| One of the "tricks" I find most useful for hosting | | | | and some are just items that I can bring home |
| stress-free dinner parties is to make some of the | | | | from the store and put out in nice serving dishes. |
| recipes ahead. I find that too many last minute | | | | Some cooks even make everything ahead. If you |
| jobs can overwhelm me, so I plan ahead to | | | | love stews, lasagna and casseroles, then you |
| eliminate as many as possible. | | | | could do that too. |
| The more dishes you can prepare a day or some | | | | But I often prefer serving a delicious roast of |
| hours before guests ring your doorbell, the more | | | | lamb or beef or chicken as the special item on |
| you reduce your stress. Here are some reasons: | | | | the menu. Luckily these dishes are ones you can |
| • You avoid a last minute crisis if | | | | put in the oven and leave to themselves while |
| preparation takes longer than you thought it | | | | you do other things. |
| would. | | | | If you can add potatoes and vegetables to the |
| • If you like to cook, you'll have the | | | | roast while it cooks you have almost all of the |
| leisure to enjoy what you're doing instead of | | | | advantages of make-ahead. Once you pop them |
| feeling frantic about a deadline | | | | in the oven beside the roast you can pretty well |
| • You have time to clean up after you | | | | ignore them until they are cooked. |
| cook. | | | | So I tend to focus on finding appetizers, salads, |
| • If there is a disaster, say you burn | | | | side dishes and desserts that I can make ahead, |
| something, you have plenty of time to come up | | | | or set out straight from the store, or vegetables |
| with an alternate plan. | | | | I can cook alongside a roast. Then I can |
| • If you have prepared the dessert | | | | concentrate on the last minute items like slicing a |
| ahead, you don't need to leave the table for a | | | | roast, making gravy, and getting things on the |
| long stretch just when the conversation is getting | | | | table. |
| really interesting. | | | | Probably the most important category for me is |
| Put your imagination to work for you! Try to | | | | appetizers. I find it too stressful to be fussing at |
| imagine your way through the last minute jobs | | | | cooking something while the doorbell is ringing. If |
| you will have to get dinner on the table, and | | | | you are hosting by yourself you may find the |
| reduce them to a minimum you feel comfortable | | | | same. |
| with. It helps to think about what all those last | | | | So I try to have a repertoire of make-ahead or |
| minute jobs are: setting out the ice water pitcher, | | | | buy-ahead appetizer recipes that work for me. |
| lighting the candles, putting items in serving dishes | | | | Often I serve more than one, since some of my |
| and getting the guests to the table. | | | | guests like to stick to very light appetizers, and |
| By the way, many of these are jobs that your | | | | others enjoy heartier ones. |
| guests can do. | | | | You can build your repertoire of make ahead |
| What is your level of tolerance for last minute | | | | recipes for your home dinner parties. I suggest |
| jobs? | | | | you start with appetizers. If you want to see |
| Now ask yourself what your level of tolerance is | | | | some of my favorites, just go to my |
| for last minute jobs? If it is low, then you should | | | | Make-Ahead Appetizers page on my website. |
| think about finding some recipes that absolutely | | | | Enjoy minimizing your hosting stress and watching |
| minimize any last minute work. This is especially | | | | your guests' eyes light up at the sight of your |
| true if you are an inexperienced cook. | | | | tasty, well presented appetizers. |
| Some of the recipes I rely on are make-ahead, | | | | |