DINNER PARTIES
Planning
a dinner party can be quite intimidating, especially if it is your first
time.
Firstly you will need to decide on the date of your dinner party and prepare
a guest list. If you are going to entertain around Christmas, Easter or
any other holiday season, many of your decisions will be easier, if you
include traditional decorations and food. Invite guests to your party early,
preferably two or more weeks in advance. This will give them time to RSVP
and will give you more time to plan. The comfort of your guests is your
primary goal, so think about compatibility, tastes, ages, and the ambiance
you want to create.
Make a realistic assessment of your cooking and baking skill levels, and
the time you'll be able to commit to the dinner party. There are ways to
make things easier - takeout and deli foods are absolutely acceptable, if
you are really busy. A sit down dinner party is more formal than a buffet,
so think carefully about what type of dinner party you will be comfortable
preparing.
Making a list is an absolute must for any party including dinner parties, as you can jot things down as you think of them. Once you have the basics well planned and written down, your mind will be free to be creative with the food, fun, and decor.
Make a guest
list and then call them. Calling is the easiest way to invite, and you will
most likely get an immediate response. Another advantage of calling is you
can ask if your guests have any food allergies or preferences. For larger
dinner parties, like a surprise birthday party, you can send out invitations.
Plan your menu. Have fun with this, but don't overreach! If you are a beginning
cook, choose a main dish that you have made before and enjoy, then build
upon it by buying dessert, a salad, and some fabulous crusty bakery bread.
It's a good idea to never make a recipe for the first time for a dinner
party. There's nothing worse than struggling with an unfamiliar recipe when
you can hear your guests having fun in the next room! Try to plan a mix
of make ahead recipes and those that require last minute baking or preparation.
I really prefer having everything done, and ready to just pull out of the
fridge and serve, or pop in the oven or on the grill. 
Make sure you have enough chairs, serving pieces, cutlery, glasses, plates,
candlesticks, and room to serving.
Think about how you want to decorate. Decorations for a dinner party can
be as simple as candlesticks on the table, or more elaborate streamers,
balloons, flower arrangements, tablecloths, and even chair slipcovers. Decorate
with the seasons too. Fresh flowers in the summer, a bowl full of polished
apples and spruce twigs in the winter, or a vase with colorful leaves and
cattails in the autumn are simple, inexpensive, and look the part.
Think carefully about you dinner party menu. If you only have one oven, don't plan two baked dishes that require different cooking temperatures that need to be baked just before you need to start serving. Match your food to the type of dinner party. Foods for a sit down dinner party may be difficult to handle at a buffet.
Now plan your itinerary. Allow yourself time for house cleaning, shopping,
decorating, and laying the table. Make sure to save some time before the
party so you can get ready and relax before your guests arrive. Check which
recipes can be made ahead, and make sure you have freezer or refrigerator
space to store them. You may be able to borrow space in a friend's refrigerator
or freezer before your party - especially if you invite them!
Go over your menu, gather your recipes, and plan shopping lists directly
from the recipes. Don't rely on your memory for this! Check your pantry
too. If you are low on things like baking powder, sugar, or flour, add those
to your list. Don’t leave the shopping till the last minute, shop in advance
for the basics and don’t forget napkins, candles, so that you only have
the fresh produce to shop for on the day or the day before your dinner party.
Plan a spring
clean if necessary. If your carpets and windows need cleaning, take care
of them at least a week ahead of your dinner party.
.
Write down a timetable for the day of the dinner party, counting back from
party time. Leave plenty of time for food preparation, baking, cooling and
decorating, setting the table, arranging flowers, planning music or games,
and getting yourself and family ready!