How To Host a Dinner Party on the Spur of the Moment

How To Host a Dinner Party on the Spur of the Moment

By Gera Richardson

Some of our fondest memories are from social gatherings with good friends, good food and good times. Even if you're short on time you can still plan a great little dinner on the spur of the moment. It isn't hard to do. Here are ten tips to help you.

Tip 1--Know your Reason: You don't need a reason to get together on short notice, but most times you have one. Perhaps friends are in town for the day. Or you have a new HD television and want to share a movie with friends. Why should you know? You might want to postpone the dinner to have more time to plan it. But you don't have to delay. Impromptu dinners can make for the best of times.

Tip 2--Make It Informal, Simple and Small: I usually invite just friends with perhaps one or two new people I think fit in with the group. Plan on four to seven people (counting yourself) for a cozy gathering.

Tip 3--Do a list: Even if you use the back of an envelope write down what you need to do. Include memory joggers. With so little time you have to schedule and use it wisely

Tip 4--Limit the Errands You Run: Get groceries and supplies (including cleaning supplies) from a combination grocery and department store. If your meal is from a restaurant, phone in your order to be ready an hour before your guests arrive. Have it delivered only if service is reliable and timely. Otherwise, pick it up. Check that it's complete, but leave it closed until you are ready to serve.

Tip 5--Make Sure You have Enough Dinnerware: If not, pick up what you need with your groceries. Good quality paper plates, platters and plastic utensils are fine. Get the finest paper napkins you can. Your guests will appreciate it. I use the dinner size for meals and the luncheon size folded in half for bathroom guest towels.

Tip 6--Do not Fret If Your Home isn't in Perfect Shape: You're doing this on the spur of the moment, so your home may not be as organized and spotless as you would like. Do the college dorm stunt: put everything in closets. Vacuum, dust and fluff. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or in closed cabinets. But make sure to thoroughly clean the powder room or bathroom. Provide amenities: liquid soap, guest towels, toilet paper and a small waste basket. Before guests arrive, add an electric air freshener set on low. Spray your entire home with a mildly scented air freshener. Then close doors to off limit rooms.

Tip 7--Serve a Simple Meal: I set a simple table and serve meals that require little work or attention. (You'll need that time for other tasks.) Below are two menus I often use but feel free to develop your own.

Menu 1: Serve fried or grilled chicken from your favorite restaurant (allow 2-3 pieces per guest) with rolls or biscuits from there or a grocery store bakery (allow one dozen per 7 to 8 guests). Serve a comfort food like macaroni and cheese. It works well with chicken. I buy frozen family trays and add extra cheese (4 to 6 ounces shredded) after I bake them. Time them to be done thirty minutes before serving but keep them covered. Mixed greens with vegetables like carrots, spinach and radishes are readily available. Add your favorite chopped vegetables (tomatoes, onions, green peppers) from the salad bar or store deli. Serve with a variety of dressings. Serve dessert with coffee and tea. If the dinner is substantial, serve a light dessert like ice cream. If the dinner is light, serve something substantial.

Menu 2 Chinese Carry-Out: I purchase complete dinners for four or eight. I always order extra egg rolls and sauces (but I also keep sauces on hand.). I serve heavier desserts with this menu. Nice extras: fortune cookies are amusing and delivery is usually reliable.

Tip 8--Do not Sweat Cleanup: There should be little of it. I wait until guest leave and clean up quickly.

Tip 9--Complete your Preparations Early: Finish your preparations (including setting your table) at least thirty minutes before guests arrive. During that time take a quick shower, change into something comfortable, start your music and light your candles.

Tip 10--Relax and Enjoy your Friends: Last minute dinners can make for the best of times for everyone. So cherish them and their memories.

Gera Richardson Loves to entertain with family and friends. She is a gourmet chef and is currently developing commentaries on good food, parties and entertainment. Be on the look out for them.

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4 Tips For A Perfect Dinner Party

4 Tips For A Perfect Dinner Party

By Cat Morgan

Top Tips for Planning a Dinner Party

There are several things to keep in mind when hosting an event in your home to ensure that your guests have a pleasant and memorable experience.

The first deals with menu planning. Be sure you've checked with your guests concerning any possible food allergies, whether they are vegetarians, and their food preferences. You'd hate to serve salmon to someone who detests fish! And serving nuts to a guest with an allergy to them could cause a reaction, and possibly a serious medical problem.

Plan a do-ahead menu, with minimal last-minute preparation, so that you can be a guest at your own party! Prepare one or more dishes a day or two ahead. Your guests will be more relaxed if the hostess doesn't spend the evening in the kitchen, and you'll enjoy it, too. Spending time with your guests is every bit as important as serving them a delicious meal and providing an inviting environment!

Consideration should also be given to the table decor. Using flowers or candles with a very strong smell can actually compete with the flavor of the food, or even irritate a guest who has a sensitivity to smell. For instance, star lilies in a centerpiece for the dining room might be inadvisable because of their intense aroma, although they may work in a centerpiece for an outdoor table. To be safe, use unscented candles and fragrance-free flowers.

A beautiful and enchanting centerpiece can become an impediment if the height prevents your guests from seeing over it. Be sure to keep your centerpiece at a maximum height of 16" to keep the conversation flowing!

When making a fresh flower arrangement for your table, be sure to strip all leaves and thorns off flower stems that will be under water to keep bacteria from growing. I have found that if I keep an arrangement in the refrigerator and change the water every few days, a centerpiece can last a few weeks (especially roses).

Don't underestimate the time it takes to set the perfect table. If you set the table the day before your event, you'll have plenty of time to look at it several times and make any necessary adjustments to it.

Letting your guests serve themselves from a buffet table will allow them to choose the dishes and the size portion that suits them, and food is less likely to be wasted. They'll also be more comfortable going back for seconds! However, rather than stacking the dinner plates, napkins and silverware on the buffet table, setting the dinner tables with them will create a more beautiful atmosphere.

Cat Morgan loves to find Home Entertaining Ideas on the Internet. One of her favorite sites has lots of party ideas, including complete menu plans for entertaining at home, centerpieces and table settings, and more at SimplyEntertainingAtHome com

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How to Entertain and Still Enjoy Yourself

How to Entertain and Still Enjoy Yourself

By Sara D Voca

Who doesn't love a party? Any chance to get friends together to have a laugh, while eating good food and sharing a glass of something, has to be one of life's ultimate pleasures. But for the occasion to be one everyone talks about, there is (like anything successful!) a bit of planning that needs to be done before hand.

Why are we partying?

What's the occasion? Is it something special or a 'just because'? Deciding why you are having the event and what you want everyone to feel while under your spell is probably the biggest tip I could give you. Like anything, determining an end goal and reason will help with the planning. Do you want a few close friends for an intimate get together, elegant and dressy, or perhaps it is a toddler's birthday party with family & friends?

Where is it?

Once you have established the 'why' we move on to the what. Appetizers with cocktails, a family picnic or perhaps a Sunday roast with close friends? There are so many ideas to play with. Be creative and if the event allows think about unusual places that would add that extra dimension to your party. This will also help with the 'when' part of the party mix

How much?

This is a another biggie and easily overlooked. Once you have established the why and the what, you'll need to work out a budget. This can sometime be a bit of a reality check with some people, as entertaining can be very expensive. It doesn't have to be and this is where a budget will help determine the food and drinks you will serve. Will it be ten to a 4 course meal or ten to cocktails and hor d'oeuvres? Also think about a theme as decorating the table or venue will need to be included. Will you need invitations or will an email do? Will you want wait staff or can you do it all.

Finishing touches

So invitations have been sent and your day is drawing near, make sure you have allowed enough time to clean if necessary - don't leave this to the day of the event, you will be too busy getting the food ready and doing last minute touches to the decorations.

Don't be put off with all the things you need to do 'winging it' just doesn't cut it. A well organised and thought out event will mean less stress, and less chance something will go wrong. Even if there is a last minute problem you will be much better equipped to deal with it.

Discover one of Sara's favourite party ideas here http://margaritaville-machine.blogspot.com/. You'll find reviews and how to buy at the cheapest prices on the web here http://margaritaville-machine.blogspot.com/.

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