Sip Into a Glamorous Cocktail Party
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Perfect Party Host
Recipe: Sparkling Rum Punch
Does hosting a sit-down dinner tend to send you into a tizzy? Try this tapas-inspired menu, defined by small bites and fizzy cocktails.
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Festive Details
Here's another reason to bubble over with excitement: We partnered with Minted to create custom paper goods for each of our parties, all designed by Southerners. In addition to invitations, you'll find banners, centerpieces, stickers, and more at minted.com/el/southernliving
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Set the Table
Add instant whimsy with a dash of confetti at each place setting, sprinkled atop a mix of gold-trimmed china. Create a slit in the top of a Champagne cork for an instant, clever place-card holder.
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A Bit About Bubbly
This time of year, wine aficionados reach for Crémant, a typically high-quality sparkling white wine made in several French wine regions. Expect to pay $15 to $30, about half that of Champagne. Now that's what we call bang for the bottle.
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Crispy Goat Cheese-Topped Arugula Salad
Recipe: Crispy Goat Cheese-Topped Arugula Salad
The Panko-coated goat cheese slices lend a nice and crisp bite to this salad, which we've topped with a fruity pomegranate vinaigrette.
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Salt-Roasted Beef Tenderloin Sliders
Recipe: Salt-Roasted Beef Tenderloin Sliders
You can serve these hearty bites between biscuits, brioche, or artisan dinner rolls for an elegant presentation.
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Mini Crab Cakes with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa
Recipe: Mini Crab Cakes with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa
These crowd-pleasing Mini Crab Cakes with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa make impressive small bites for your hoilday féte.
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Fingerling Potatoes with Avocado and Smoked Salmon
Recipe: Fingerling Potatoes with Avocado and Smoked Salmon
You'll love the unexpected flavor combination of creamy avocado and fresh dill atop roasted potatoes. This makes a great handheld appetizer when entertaining—just be sure there are plenty to go around.
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Shop the Party
1. Updated bamboo rod chandelier, $849; shadesoflight.com
2. Quartz cluster necklace, $42; leifshop.com
3. Vera Wang Wedgwood Orient flute, $42.50; wedgwood.com
4. Corial Gold by Medard De Noblat dinnerware, $34 and up; michaelcfina.com
5. Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in Pale Pink, $28; sephora.com
6. Gold party eyelashes, $5; amazon.com
7. Pink Marc de Champagne truffles, $25; neimanmarcus.com
8. Deborah minaudière, $285; ingechristopher.com
9. Shattered Pink Diamond Glitz nail color, $8; essie.com
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Set the Mood
Get your party started on the right note with our playlist:
- Little Brown Jug, Glenn Miller Orchestra
- I've Got the World on a String, Frank Sinatra
- Holly Jolly Christmas, Michael Bublé
- My Favorite Things, Diana Ross and The Supremes
- Sing, Sing, Sing, Anita O'Day
- Come Fly With Me, Frank Sinatra
- Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt
- Baby, It's Cold Outside, Louis Armstrong
- The Nutcracker Suite, Baz Kuts Breaks Mix
- Auld Lang Syne, Pink Martini