It is winter and time for dinner parties. Here are some
tips from the Domestic Diva Louise Thomson
- Start with a plan. How many for dinner, number of courses
and even consider your crockery and cutlery ... do you have
enough!
- Methodically prepare an action list - what can you prepare
or cook first and what needs to be done last.
- Set the table the night before - and a great fun idea
is creating place cards - your guests will love it. Funny
photos or names!
- Light a candle in the bathroom so guests can smell or
see there way to the basin and a candle in the kitchen will
remove smelly cooking odours eg fish. (Ensure you use a
good candle - we use Soy candles which are healthier.)
- Place all crockery on the table, that way you have plenty
of room in your kitchen - and the table looks a delight
when it's set.
- Create a tray of cups, sugar bowl, spoons, milk jug so
that yu're ready to serve coffee/tea - all you need do is
pop the kettle on and fill the milk jug - or have the milk
jug in the fridge (with some clear wrap on top). Ensure
that you have a variety of tea bags or real tea and real
coffee!
- Have your nibbles ready prior to you getting ready (last
action item - get ready!) - all you need do is take items
from the fridge eg dips, pate and place on a platter. Give
the nibbles some thought - enough so people don't get drunk
on too much champagne/spirits/beer and simple enough so
it doesn't take away the taste of your simple entrée.
- Make the menu simple, especially if you don't 'love'
cooking. A soup or salad is easy for entrée; an oven
baked item is good for main - that way you're not away from
guests and dessert can be as simple as fruit and cheese
or a cake or tart - the most important approach is preparation
to enable more time spent with guests, eating and drinking!
- Don't cook something for the first time ... don't practise
on your guests! (On saying that, I baked soufflé
for the first time a couple Dinner Parties ago - but I selected
my DP guests - they helped along the way!)
- Ensure that you delegate the cleaning and washing up ....
if you've slaved in the kitchen all day you need to end
the evening blissfully!
Enjoy your next Dinner Party .... when will it be?
Please send us you favourite
Domestic Dinner Diva suggestions and dinner party recipes.
Blissful thoughts .... Louise
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