Winter entertaining with friends

I love having friends over, and a great way to entertain them with a no-fuss winter supper is to have a baked potato bar where guests can stuff a potato with as much or as little as they want. It's pretty much hands-free for the hostess once everything is in place so no time is lost visiting with friends.

Food prep is fairly simple because I cooked homemade chili and Brunswick stew the day before.

Winter Supper Buffet

Baked potatoes
Homemade chili
Homemade Brunswick stew
Garden salad
Scoop nacho chips
Brownies & Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
Coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea
Potato condiments: Shredded cheddar cheese, chopped scallions, butter, sour cream, salsa, salt & pepper

I found jumbo baking potatoes at the market, wrapped them in Reynolds wrap, and baked in the oven. Chili and stew were warmed on the stovetop. On the bar I had the salad, potato condiments, and beverages along with desserts. Snowman plates and flatware were set out in buffet style and everyone helped themselves.

It was simple and yummy on a cold winter night, and easy to clean up allowing more time spent in conversation and laughter while outside the snow gently fell in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia....