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Easy Entertaining Easy entertaining the way TV cooking shows make it look, but most people find entertaining can be very stressful. If you are like me and hate cooking you will need some simple entertaining strategies to take out the stress. In general terms, entertaining means looking after a group of people brought together for a social gathering. A birthday party for a child, a barbecue, a formal dinner, end of year drinks etc. are all gatherings that require catering, the food and drink. Easy entertaining could be as simple as out sourcing the catering, but that is expensive, and still has it's headaches. Planning is the key, any time you spend planning and organizing will pay dividends later. Write lists, don’t try to keep it all in your head; lists will free you up to concentrate on the more important stuff. ______________ No matter what sort of occasion your planning, try to nail down the number of guests, this is very important since you must have a figure to work with. Make sure the venue is suitable.
Once you feel confident that you can deal with the number of guests move on to menu planning. Unless you are an experienced cook not fazed by producing large amounts of yummy food without raising a sweat, I suggest you keep it simple! In fact simple is very important when it comes to easy entertainment. Be aware that if some of your guests are strangers you will need to consider dietary requirements such as, allergies, gluten free or vegetarian. It’s not necessary to plan the whole menu around these requirements, just make sure you have something suitable on hand. Ready made from the deli are ideal for this type of situation. ______________ When choosing the menu look at options that can be prepared in advance. For instance:
Butchers and poultry shops now offer a huge selection of ready prepared food ideal for entertaining, just make sure what you need is available and order beforehand.
Take advantage of all the modern conveniences such as:
Remember this is the millennium when no one slaves over a hot stove anymore! When you have worked out the menu, start at the beginning and list all the ingredients you will need, don’t leave anything out. ______________ Next make a list of all the drinks you will need. Try and choose wine that will complement the food. Make sure you supply non alcoholic drinks such as fruit juice or punch and water. Get drinks in advance so they have time to chill. Check whether you will need more ice or an ice box. The real secret of easy entertaining is presentation. People eat with their eyes; a simple dish that looks good will win hands down every time. Here are a few tips.
When you buy ready made food personalize it with your own garnish. Outdoor tableware is available in bright colors and clear plastic and looks great with coordinated napkins, cloths or placemats. Fruit drinks or punches are shown to best advantage in clear jugs with garnish. Make sure food looks appetizing, salads and vegetables should look bright and fresh. On the day make sure you have a strategy in place for getting it all together, put together a timetable and write it down. ______________ Easy entertaining really is all about organization once you’ve got a plan in place and write it down it’s just a matter of ticking things off the list. If you use these strategies it really will take a lot of stress out of entertaining. Written by Trish Powell
This site is not intended as a medical reference site. The information it contains is general, not specific to individuals. The material on this site is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner or nutritionist. A qualified practitioner should be consulted before starting any diet or exercise regime, as well as for serious or long-term health problems. copy rights ©Moonstone Publishing 2000-2012 |
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