Every year, our family hosts a Christmas Party for our extended family.
We call it the "Reindeer Games".
It's a relaxed night of casual dress and food.
Everyone wears their Christmas Jammies. There's a contest for the most festive ensemble.
When the families arrive, they have to pick their 'Elf Name'. (Yes, it should be a Reindeer Name, but humor me here.)
I have a table set up with 2 buckets. A first and last name. They choose 1 of each, and write their name on a name tag, They MUST be called by their elf name throughout the evening. I have included a print out of the elf name options, along with additional information on that.
The food and drinks are set up on the kitchen island, and everyone grabs a plate of food. While they are eating, Dan divides the group up into teams. We usually have 4 teams. He has the teams decided before the party, It makes it go much faster. Be mindful of who's personalities will play well together. Since this is a family party, there will be all ages included. Don't put all of the 8 year olds on a team. That's no fun for their opponents.
Once the teams have been established, they need to quickly name themselves, This will help while keeping score throughout the night.
A giant dry erase board will be very helpful for this.
The games can be played in any order. I like to go from an action game to a sit down game. Mix it up.
Make up any point system.
We have prizes for the winning team at the end of the night. These can be as elaborate as you like, or complete white elephant.
I've included the rules on most of the games on the print out..
You can adjust what you need to. It's your party. Make it your own,
Here's a quick rundown of the Games.
Momma Kissin' Santa Clause
You will need a game card for each team
9 Hershey's kisses for each team
The rules are included in the printout.
Christmas Characters
This is basically a quiz.
Have 1 quiz for each team.
They need to work together to match up the characters with the movie they were in.
They have a minute and a half to do it.
The team with the most right, wins.
Christmas Pictionary
You know how to play Pictionary, but here's a refresher.
Cut up all the words (Included in the printable) and place in a bucket or draw string bag.
Each team chooses a person to draw. They have a minute and a half to get as many right as they can. If they pass any words, They lose a point. The team with the most drawings guessed, wins!
Christmas Tray Memories
I've explained this in great detail on the Printable.
A relay game of some sort.
Dan normally will have something planned. He likes the active games.
Brown Sugar Sliders
2 packages King's Hawaiian Rolls (24)
1 pound Swiss (any cheese, really) sliced
2 pounds ham thinly sliced
1 cup butter melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons minced onion
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Preheat oven to 325°.
Split rolls in half.
Fit bottom halves into a 9x13 pan
Layer ham, then cheese onto bottoms.
Finish off with roll tops and set aside.
Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, poppy seeds, minced onion, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour/brush mixture evenly over tops of sandwiches.
Cover very tightly with foil.
(At this point can refrigerate overnight if needed.)
Bake covered at 325° for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
Serve immediately.
Print the reicipe HERE
Sausage Balls
1 lb. breakfast sausage (any flavor works)
2 C. Freshly grated cheddar cheese
2 C. Bisquik
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all three ingredients. For easier mixing, let sausage come to room temperature. Mix until it’s all one color. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and roll sausage into 1 inch balls. Bake at 375 for 17 minutes. Serve warm with sweet hot mustard..... OR..... if you’re serving these at a brunch, dip in maple syrup.
Print Recipe HERE!
Aunt Ann’s Pretzels
1 1/2 C. Warm water
2 1/4 tsp. Yeast (I envelope)
1 T. Brown sugar
3-4 C. Flour , plus more if needed
6-8 C water
1/2 C. Baking soda
1 egg, beaten
Course Salt
1 stick melted butter
Add the yeast to the water. Add sugar. Stir well. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 1 C. of flour at a time. Knead in flour until no longer sticky. Remove from bowl and set on a clean counter top. Cover loosely with a towel or plastic wrap. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough into 8 equal parts. Roll out into long ropes. Shape into pretzel shapes or cut into 1 inch pieces. Bring to boil water and baking soda. Turn off heat. Dip the pretzels into the water and let rest for 10 seconds. Remove from water and set on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush with egg. Top with salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
Serve with whatever sauce you like!
Print the recipe HERE!
It was so refreshing to serve this sherbet based punch next to all of the heavy appetizers/snacks.
Gumdrop Fizz
Lemon Lime Sherbet
Raspberry Sherbet
Pineapple Juice
Sprite or 7up
Gumdrops for garnish
Skewer the gumdrops on a heavy duty toothpick, making sure the toothpick is long enough to lay across the top of the glass.
put one scoop of the sherbet in the bottom of the glass. Fill the glass 3/4 of the way up with pineapple juice, and top with a splash of sprite or 7up.
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