Christmas is right around the corner, and perhaps you’re thinking that you’d love to gather some friends together for some festive fun, but maybe it’s too late…

Wait! We all know that spontaneity is the spice of life. Here are two last minute ideas to consider…a day AFTER Christmas party and an intimate holiday tea.

The day AFTER Christmas

A High Holiday Tea

The December 26^th tradition in my family began just like this, proving to be a wonderful chance to extend the holiday cheer. The centerpiece of this party was a delicious curry, which surely was a creative way to use up the rest of the Christmas dinner turkey. And then, like any good and well-received idea, the curry became the staple of a supper buffet that my parents hosted for at least 35 years.

The recipe (included at the end of this post) is a winner, for so many reasons – it’s comfort food at its best, easy to make, cost-efficient, can be doubled and tripled to serve a large group and the curry can be eaten with just a fork, making it a simple choice for a buffet that may require eating on one’s lap. It’s a good, old American recipe, long before Thai food became the rage. Oh, did I mention that it freezes well, too?!
An added plus? The long list of condiments can make for a festive and photo-worthy presentation that will tempt even the fussiest eater.

One last detail…use interesting little serving spoons for the condiments (here, I used ones whose handle and bowl are crafted from white shells.)

In the days, my mother served this turkey curry with:

A Chinese salad, whose “dressing” was Hellman’s mayonnaise spiced with soy sauce, ginger and some pineapple juice and Virginia ham, sliced tissue-paper thin.

The Holiday Tea around the fireplace can be offered in many variations which is what makes “tea” such a versatile entertaining option. And there’s something so romantic and civilized about this age-old tradition, slowing down the pace of life for a short, precious time with family or friends.

For this year, I chose to go with an all-sweets menu for my Holiday Tea and include the first recipe from my single-girl days, entertaining on my own. Like the curry (with which it can be paired) Crème Caramel is fail safe and has withstood the test of time.

Turkey Curry Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs. cooked white meat turkey
• 1½ sticks butter
• ½ cup flour
• 2 large onions chopped
• 2 large green apples, peeled and chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2-3 Tbs. curry
• 1Tbs. lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Make cream sauce: melt 1 stick of butter, over low to medium heat; gradually add flour and whisk until smooth.
2. Add curry and mix well
3. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Slowly add broth, whisking continuously.
5. In separate pan, saute’ onions and apples in ½ stick of butter until soft.
6. Add to curry sauce and boil ‘til slightly thickened, stirring frequently
7. Reduce heat, add salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste
8. Add turkey and mix well
9. Simmer for 1 hour
10. To present, pour the curry into a deep, heated serving platter or chafing dish.
11. Serve curry with rice, a favorite salad and your choice of the many condiments ( listed below)
12. Cooked curry can be frozen. To reheat, place curry in an oven-proof casserole. Cover tightly. Place in a preheated 300° oven until piping hot (about one hour )

CONDIMENTS:

Crème Caramel Recipe

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups cream
• 7 eggs
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 325°F
2. Melt 1 cup sugar over low heat, stirring constantly, until all lumps are gone and it turns a light-colored liquid caramel
3. Coat bottom and sides of 1 ½ quart round Pyrex dish with the caramel
4. Heat milk and cream over medium heat until bubbles appear at edge; do not boil
5. In large bowl, beat eggs slightly
6. Add ½ cup sugar, salt and vanilla and stir well
7. Gradually add hot milk/cream mixture, stirring constantly
8. Pour into Pyrex dish
9. Place dish in a pan filled ½ way with water
10. Bake 1 ¼ hours or until a knife inserted into center comes out clean

– Refrigerate overnight –

When ready to serve, run a flexible knife around the inside rim of the dish to loosen the crème.

Place a serving platter over the dish and flip the dish to release the dessert; the caramel sauce will coat and surround the crème.

Sprinkle candied ginger on the top before you serve, or decorate the custard with small shards of a nut brittle, like pistachios.