Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to entertain. And anyone who's been to my house is probably laughing at the word "Less" in the title given the volume of food that I usually serve, but I remind you that it's just as easy to make lasagna for 4 as it is to make it for 20. And that leftovers are one of life's true joys.
Few things make me happier than having lots of people in my house, enjoying food, drink and good conversation. Indeed, when my husband and I got engaged, the very first thing we did was go out and purchase the largest dining room table we could find. And we converted our living room into a dining room, specifically because we wanted to be able to fit 22 people around the table when necessary.
How do I do it in the midst of everything else going on? Well, sometimes I put too much on myself and make it harder than it has to be. BUT over many years, I've found a lot of ways to entertain often, and keep things manageable. Hoping you will try some of these and open up your home to your friends and family more often.
1. It's the people that matter most. The key to any good gathering is the guest list. If it's good, the event will be good too.
2. Potlucks rule! I've found that people LOVE to get together with friends for meals in each others' homes, but they're often too intimidated to try to host a dinner party all by themselves. But they're ALWAYS willing to chip in for the evening. So host a potluck -- provide a main course and assign side-dishes, dessert and at least some of the drinks to other people. (A good host should always have at least a few bottles of wine and beer on hand to get things started, unless you're not the drinking types.) You'll be amazed how much people enjoy this and feel pleased that they could contribute to an event. I started doing this in our neighborhood years ago and now other families do it all the time too. Don't hesitate to do a potluck cocktail party either -- just ask for finger foods instead of side-dishes.
3. The grill is your friend. Though it means you (or someone) will have to cook while guests are over, you can marinate ahead of time, keep your kitchen from over-heating (and let's face it, everyone's gonna be in the kitchen anyway), and minimize cleanup. Pork tenderloin, London broils, and chicken breasts are particularly great as they are affordable, they cook quickly and only need to be turned once or twice while cooking. And never overlook the ever-growing selection of pork and chicken sausages you can find at your local grocery stores. Especially for summer parties!
4. Prepare ahead of time. Do as much as you possibly can ahead of time so that you can enjoy your guests. Dishes like lasagna are perfect for dinner parties -- you assemble them before anyone arrives, pop them in the oven, and serve.
5. Prepare a "tick-tock" list. I learned this one from professional event planners who map out everything that needs to be done on the day of a fundraiser and when it should happen. Make a list of everything you need to prep, put out, put in the oven, slice and serve and do your best to estimate when you should do all of these things. It prevents you from forgetting anything (like the loaves of bread that you bought to go with the lasagna but have stored in the pantry), and from having to think about what to do and when.
6. Keep it simple. It's always nice to have one signature or really impressive dish to serve, but keep everything else fairly simple. Remember, people are coming for the company and fellowship. A simple side-dish like steamed veggies, or a tossed salad is just great. Wine-only is fabulous. If you want to serve cocktails, think about making one signature cocktail only, rather than having a full bar. And by all means, think about using disposable plastic cups and plates whenever you can (they can be recycled, so don't feel too guilty!)
7. Accept help. Even if you're not doing a potluck dinner, what's the first question most people ask when accepting a dinner invitation? "What can I bring?" Give them something to bring! I LOVE to cook but do not care for making desserts at all. So I always assign dessert to someone who I know loves to bake. People are always happy to bring a bottle of wine. Salads go with just about every meal -- ask someone to bring one, and that's one less side-dish you need to think about.
And the most important part of accepting help is to remember that YOU cooked and threw the party. Your guests can clean up!!! Sure, you may have to show them where things go, but you'll have many guests who are happy to clean up for you. LET THEM!
8. Decor only matters so much. It's lovely to have some flowers on the table, or other decorations, but unless this is REALLY your thing, don't make yourself nuts about it. I have a few silk flower arrangements that I keep handy for the center of my table, and I keep a nice stash of votive candles on hand too -- that's all. No need for much else. No matter what Ina Garten's tables look like!
I think I'll stop there for now, if for no other reason, because listing too many rules makes it seem harder than it really is! But I'd love to hear your suggestions and what you do to keep entertaining feasible for yourself. If I get enough ideas, I'll put them all into my next blog post, with full attribution of course!
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