Entertaining Made Easy

If you read “House Beautiful,” “Martha Stewart’s Living,” or even “Better Homes and Gardens,” you may have gotten the impression that there’s really no such thing as a casual get-together with friends any more. One source on the internet even suggests that you begin planning a casual evening with friends two weeks in advance. Two weeks? I’m lucky if I’ve decided two days in advance to host a get-together. That being the case, I’ve had to learn a couple of things about entertaining so keep myself from excessive stress.

The first, and probably most important, thing to keep in mind is that, unless you’re hosting your husband’s boss or valued clients, these are your friends. They’re probably coming to your house for your company. Anything above and beyond that is, so to speak, icing on the cake. So relax and don’t over plan.

If you find yourself entertaining often, it’s good to pick up a few basics to have on hand. An assortment of baskets, napkins and serving bowls will be used again and again. You’ll also want to have an ice bucket, white and red wine glasses, pilsner glasses, a good corkscrew and a bottle opener.

Lists are the best way to help reduce stress when planning a party. I keep a notebook with me at all times, so that’s where I keep my lists for planning parties. That way, when I’m waiting to pick up one of my children or sitting in the doctor’s office, I can use that time to plan.

Decide what kind of party you want to have. Perhaps you’ll want to try a beer or wine tasting party. Or you might want to serve only appetizers or desserts. Don’t overlook the good, old-fashioned potluck dinner, particularly if it’s a last minute party. Just make sure you’ve asked each guest to bring something from specific course. You don’t want to be planning on a dinner and have everyone show up with a dessert. With potluck, don’t forget to have someone supply the beverages. Set out extra serving pieces ahead of time if you’re hosting a potluck dinner. Not everyone will bring their dishes ready to serve.

Then plan your menu. You may want to choose a theme to make sure all of the dishes work together. Once you decide on a menu, write down everything you’ll need to prepare and serve each dish. For example, for grilled burgers, you’ll need: ground beef (or pre-shaped burgers), seasonings, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, cheese, lettuce, a platter to serve the burgers, a fork to serve them, a basket with liner to serve the buns. Take this list to make a separate list of groceries you’ll need, serving pieces to have out, and condiments to have on hand. That way, you won’t be scrambling at the last minute when you discover that you’re out of ketchup for the burgers. Don’t overlook beverages-include soda, iced tea, coffee and water as well as alcoholic choices.

Don’t try a new recipe for the first time the night of the dinner. If you want to serve new things at a party (and I strongly encourage it-the same foods at every party gets boring), try it on your family a few days in advance. It’s okay to hit the deli or bakery for some items. Just make sure to take them out of the store’s container and use your own dishware. It will look much nicer and no one needs to know that you had a little help.

Keep things simple. You don’t want to be exhausted by the time your guests show up and you don’t want to be up to your elbows, literally, in dirty dishes. Have as much done ahead of time as possible and clean up as much as you can before you’re guests arrive. The point of the evening is to enjoy your guests, something you won’t be able to do if you’re in the kitchen cooking.

Martha Stewart, Christopher Lowell and the Barefoot Contessa would love to have us believe that those beautiful tables they feature in their books are a snap for anyone to put together. Hah! Not only will those looks take some considerable amount of effort, they’re likely to require that you purchase a number of things you may never use again. Instead of trying to copy these pros, steal a few great ideas from them. Anything can work as a center piece or a table covering. Use what you have on hand. In fall, use colorful leaves and gourds; in winter, pine cones; in the spring, cuttings from your gardens and bushes. Your centerpiece might be a bowl of fruit or a few pieces from your favorite collection. Use repeating colors and shapes. For table coverings, use your imagination: a quilt, colorful bandanas, napkins, fabric yardage from your sewing basket, and even white craft paper (set out pots of crayons or markers to encourage your guest creativity). In the winter, use snow instead of ice to chill your beverages.

Before the guests arrive, remember to light the candles. Make sure you have enough seating for everyone. Set out utensils for every dish, the napkins, plates, eating utensils, glasses and ice. Shut off the television and turn on some background music. Set appetizers throughout your space to keep the crowd from congregating in one place. Then pour yourself a nice glass of wine and enjoy your friends!

Having said all that-there’s nothing wrong with a spontaneous get-together. Some of the greatest parties are the ones you throw together last minute!