Easy Open House Party

Without question, the holidays are the craziest time of year. But it’s also when we most look forward to entertaining. Gathering a big group of friends for a casual open house is one of the season’s enduring pleasures. Unlike a formal sit-down dinner party, an open house lets people come and go as their busy schedules allow. The food is of the do-ahead variety, scaled to serve 25 but easily doubled or even tripled if you’re having a big crowd. (For a truly large party, you might want to consider renting dishes and barware.) If your group is smaller, these recipes serve 10 for a sit-down dinner. We supplemented our menu with excellent store-bought goodies, from smoked salmon and salami to cheeses and chocolates. Incidentally, our recommendations for store-bought and mail-order edibles also make very good hostess and holiday presents. MENU Smoked Salmon Canapés Buttery and flaky, these hors d’oeuvres are like little tarts, only simpler to make. Follow our topping suggestions, or try your own: sautéed mushrooms and stilton cheese, caramelized onions and anchovies, gruyère and chopped toasted walnuts … let your imagination be your guide. Variation: Tapenade Goat-Cheese Canapés Radicchio Salad with Citrus, Dates, Almonds, and Parmesan Cheese Sweet citrus and dates, in season throughout the West all winter long, pair beautifully with bitter radicchio. Tangelos and blood oranges would also work well in this recipe. Spiced Beef Tenderloin Redolent of warm winter spices, this silky beef requires a bit of advance planning because you’re essentially curing the meat―but it’s very easy to do. (If you cut the marinating time to 1 day, the results will be good but not quite as silky or flavorful.) You can roast the beef up to 2 days ahead and serve it warm or at room temperature, with crusty rolls for making little sandwiches if you like. It’s also very good with a spicy-sweet chutney, such as Sukhi’s Indian-style tomato chutney or WillaBay cranberry chutney. Sweet-Potato Soup with Prosciutto Crisps Served in demitasse cups, this sophisticated little soup makes an easy-to-handle big-party hors d’oeuvre. For a purely vegetarian soup, garnish with chopped chives. PARTY GAME PLAN With a menu this easy, most of the planning ahead involves buying food (and renting party supplies if you’re really having a crowd. At least 2 months ahead • Call party rental store if using 2 weeks ahead • Purchase all mail-order foods except cheeses 1 week ahead • Order cheeses 5 days ahead • Prepare tenderloin 2 days ahead • Make dough for canapés • Make sweet-potato soup through step 2 1 day ahead • Make salad dressing • Roast tenderloin • Roll out canapé dough and bake • Set up bar area and buffet tables with glasses, plates, and flatware Morning of the party • Slice tenderloin and arrange on platters with chutney and rolls • Prepare ingredients for salad • Arrange cheeses, meats, and chocolates on platters 1 hour before guests arrive • Reheat soup with cream • Toss salad and arrange on platter or in a bowl • Top canapés, slice, and arrange on platters