred_Owl's recommendation.  Your visit will most likely make much more of a difference for the older person.

[prof_smartypants]

I'm contemplating hosting a Christmas cocktail party ...
It will be a pain to host, but it'll give me at least one night's respite from having to put some fake smile on my face...would you go to new colleague's place for a cocktail party...

I think I follow your logic, Prof. Smartypants, and have even used a similar strategy when Bombastic Thundercloud Family Member is around. However, I'm pretty careful who I throw into the conversation as fresh meat to distract the beast from devouring me. Also, the short term respite from concentrated unwelcome attention could cost a long term impression of you by your colleagues of being long-suffering and self-centered. It's not like they want to put on a fake smile, either. I'm just saying.

Ah. Very good point. My in-laws are typically much more well-behaved in group settings. People actually like them when they meet them at parties. It's when they're alone with us that they get mean. But I will keep that in mind. I certainly don't want to alienate new colleagues!

[kedves]

What do y'all think - would you go to new colleague's place for a cocktail party two days before Christmas?

I theoretically would, but I am almost always out of town by the 23rd to head to my parents for Christmas. With academic schedules, I assume the travelers (which may be a significant portion, I don't know) will be gone.

Same here--I would love to do it earlier in the month but would be out of town by then, or if not, in a flurry to get ready for travel.

Can you treat yourself to a special novel or some other goody during the visit?  You can think secret thoughts about later re-gifting.  Secret thoughts get me through a lot of things.

[msparticularity]

Yes, that's what I usually do-the hand mixer route. I hadn't thought of using the big stand mixer with batches. Lately, I have  been making smaller batches for myself using Yukon Gold potatoes and the ricer, mixed with warmed up cream, butter-little olive oil on top...Was wondering about going that route for the large crowd. Saw a giant ricer, which I must confess I bought-but not sure about trying to rice that many potatoes from the giant pot. Also when I make small batches, after I drain the potatoes, I put them back into the empty hot pot to dry a little before ricing, but with the giant pile, they are a little wet still. Thanks, Biomancer for that vote to stick with the usual big pot and hand mixer. I always wonder if there are better ways of doing this dinner. Over the years, I have bought more peelers so more people can be roped into peeling with a nice gadget.

You peel your potatoes? I use red, and just mash them right in. I like the increased lumpiness/texture and flavor that way, and they are way more nutritious, also.

[skinnymargarita]

What about all those make-ahead recipes? I vote for that.

[collegekidsmom]

Yes, anything make-ahead is a real plus. I have tried a couple of good make-ahead potato recipes but they just haven't been as good as the fresh-mashed fluffy type.
I do leave the peels on when I make my own mashed potatoes for myself and family, but I do peel them for that white fluffy Thanksgiving rendition that all relatives seem to really like. It seems that the best are the kind that are all white, fluffy, have that giant wad of butter on top, and then they make a well for gravy. I can't deviate too much. It is interesting that they all rave about the sameness of it all. I make those little cornsticks with buttermilk in the cast iron molds. One year I just left those out, and the kids were looking all around. "Where are the corn sticks. Those are my favorite..."

Thanks for all the suggestions. On update, I did enthusiastically invite the elderly sickly relative. She enthusiastically accepted even though she has recently fallen and had surgery. She then called back and said she really would love to come but wouldn't feel up to it. So, that is best for all concerned. Thanks to those who suggested that I should invite her even though it makes things so much more difficult and stressful. In the end she was happy to be invited but just can't come.

[skinnymargarita]

Yes, anything make-ahead is a real plus. I have tried a couple of good make-ahead potato recipes but they just haven't been as good as the fresh-mashed fluffy type.
I do leave the peels on when I make my own mashed potatoes for myself and family, but I do peel them for that white fluffy Thanksgiving rendition that all relatives seem to really like. It seems that the best are the kind that are all white, fluffy, have that giant wad of butter on top, and then they make a well for gravy. I can't deviate too much. It is interesting that they all rave about the sameness of it all. I make those little cornsticks with buttermilk in the cast iron molds. One year I just left those out, and the kids were looking all around. "Where are the corn sticks. Those are my favorite..."

Thanks for all the suggestions. On update, I did enthusiastically invite the elderly sickly relative. She enthusiastically accepted even though she has recently fallen and had surgery. She then called back and said she really would love to come but wouldn't feel up to it. So, that is best for all concerned. Thanks to those who suggested that I should invite her even though it makes things so much more difficult and stressful. In the end she was happy to be invited but just can't come.

I love the cornstick idea. The frozen mashed potatoes have to be made with a cup of sour cream and a block of cream cheese - no milk. Otherwise they will be runny. Oh - and add a dash of parmesean for flavor.

Maybe you could plate up a dinner to take over to the relative, since she can't make it? Anyway, have fun!

[collegekidsmom]

About that party on the 23rd-I have noticed that fewer people are having those drop-in open house kinds of parties around the holidays. Maybe it's the economy, maybe people are just too busy, but where once there were a lot of competing things going on, now I would like to go to a party on the 23rd. Also, could be my age, or the fact that I declined so many invitations when I had small kids, or didn't reciprocate well for same reasons. So, I think there are people out there for smaller gatherings around the holidays.

Also wondering whether anyone has a good main dish that's vegan to go alongside the turkey for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Please, no Tofurkey with its evocative shape. It could be a smallish main dish casserole that's kind of festive, or has nice colors.

[biomancer]

About that party on the 23rd-I have noticed that fewer people are having those drop-in open house kinds of parties around the holidays. Maybe it's the economy, maybe people are just too busy, but where once there were a lot of competing things going on, now I would like to go to a party on the 23rd. Also, could be my age, or the fact that I declined so many invitations when I had small kids, or didn't reciprocate well for same reasons. So, I think there are people out there for smaller gatherings around the holidays.

Also wondering whether anyone has a good main dish that's vegan to go alongside the turkey for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Please, no Tofurkey with its evocative shape. It could be a smallish main dish casserole that's kind of festive, or has nice colors.

This is a side dish, but maybe someone can come up with a way to pump it up to a main dish - I suppose more vegetables could be added?

Wild rice and cranberry pilaf:

1 cup wild rice
3 cups vegetable broth
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 pinch ground sage
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Put it all in rice cooker, or boil on the stove with frequent stirring, until the liquid is absorbed.

[secretweapon]

Also wondering whether anyone has a good main dish that's vegan to go alongside the turkey for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Please, no Tofurkey with its evocative shape. It could be a smallish main dish casserole that's kind of festive, or has nice colors.

This is a side dish, but maybe someone can come up with a way to pump it up to a main dish - I suppose more vegetables could be added?

Wild rice and cranberry pilaf:

1 cup wild rice
3 cups vegetable broth
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 pinch ground sage
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Put it all in rice cooker, or boil on the stove with frequent stirring, until the liquid is absorbed.

You could throw in a handful of toasted nuts, I think - walnuts are usually nice with cranberries.

About that party on the 23rd-I have noticed that fewer people are having those drop-in open house kinds of parties around the holidays. Maybe it's the economy, maybe people are just too busy, but where once there were a lot of competing things going on, now I would like to go to a party on the 23rd. Also, could be my age, or the fact that I declined so many invitations when I had small kids, or didn't reciprocate well for same reasons. So, I think there are people out there for smaller gatherings around the holidays.

I'd love to be invited to a party, at anytime.  My friends are so spread out and we all travel to families in other places.  I don't know when I've ever been invited to a Christmas cocktail party.

[collegekidsmom]

Thanks for the recipe ideas, and for letting me know that there are others in the mood for a Christmas cocktail party. I was thinking of the drop-in kind-lots of small food, holiday drinks, hanging around talking, music. I guess the only way to get to go to a party might be to give one! Often, that seems overwhelming-but if expectations were not too high, maybe it's a place to start.

[prof_smartypants]

Thanks for the recipe ideas, and for letting me know that there are others in the mood for a Christmas cocktail party. I was thinking of the drop-in kind-lots of small food, holiday drinks, hanging around talking, music. I guess the only way to get to go to a party might be to give one! Often, that seems overwhelming-but if expectations were not too high, maybe it's a place to start.

This is exactly what I have in mind, with an optional Yankee Swap thrown in just in case it gets boring.

[marigolds]

Thanks for the recipe ideas, and for letting me know that there are others in the mood for a Christmas cocktail party. I was thinking of the drop-in kind-lots of small food, holiday drinks, hanging around talking, music. I guess the only way to get to go to a party might be to give one! Often, that seems overwhelming-but if expectations were not too high, maybe it's a place to start.

This is exactly what I have in mind, with an optional Yankee Swap thrown in just in case it gets boring.

I would completely come to your party. 

[prof_smartypants]

Thanks for the recipe ideas, and for letting me know that there are others in the mood for a Christmas cocktail party. I was thinking of the drop-in kind-lots of small food, holiday drinks, hanging around talking, music. I guess the only way to get to go to a party might be to give one! Often, that seems overwhelming-but if expectations were not too high, maybe it's a place to start.

This is exactly what I have in mind, with an optional Yankee Swap thrown in just in case it gets boring.

Yay! I'm doing it. And I'll just make sure that hubby and I are entertaining enough to make up for the presence of my in-laws (we're wicked entertaining, but that's a lot of ground to make up for...)

I would completely come to your party.