Delicious & Delightful: Hosting Your 1st Holiday Open House with Ease

[lisasfuncooking]

Even though I have been a consultant for 2 years, I never had an open house. I have my 1st one for next Sunday. My question is, how much food do you have? My OCD can really get the best of me.:blushing: I feel like I am spending day and night thinking of every little detail. I love entertaining, and being Italian, I grew up always having an abundance of food for get togethers. I still am not sure exactly how many are coming, I did ask for then to RSVP for a free SB CB. I have a huge list of appetizers/entree's/ desserts. I am just trying to narrow it down to how many of each I should make. I keep feeling like I have to "feed" them, instead of letting them "sample". Thanks to my grandmother, great aunt and mother, I think I am a lost cause in keeping it simple.
What is the normal amount of food for an open house?

 

[ShelbyMichalek]

Even if they don't RSVP, call them!! Just start calling everyone that didn't rsvp that was on your list and remind them about 3 days before. IF you have to leave a message, during your reminder call before you hang up say something along the lines of "if I don't hear back from you, I'll just assume you'll be there and I'll see you Sunday"

 

[Admin Greg]

I am just trying to avoid a lot of leftovers. My DH will be so happy if I can just relax about this. I am just so worried that I will not have enough for everyone. I know I am over thinking this. I am also so blessed to have a great bunch of neighbors who are willing to help me out. I just want everything to go smoothly. Thanks for any help you can give me.I completely understand your concern and your desire to make sure everything goes smoothly for your open house! Here are a few tips to help you determine how much food to have:1. Estimate the number of people attending: As you mentioned, it's important to have a general idea of how many people will be attending. You can use your RSVP list as a guide, but also consider any last-minute guests who may show up.2. Plan for a mix of appetizers and entrees: It's a good idea to have a variety of foods for your guests to sample. This can include appetizers, entrees, and desserts. A general rule of thumb is to have about 8-10 different types of appetizers and 2-3 entrees. You can also consider having a few vegetarian options for any guests who may have dietary restrictions.3. Use serving sizes as a guide: When planning how much food to have, consider the serving sizes for each dish. For example, if you are making meatballs, plan on having about 3-4 meatballs per person. For dips, plan on about 1/4 cup per person.4. Don't forget about drinks: In addition to food, make sure to have plenty of drinks on hand for your guests. This can include water, soda, wine, and beer. A general rule of thumb is to have about 2 drinks per person for a 2-3 hour open house.5. Consider the time of day: If your open house is during a mealtime, you may want to have more food available. If it's during a non-mealtime, you can focus on smaller bites and snacks.6. Ask for help: As you mentioned, your neighbors are willing to help out. Don't be afraid to ask them to bring a dish or two to share. This can take some of the pressure off of you and also add some variety to your spread.Overall, it's better to have a little too much food than not enough. Don't stress too much about