You can stress over trying to prepare the perfect meal, but is the lack of interaction you can have with your guests worth it? I don’t think so.
When planning a Christmas meal, whether it is a small get together between friends or a full extended family type deal, keep it simple. This is a time to be walking around and catching up with people we haven’t seen in a while or general mingling. Small plates and finger foods fit the bill perfectly. To make it even easier, have everyone bring an hors d’oeuvre or drinks and set everything out on a table. If your party will be small, consider fondue with everyone gathered around the table talking and eating delicious blends of Swiss cheeses and wine with crusty bread.
Last night we had a small party which started out with just people from my partner’s teaching cohort, then we added a few more friends to the list, and ended up being two people. It was perfect for fondue as there was more for everyone to enjoy, but alas, my gastrointestinal tract is not too happy with me this morning. Of course, I’m sure the massive amount of the port cheese ball and eggnog I consumed didn’t help either!
After we had our fill of random food stuffs, we decided to watch Christmas cartoons from our childhoods, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and ended with opening presents we had gotten each other and Secret Santa gifts too. It was low key, low stress, a lot of fun and I highly recommend keeping your party spread simple so you have more time to relax and spend with your guests.
Showing posts with label party tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label party tips. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Party Planning
Today we are celebrating my partner’s birthday, which means that yesterday instead of grocery shopping, making two birthday cakes (one for him), doing the dishes… twice, laundry, mowing the lawn and then making dinner, I should’ve also been cleaning the house. Oh, I had time, I just didn’t want to.
Cleaning means admitting the house is dirty. I prefer the term less than perfect, because, after all, who wants perfection? I’m sure most of the cleaning I do today before we go out to dinner then come back for cake and cocktails will consist of vacuuming, Febreezing and putting away my sewing projects I’ve got scattered in the dining room. I’d dust, but who am I kidding, I won’t.
House is clean, cake is ready, wine is purchased… these are all important. But the most important thing about planning a party is remembering to actually interact with your guests. If you invite people over and then are stuck in the kitchen the entire time trying to prepare stuff for the friends you’ve invited over, that’s not a party, that’s work. That is why whenever we have parties (which, mind you, we are the most boring people in the world, so we don’t do this all too often) we make sure as much is done in advance as possible. If there is a particularly tricky dish you really want to tackle but has to be done right before serving it, perhaps it isn’t the best idea to use for a birthday party but saved for a time when everyone can be involved in the process or be working on their own dishes, like during the holidays.
Parties should be a time to relax for everyone, including the host(s). Sure, something won’t go according to plan and the dog will probably knock somebody over and said somebody will spill their drink on somebody else and a chain reaction not unlike dominoes standing on end where just one tile gets pushed and soon they all fall down occurs. Okay, so a drastic scenario, yes, but not an unlikely one if you’ve ever met our dog, Lucy. By keeping the offerings simple you’ll allow yourself, and your guests, a chance to have fun. After all, isn’t that what parties are for?
Cleaning means admitting the house is dirty. I prefer the term less than perfect, because, after all, who wants perfection? I’m sure most of the cleaning I do today before we go out to dinner then come back for cake and cocktails will consist of vacuuming, Febreezing and putting away my sewing projects I’ve got scattered in the dining room. I’d dust, but who am I kidding, I won’t.
House is clean, cake is ready, wine is purchased… these are all important. But the most important thing about planning a party is remembering to actually interact with your guests. If you invite people over and then are stuck in the kitchen the entire time trying to prepare stuff for the friends you’ve invited over, that’s not a party, that’s work. That is why whenever we have parties (which, mind you, we are the most boring people in the world, so we don’t do this all too often) we make sure as much is done in advance as possible. If there is a particularly tricky dish you really want to tackle but has to be done right before serving it, perhaps it isn’t the best idea to use for a birthday party but saved for a time when everyone can be involved in the process or be working on their own dishes, like during the holidays.
Parties should be a time to relax for everyone, including the host(s). Sure, something won’t go according to plan and the dog will probably knock somebody over and said somebody will spill their drink on somebody else and a chain reaction not unlike dominoes standing on end where just one tile gets pushed and soon they all fall down occurs. Okay, so a drastic scenario, yes, but not an unlikely one if you’ve ever met our dog, Lucy. By keeping the offerings simple you’ll allow yourself, and your guests, a chance to have fun. After all, isn’t that what parties are for?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Graduations
May and June are quite busy with high school and college graduations, why not make a big deal out of it by throwing a party. After all, I’m sure our Vice President would even agree, it’s a big $&#*@^! deal.
I’m sorry but ceremonies for “graduating” preschool, kindergarten and fifth
grade all seem to, well… they’re dumb. It’s not a graduation people! They are just going into another grade in a couple months! And besides, how many kids don’t graduate from preschool? “I’m sorry, Timmy, but you are being held back because you finger-painted yourself in lime rather than green like you were told.”
Celebrating bigger milestones, like graduating high school for instance, makes a little more sense. This is usually a big transition from being a kid to becoming an adult, complete with a whole new set of responsibilities. Have a party. Have some cake. Have some fun. The sticker-shock of the real world will soon set in them, but before that happens have a get-together with family and friends to commemorate their achievements.
College graduations can be a little more tricky, depending of course on how much the kid changed, which let’s be honest with ourselves, those first years out of high school we all changed a lot. It also may depend on where they went to school, which if it is quite a ways from home, a big celebration may not readily be possible, especially if they do not plan on coming home any time soon. However, there is no reason that those who did make it to the graduation can’t plan on something, even if it is nothing more than a night out at a nice restaurant.
Of course, everybody is different. Hopefully you’ll know your graduate well enough to plan something that will be special to them and a memory they will cherish. And if not, and this is nothing to beat yourself up over as teenagers and young adults are highly erratic creatures, you can always ask them what they want to do. Then again, if their response is, “I don’t know” tell them you are renting a petting zoo and Cowboy Bob will be there to make balloon animals for everyone. That might help them figure something out, and if not, who doesn’t like balloon animals?!
I’m sorry but ceremonies for “graduating” preschool, kindergarten and fifth
grade all seem to, well… they’re dumb. It’s not a graduation people! They are just going into another grade in a couple months! And besides, how many kids don’t graduate from preschool? “I’m sorry, Timmy, but you are being held back because you finger-painted yourself in lime rather than green like you were told.”
Celebrating bigger milestones, like graduating high school for instance, makes a little more sense. This is usually a big transition from being a kid to becoming an adult, complete with a whole new set of responsibilities. Have a party. Have some cake. Have some fun. The sticker-shock of the real world will soon set in them, but before that happens have a get-together with family and friends to commemorate their achievements.
College graduations can be a little more tricky, depending of course on how much the kid changed, which let’s be honest with ourselves, those first years out of high school we all changed a lot. It also may depend on where they went to school, which if it is quite a ways from home, a big celebration may not readily be possible, especially if they do not plan on coming home any time soon. However, there is no reason that those who did make it to the graduation can’t plan on something, even if it is nothing more than a night out at a nice restaurant.
Of course, everybody is different. Hopefully you’ll know your graduate well enough to plan something that will be special to them and a memory they will cherish. And if not, and this is nothing to beat yourself up over as teenagers and young adults are highly erratic creatures, you can always ask them what they want to do. Then again, if their response is, “I don’t know” tell them you are renting a petting zoo and Cowboy Bob will be there to make balloon animals for everyone. That might help them figure something out, and if not, who doesn’t like balloon animals?!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Super Bowl Party
When the trend of consuming a week’s worth of calories during a football game became tradition, I am uncertain. But what I do know is that it doesn’t have to be the gluttenfest we’ve become accustomed to.
Being that today is the big game, most of us have already got everything for our respective parties, and by party, either a viewing party with friends and family or a sulking, somber, sit-at-home-alone-and-watch-the-game party. But for those who will pick something up on the way to a party, or who haven’t gone shopping for the one they are hosting, here are a few tips.
Chips and dips. These are classic game-day consumption standbys. For a heart-healthy version without sacrificing any flavor except maybe the oil slick on the roof of your mouth, make guacamole with tortilla chips. It may seem odd to recommend a fried chip in place of a fried chip, but corn tortilla chips are a whole grain snack, and have about 1/3 less fat than potato chips. And the avocado is one of the world’s most perfect fruits, containing so many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, which makes guacamole a perfect swap for mayonnaise-based-ranch-style dips. And when you make your fresh guac with tomatoes (the diced, canned variety this time of year is best), onions and jalepeño peppers and a hint of lime juice, you probably won’t notice that you’ll get a serving of fruits and vegetables in at the same time. Or, you can always go with hummus, which will work great not only for tortilla chips, but a veggie platter too, and is high in protein and low in fat. And don’t underestimate slices of apples and oranges, neither of which require a dip, and are almost always a welcome addition to a buffet or snack table.
For a main dish this year, I am making pulled pork sandwiches, which consists of a topping of coleslaw. In order to cut the calories without sacrificing the wonderful flavor full-fat mayonnaise offers, I make my coleslaw about an hour or two ahead of time. This way the lemon juice has time to start to break down the cabbage, releasing a little extra liquid to make the mayonnaise stretch a little more. I usually use about half as much mayo as in traditional coleslaw recipes simply by making it ahead of time. Of course, if there is not enough, you can always add a little more mayo. I also use pork sirloin roasts, which are quite low in fat, but do require a little water added when the pork gets pulled to keep it from drying out. And this year we are making them with sandwich thins instead of hamburger buns. Another main dish option is chili, which is one of those one-pot dishes you can whip up quickly with a few pantry items and a few fresh items, throw them in a pot and let simmer away until you are ready to eat. Just add some homemade cornbread or muffins.
When you reach for something to drink, don’t skip the beer or wine, but maybe think twice about having more than one soda. A fruit punch made with 100% juices (you’d be surprised at how many fruit juices are only made with 10% juice and a ton of high-fructose corn syrup to replace the missing flavor) and 7-Up or Sprite make a great kid-friendly as well as adult-friendly option. And for those adult-friendly options, you could always throw in a shot or two of vodka if you like fruity, fizzy drinks. But the option so overlooked is water. Keep a filtering pitcher of water on the beverage table and refill as necessary.
But the most important part is to enjoy the day. So have fun watching the game, or the commercials, or for the rare viewer, both.
Being that today is the big game, most of us have already got everything for our respective parties, and by party, either a viewing party with friends and family or a sulking, somber, sit-at-home-alone-and-watch-the-game party. But for those who will pick something up on the way to a party, or who haven’t gone shopping for the one they are hosting, here are a few tips.
Chips and dips. These are classic game-day consumption standbys. For a heart-healthy version without sacrificing any flavor except maybe the oil slick on the roof of your mouth, make guacamole with tortilla chips. It may seem odd to recommend a fried chip in place of a fried chip, but corn tortilla chips are a whole grain snack, and have about 1/3 less fat than potato chips. And the avocado is one of the world’s most perfect fruits, containing so many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, which makes guacamole a perfect swap for mayonnaise-based-ranch-style dips. And when you make your fresh guac with tomatoes (the diced, canned variety this time of year is best), onions and jalepeño peppers and a hint of lime juice, you probably won’t notice that you’ll get a serving of fruits and vegetables in at the same time. Or, you can always go with hummus, which will work great not only for tortilla chips, but a veggie platter too, and is high in protein and low in fat. And don’t underestimate slices of apples and oranges, neither of which require a dip, and are almost always a welcome addition to a buffet or snack table.
For a main dish this year, I am making pulled pork sandwiches, which consists of a topping of coleslaw. In order to cut the calories without sacrificing the wonderful flavor full-fat mayonnaise offers, I make my coleslaw about an hour or two ahead of time. This way the lemon juice has time to start to break down the cabbage, releasing a little extra liquid to make the mayonnaise stretch a little more. I usually use about half as much mayo as in traditional coleslaw recipes simply by making it ahead of time. Of course, if there is not enough, you can always add a little more mayo. I also use pork sirloin roasts, which are quite low in fat, but do require a little water added when the pork gets pulled to keep it from drying out. And this year we are making them with sandwich thins instead of hamburger buns. Another main dish option is chili, which is one of those one-pot dishes you can whip up quickly with a few pantry items and a few fresh items, throw them in a pot and let simmer away until you are ready to eat. Just add some homemade cornbread or muffins.
When you reach for something to drink, don’t skip the beer or wine, but maybe think twice about having more than one soda. A fruit punch made with 100% juices (you’d be surprised at how many fruit juices are only made with 10% juice and a ton of high-fructose corn syrup to replace the missing flavor) and 7-Up or Sprite make a great kid-friendly as well as adult-friendly option. And for those adult-friendly options, you could always throw in a shot or two of vodka if you like fruity, fizzy drinks. But the option so overlooked is water. Keep a filtering pitcher of water on the beverage table and refill as necessary.
But the most important part is to enjoy the day. So have fun watching the game, or the commercials, or for the rare viewer, both.
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