Saturday we had guests over for a smorgasbord. I'm always interested in knowing how people pull off a party, and maybe you are too, so I'll share what went on behind the scenes for this party. This is our gourmet group and everyone pitches in. It's very nice that everyone brings a dish which helps the hostess out tremendously! The hostess picks a theme, finds the recipes and sends them out. The hosts are in charge of the main course and any other dishes they choose to do. Because a smorgasbord has a large variety of food, I also did a few of the salads and the desserts. I purchased the smoked turkey from our local German butcher and roasted the pork earlier in the day, cooled and sliced and then reheated just befre we served dinner. The entire dinner was served buffet style at the kitchen table. My idea was to recreate the memorable Christmas Eve smorgasbords at my Swedish Nana's (Valborg) and Norwegian Papa's (Rangwald) home. They lived on an egg ranch in southern California, just a few miles from my childhood home. I visited my grandparents often and ate there often but nothing compared to the spectacular Julebord (Christmas table) my Nana would produce on Christmas Eve. The centerpiece was a smoked turkey sent from friends from Wisconsin, also a big ham, plus dozens of smaller dishes of salads, sauces and breads. I loved picking a little bit of this, a little bit of that. I still love a big buffet and it's my favorite way to entertain. For inspiration I asked my cousins what favorite dishes they remembered from our childhood Christmas Eves and this was my attempt to recreate those wonderful Julebords of my youth! "Skol" dearest Nana and Papa. To have such wonderful memories is a blessing I'll always treasure.
Julebord Menu with links
Gravlax with Mustard Sauce
Caviar
with Sweet Potato Chips
Fresh
Vegetables with Nana’s Beau Monde Dill Dip
Pickled Herring, Black Olives
Deviled
Eggs
Smoked
Turkey with Lingonberry Sauce
Assorted
Christmas cookies and chocolates
And a bit more info: We needed to sit 12 around my table that seats only 8. Years ago we bought a big piece of plywood and had it cut to 4'x8'. We store it in the garage and pop it on top the table when we want to squeeze in 12 (barely). Because it's tight we cannot fit our dining room chairs around so I have to replace with wood folding chairs. I know they are not too comfy but my kind guests never say a peep. The napkins, tablecloth, dinner plates and stems are from Cost Plus. It kills me to use inexpensive things in place of the lovely linens and stems I own, but I wanted a look that was Scandinavian 'spare' and wanted it all to match and love this clean look. The tea lights are from Pottery Barn, I love low candle light. The faux pomegranates and trees are also from Pottery Barn purchased a few years ago.
Aquavit and glogg are more traditional Scandinavian drinks, but we don't like either so we went for a choice of champagne, Cabernet, Chardonnay, beer and a few single malt scotches. We set up a small appetizer station nears the drinks bar. After a 1 1/2 hour long cocktail hour, longer than usual, but we are a chatty group, I invited everyone to the buffet table. (I removed myself from the party about 20 minutes before to set it all out with a few volunteers helping out.) I do everything I possibly can do ahead of time and this was inspired by a the first grown up dinner party I was invited to when I was 22. When we walked up the steps we noticed through the picture window, the host and hostess sitting by the fire having a glass of wine. I was astonished that she was not slaving away in the kitchen! Instead she had done everything ahead of time and so immediately put her guests at ease by joining the party and having seemingly nothing to do! I might add that she had 3 small children upstairs in bed. What a feat. A few minutes before dinner was served, she and her husband removed themselves, closed the kitchen door, and within what seemed like minutes returned and invited the guests to the table. It appeared so easy and effortless, so p e r f e c t, I vowed from that day, that her way of entertaining was going to be my way. (Yes, Norma, it's you I'm referring to!) Now I try to get most everything done in advance. I know the trend is to have guests help in the kitchen, and yes, sometimes you have to ask for help if you are going to eat at all, but I think it's a gift you can give your guests; a night out with nothing to do but relax.
So, with that said, ahem, this was not that kind of party. I burned the brie and lingonberries, just awful (two days later and the dish is still soaking, ug). Plus I needed lots of help getting all the dishes out. A smorgasbord, well, it's a different sort of dinner party for sure. With the large variety of food, and this needs to be hot and this needs to be cold, it's pretty amazing in all comes together even with a lot of help. A smorgasbord is a LOT OF WORK! But it was fun! Everyone loved walking around the table, doing just what I love to do, a little bit of that and a little bit of that. Also, there was really too much. I told my mother and she said, well, that's what a smorgasbord is really, lots of food and plenty left over for the next day. Anyway, the food is just a bonus, gathering together is all about the people, and I do have the best sort of friends. But they do tease me about my blog, I guess that's no surprise. I told them I was going to post their pictures too, actual faces of actual people, but NO! was the big response. OK, well, I get that. But there were people at this party, I can assure you, and they are all nice.
Merry Christmas dear readers!
Aquavit and glogg are more traditional Scandinavian drinks, but we don't like either so we went for a choice of champagne, Cabernet, Chardonnay, beer and a few single malt scotches. We set up a small appetizer station nears the drinks bar. After a 1 1/2 hour long cocktail hour, longer than usual, but we are a chatty group, I invited everyone to the buffet table. (I removed myself from the party about 20 minutes before to set it all out with a few volunteers helping out.) I do everything I possibly can do ahead of time and this was inspired by a the first grown up dinner party I was invited to when I was 22. When we walked up the steps we noticed through the picture window, the host and hostess sitting by the fire having a glass of wine. I was astonished that she was not slaving away in the kitchen! Instead she had done everything ahead of time and so immediately put her guests at ease by joining the party and having seemingly nothing to do! I might add that she had 3 small children upstairs in bed. What a feat. A few minutes before dinner was served, she and her husband removed themselves, closed the kitchen door, and within what seemed like minutes returned and invited the guests to the table. It appeared so easy and effortless, so p e r f e c t, I vowed from that day, that her way of entertaining was going to be my way. (Yes, Norma, it's you I'm referring to!) Now I try to get most everything done in advance. I know the trend is to have guests help in the kitchen, and yes, sometimes you have to ask for help if you are going to eat at all, but I think it's a gift you can give your guests; a night out with nothing to do but relax.
So, with that said, ahem, this was not that kind of party. I burned the brie and lingonberries, just awful (two days later and the dish is still soaking, ug). Plus I needed lots of help getting all the dishes out. A smorgasbord, well, it's a different sort of dinner party for sure. With the large variety of food, and this needs to be hot and this needs to be cold, it's pretty amazing in all comes together even with a lot of help. A smorgasbord is a LOT OF WORK! But it was fun! Everyone loved walking around the table, doing just what I love to do, a little bit of that and a little bit of that. Also, there was really too much. I told my mother and she said, well, that's what a smorgasbord is really, lots of food and plenty left over for the next day. Anyway, the food is just a bonus, gathering together is all about the people, and I do have the best sort of friends. But they do tease me about my blog, I guess that's no surprise. I told them I was going to post their pictures too, actual faces of actual people, but NO! was the big response. OK, well, I get that. But there were people at this party, I can assure you, and they are all nice.
Merry Christmas dear readers!
Linked to Make It Pretty Monday
- December 23, 2013
- 13 Comments
