Here you will find frequently asked questions about entertaining.
Q1. We were married 2 months ago and are settled into our home. We would like to have our friends over for dinner, but are not sure where to start. How does a beginner get started?
A: Start like this. Spend a little time looking for a menu with simple recipes that look delicious to you. If you don’t have any cookbooks, the internet is a great resource. Try one or two of your chosen recipes a couple of weeks in advance. If you like the dishes you have prepared, invite a few of your good friends for dinner. If the dishes didn’t come out exactly right, or you made a mistake, it is ok. You will be able to avoid the same mistake twice when you prepare it for your friends on the night of your dinner. That is why you always try a recipe in advance. Concentrate on the entrée and easy side dishes and purchase a dessert. If you already have a favorite recipe that you prepare well, incorporate that into your menu.
Q2. I have absolutely no cooking experience so how can I learn to entertain in my home?
A: Recipes are simply a set of instructions. If you can follow instructions, you can accomplish a recipe. Read the recipe in its entirety. (Remember what your mother told you on Christmas morning when you would try to put together a new toy without bothering to read the instructions? Yes, I know it is an annoying direction when you are in a rush, but mom really does know best when it comes to reading instructions. Being in too big of a rush to read instructions didn’t help my “Mousetrap” game go together smoothly on a Christmas day gone by and it won’t help you gain great cooking experience either.) After reading through the recipe, make a shopping list from the ingredients listed. Never prepare a recipe you have never made before the day of your event. Follow directions above about making it in advance. Try one recipe at a time until you gain a bit of confidence. When you are ready to entertain in your home, concentrate on one or two recipes that you prepare yourself and fill in your menu with one or two purchased items.
Q3. How do you figure out how much food to prepare when entertaining?
A: First you have to decide how many people you want to invite. If you invited 12 people and 6 answered your request for RSVP, prepare for that amount PLUS a couple of extra just in case. I would prepare for 8. A recipe will tell you how many servings it will make right at the beginning of it. If the recipe is too large for the number in your dinner party, simply divide the ingredients by 2 and make half of the recipe. If it is too small, multiply by 2 and double the recipe for bigger crowds.
Q4. I would like to invite my husband’s family over next weekend. I have some cooking experience, but I tend to get stressed on the day of my event and find that there are times when I don’t enjoy myself. How can I stop being so nervous and getting so stressed?
A: The answer is simple: by being organized. Start by reading the recipes you will prepare. Make a shopping list and shop 1-2 days before your dinner. If you can do some of the preparations the day before your dinner party that will help you pace yourself. Also, do some of the preparation the morning of your event. One of the best things you can do is choose a main course that you can make in advance and just bake or grill as your guests arrive. Doing the shopping and some food preparation 1-2 days before your dinner party will help you be less stressed, more prepared and more relaxed. The host sets the tone for the party, so take time a couple of hours before your guests arrive to get dressed and ready. Greet each guest and welcome each into your home and you will immediately put them at ease. Have fun and enjoy your dinner party!
Q5. What is the biggest mistake a host can make when entertaining?
A: One of the biggest mistakes is to try to pull off all the preparation for entertaining all in one day. The host will do the shopping, clean the house, prepare the food and have the guests over on the same day. Many times, the host can get behind schedule and be running around in frantic preparation as the guests are arriving. This sets the wrong tone for the party and it is usually more difficult for the host to enjoy the party when he or she is exhausted! Pace yourself and do some of your preparations before the day of your event.
Q6. Some of my family members are late for everything. How do I plan and start my dinner on time when everyone shows up an hour late?
A: OK, I may get in trouble for this one, but I believe that any event should be started on time, regardless of latecomers, except in an emergency. I understand that habitual lateness can be the culture in some families and trying to change that can be like pushing water uphill. It’s a vicious circle that can be deeply entrenched. When hosts are unprepared and run late, guests learn quickly that the party REALLY doesn’t start for one or two hours after the advertised time. And when it is the guests who are always late, the beleaguered host gives up and PLANS to start every party one to two hours after the advertised time so she will have guests in attendance. Always try your best to be on time whether host or guest; this shows respect for others.
Q7. Entertaining looks like a lot of work. How does someone who works full-time manage entertaining family and friends?
A: Entertaining family and friends can be extremely fun and satisfying. I believe you should make it fit your life. Try to schedule your event on your day off. Even if you are working full time hours, try to pace yourself and do the shopping before the day of your event. Choose simple recipes and fill in with some favorite purchased items. Avoid elaborate invitations, complicated menus and fussy decorations. Concentrate on the food, the table and the tone that you set as host or hostess. Do a few things and do those well and you and your guests are sure to enjoy yourselves.
