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be the perfect host/ess

a home + living guide for the post-college, pre-parenthood, quasi-adult generation

09.09.2004

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need party help? Jump to the boards and talk about entertaining, cooking, etiquette and more.

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dinner party a-go-go
how to have a last-minute dinner party by Yee-Fan Sun | 1 2 3
continued from page 2

9 Serve food family style. Being a good host doesn't necessarily mean being a fancy-pants; sure it's fun to play formal every once in awhile, but it also means more work. Keeping things casual will ensure that both you and your guests can actually kick back, relax, and enjoy the evening -- which, after all, is the whole point of having folks over in the first place.

10 No-prep desserts are key -- by the time you're ready to enjoy sweets, your gathering will be in full swing, and there's no point in pulling yourself away from the fun to fuss with an elaborate finale. Make up some coffee and tea, and serve with biscotti. Offer fruit, either alone or with ice cream. Buy a big brownie or two from your bakery of choice -- cut up into smaller bits, bring out a tub of vanilla and a jar of maraschino cherries, and voila… do-it-yourself brownie sundaes.

11 Plan to be in the kitchen still as the guests come in the door. This is a-okay. As long as you have those appetizers set out and the drinks handy, your friends will be perfectly happy chatting with you in the kitchen while you finish up with the meal. And if you're lucky, you might even get them to pitch in with the work.

Three last-minute menus...
The Picky Eaters dinner party
Brie, smoked gouda and salami plate (served with bread)
Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce and freshly grated parmesan
Easy-breezy tossed salad
Good loaf of bread
Coffee/tea and biscotti

The Better than Takeout night
Cashews
Spring rolls (pick them up from a Thai or Chinese restaurant on your way home) or Sesame Sugar Snap Peas
Thai green curry with chicken
Jasmine rice (or whatever you happen to have on hand)
Vietnamese salad with lime dressing
Mango sorbet

The Manly Man meal
Guacamole/salsa and chips, or good ol' potato chips (preferably the nice kettle-cooked kind)
Bratwurst/Italian sausages (simmer at a low bubble in beer for about 7 minutes, till cooked, then brown on a hot grill; when the weather's not cooperating, cook in a skillet instead)
Sautéed onions and bell peppers (use both red and green for color)
Good crusty baguettes (cut into rolls)
Easy-breezy tossed salad (because veggies make you strong and healthy)
Ice cream sundaes

o

check out these related articles:
last-minute party foods | super-easy party foods

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