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The Instant Cocktail Party

By Madelyn Miller

I love to entertain. Really. I love to have my friends over, catch up and share experiences and life viewpoints.

I used to think I liked to cook.

But cooking (especially for a party) requires time and energy. Shopping, preparing, cooking, cleaning the kitchen. Not my favorite tasks

I’d rather just enjoy my friends.

This year I had a brilliant idea. I would invite some of my friends from Fox TV in Dallas and others I had not seen much this year with all my travels plus new friends who live in my loft.  Instead of cooking, I would have the party catered. Then I was looking through a Swiss Colony Gift catalogue and decided to have the whole thing delivered. No strangers would be running around my kitchen, Just the friendly Fed Ex man delivering dinner.

I have some snazzy new serving pieces since my divorce so all I had to do was call in my order. (actually, it could have been done on line) I called the day before the event and smugly sat back and thought how sophisticated my time management skills were.

Here is what I did

1. Got flowers

2. Ordered  a L’Il Swiss Colony Baby cheese,  Sausage and cheese balls, crispy crackers with spreads. Actually, I did not even choose what to serve. I asked advice to a friendly, experienced Swiss Colony wizard.

3. waited for Fed X

WHAT I WISH I HAD DONE DIFFERENTLY

Cut up some vegetables or something low calorie. Everything I ordered was yummy, but rich

Had some sliced fruit to go with the Baby Swiss

Had just one thing made ahead, so if Fed X had gone on strike or something, I would not have had to worry about the delivery. As it was, the package arrived at 4pm, an hour before my guests were set to arrive. Actually, it was enough time, but one guest arrived early.

I was so into having a fuss free party that I forgot all about chilling wine. Luckily, it was a cold night, and several buddies brought wine.

THE BONUS

So many people brought wine that I have enough bottles for a wine tasting party.

I had ten friends over, and almost half the food was left over. I guess I should have invited everyone back for the next night. 

I did have enough snack food to keep the munchie monster at bay for the rest of the holiday.

The crunchies made great croutons in a salad the next day and I used some of the cheese spread on a sandwhich. Yummy.

MORE ABOUT MY ORDER

The Swiss Colony’s Baby Swiss is every bit as big in nut-sweet, buttery rich flavor and creamy texture of the 200-pound Swiss cheese wheels — but in sizes that are just right for every household. Big Baby is available in two-, three- and five-pound wheels (2 lbs., $18.50; 3 lbs., $25.50; 5 lbs., $38.95). Li’l Baby, weighing only one and one-quarter pounds (1 1/4 lbs., $11.75), is perfect for smaller households.

Sausage ’n Cheese Balls — The Swiss Colony’s famous BEEF LOG® and Summer Sausages come packaged with two, three or four Cheese Balls, including hearty, full-bodied Swiss Cheddar ’n Walnuts and French Onion flavors. (5 oz. BEEF LOG, 5 oz. Summer Sausage and two 3 oz. Cheese Balls, $12.50; 7 oz. BEEF LOG, 7 oz. Summer Sausage and three 3 oz. Cheese Balls,  $17.95; 7 oz. BEEF LOG, 7 oz. Summer Sausage, 7 oz. Garlic Sausage and four 3 oz. Cheese Balls,  $22.95,)

Incredible Spreadables® with crunchy “Crrrisps” — three or four different flavored “Crrisps” with an assortment of two, three or four smooth, creamy and easy-to-spread Incredible Spreadables —Cheddar, Swiss and cream cheeses in mouthwatering blends with meats, vegetables and/or seasonings. (1 lb. 4 1/2 oz. net wt., $18.50; 1 lb. 15 1/2 oz. net wt., $24.95; 2 lbs. 15 oz. net wt., $33.95)

To place an order, call 1-800-804-5188 or visit www.TheSwissColony.com

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