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During this festive time, while there's so much going on which even lively people may sometimes long for a calm break in the new year, it's very simple to forget details. I expect I'm not the only one who has once been startled awake at my desk by an inquiry from a friend wondering, "What time do you want us tonight?" Fear not; if you're absent minded, or simply inclined toward impromptu gatherings, I have you covered.

The Key to Memorable Gatherings

First and foremost, though I cannot stress this enough, whether you've planned long in advance or only 15 minutes, the most enjoyable parties tend to be the most straightforward. What everyone really wants is a good chat, a drink to drink, and enough nibbles so guests do not feel like gnawing something on the bus home. If you're not you're Jay Gatsby, nobody anticipates extensive drinks, Michelin-starred food or musical performances.

The greatest gatherings tend to be the easiest. That said, an idea helps to disguise the fact you have just put this thing on on the way after a long day.

Picking a Theme to Guide The Preparations

That said, an overarching idea can be useful to hide that you've only thrown this thing on on the way home from work. By concept, I mean for example the holidays. Getting a bit more specific (Nordic holidays, say, with glögg, spiced punch, smoked fish plus flatbreads, Nordic beats playlist; or Mexican Christmas, including holiday punch, cold beers and cocktails, along with lots of tortilla chips, tomato dip and guacamole, and Luis Miguel playing) helps direct the selection during the upcoming supermarket sweep.

Smart Purchasing for Your Party

At the shops, select one or two beverages (one alcoholic if you drink, one not for others prefer not to) plus a few snacks that match the theme, then buy as many as you can afford, rather than stressing over offering guests endless options. No thing looks more abundant and as festive as abundance – I'd always prefer to arrive by a container full of chilled bottles of reasonably priced crémant or cava than one glass of swanky bubbly. (Add some bags of ice, as well; you'll find never enough ice.)

Drinks & Large-Batch Drinks Made Easy

If you must impress and offer a mixed drink, make sure to pre-mix a large batch in a jug so that you're not stuck messing about with preparation when you ought to be socializing. Once the party begins, ask a significant other or friend to monitor it then top up if required till it's finished. Do the same for the soft drink; guests love to take on a task during gatherings allowing them to experience some of goodwill.

For large-batch drinks, whatever recipe you go for (they abound online), skip anything excessively sweet – young ones present need kid-friendly options – and should it's available, place aromatic bitters nearby (refrain from putting them into the punch as they're unsafe for those who avoid alcohol entirely). Make an effort with presentation so that the soft punch doesn't feel unimportant; just spend a moment to add a few rounds of citrus into the bowl.

Food That Work Without Fuss

For me, I'd skip the store-bought assortments of "party foods" that pop up in shops seasonally; they feel fussy, and usually require using the oven (if you must go this route, be aware that all guests truly likes herb bread and/or mini sausages anyway). I truly believe it's hard to top a couple of sizable bowls of good-quality chips (salted will offend no one), and, assuming no allergies, some of those big and excellent value packets with nuts typically found in the South Asian section in stores, along with some pitted olives for color (you don't want to still be finding pits in your pot plants next Easter).

In case, as my mother says, you feel chips proper food, one large piece of quality cheese on a board with crackers and some beautifully placed grapes tends to seem painterly. A plate with some salted or prepared prosciutto or seafood laid out there (only one type, except if you're wealthy), or an attractive pre-made pastry, like those that pop up in specialty sections seasonally, is even more substantial, while you truly won't fail with artisanal slices of focaccia, since they require no buttering.

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