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In the festive season, when there's plenty happening which even lively people might occasionally look forward to a calm break of January, it's very easy to forget things. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever felt surprised awake while at my desk because of a text by someone asking, "What time should we come over tonight?" Fear not; if you are distracted, or simply likely to make impromptu gatherings, I have some solutions.

The Secret to Great Parties

First and foremost, though I cannot stress it enough, whether you've been planning for a year or just a quarter-hour, the best parties tend to be the simplest. All anyone expects are pleasant conversation, something to sip, plus sufficient to eat so guests don't feel like gnawing something on the ride back. Unless you're a fictional millionaire, no one anticipates a full bar, Michelin-starred catering or musical performances.

The most successful parties are the easiest. That said, a concept is useful to cover up the fact you have just put the party on on the way back from the office.

Choosing a Concept to Focus The Preparations

Still, an overarching idea is helpful to hide the fact you have only thrown the party on on the way after work. And by theme, think of for example a seasonal celebration. Getting slightly focused (Scandinavian Christmas, say, with spiced drink, spiced punch, cured seafood plus rye crackers, folk tunes playlist; alternatively fiesta-style party, with traditional drink, refreshing lagers or cocktails, and lots of tortilla chips, spicy sauce and avocado dip, with Luis Miguel in the background) will focus your options during the upcoming shopping trip.

Smart Shopping to Support Your Gathering

While shopping, choose a couple of drinks (one alcoholic for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one for some avoid alcohol) plus a couple of snacks that match your concept, then purchase as many within your budget, rather than fretting about offering guests endless options. Nothing appears as generous and as festive as plenty – I'd consistently prefer to be welcomed with a container filled with cold bottles of competitively priced crémant or cava than a small serving with fancy bubbly. (Chuck in a few bags of ice, too; you'll find never sufficient ice.)

Beverages and Party Beverages Made Easy

If you feel the need to demonstrate skills and offer a special beverage, then prepare ahead a sizable amount in a pitcher so that you're not stuck messing about with it while you should be having fun. Once the party begins, ask a close friend or volunteer to monitor it and refill when needed till it's gone. Apply the same with the soft drink; guests enjoy to be given a role during gatherings so they can share in the goodwill.

For large-batch drinks, whichever formula you go for (they abound via search), skip anything excessively sweet – children there ought to have separate beverages – and if you have one, place aromatic bitters nearby (avoid adding any into the punch as they are not suitable for people who do not consume alcohol entirely). Take care with presentation so the soft punch doesn't feel unimportant; it only takes a short time to add some slices of lemon or orange for garnish.

Food That Delight Without Preparation

For me, I recommend passing on the readymade trays with "party foods" that appear in supermarkets at this time of year; they come across as fancy, and often involve using the oven (if you must do this, know that all guests truly prefers herb bread and/or mini sausages anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top two sizable containers with tasty snacks (simple will offend no one), and, assuming no dietary restrictions, a package of great-value bags with nuts available in the South Asian section in stores, with perhaps some pitted olives for colour (it's best to avoid to still be finding stones in your pot plants in the future).

In case, as my mother says, you think chips proper food, a single sizeable chunk of quality cheese on a board and crispbreads and some artfully draped fruit tends to seem visually appealing. A platter featuring salted or prepared salami or salmon displayed there (just one sort, except if money is no object), or a handsome ready-made pastry, similar to that pop up on deli counters at this time of year, is more filling, while you really can't go wrong by serving homestyle chunks of focaccia, since there's no need for spreading butter.

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