Planning a Christmas dinner party
Entertaining friends and family in your home during the
Christmas holiday is one of the most popular activities of the
holiday season. Many people choose to host small, informal
gatherings in their home, while others plan extravagant dinner
parties which are destined to generate more than one urban
legend in the community in which they are held.
While many of us do not aspire to such heights as those held by
the socialites in our community, we would still like to host an
unforgettable Christmas dinner party that will be remembered
fondly among our closest friends and family for years to come.
If you are like me, and many are if they would just admit it,
the thought of all of the work and skill that goes into throwing
a successful dinner party leaves you a little weak in the knees
and wondering how in the world you are going to pull it all off
without a hitch.
But don't let the fear of juggling the tasks involved with
putting on a dinner party keep you from hosting the event that
your family and friends will talk about for a long time into the
future. It's really not that hard if you follow a few simple
steps and guidelines for putting on a successful dinner party.
Here's how to plan the perfect Christmas dinner party:
Make your list, check it twice, and invite, invite, invite. The
first thing you need to do when planning a dinner party is to
create your guest list. Keep in mind that not all invited will
attend. So, if you want to have 50 guests at your party, you
will have to invite quite a few more than that. Send out
invitations no less than three weeks in advance so that people
will have a chance to RSVP.
Plan to cook your own meal or plan for others to plan it for
you. If you are no Betty Crocker, admit it to yourself before
signing on to make a large homemade meal. Having someone cater
your dinner party or ordering takeout is perfectly acceptable
depending on what type of atmosphere you want to create.
Remember that buffets are informal and a sit down dinner is more
formal. I'm not saying that you are not capable of cooking a
large meal for your guests. If you are and want to take on the
work load of cooking for multiple guests, then by all means do
so. Just keep in mind your limitations and time constraints.
Doing so will save you a great deal of headache in the end.
Menu planning. When planning your individual dishes to serve at
your Christmas dinner party, choose dishes that are both
delicious and easy to make. Choose recipes that can be made
ahead of time or that require just a little heating right before
the party to be finished. The last thing you want to be doing
during your dinner party is slaving over a hot stove sequestered
away from your guests. Another important thing to remember when
planning your menu is to never, ever attempt to cook a recipe
for the first time. Trust me.
Take inventory. Create a list of all of the supplies that you
will need to host your dinner party. Items may include tables,
chairs, service pieces, cutlery, plates, candlesticks,
decorations, table cloths, etc. Do not forget your food items
from your menu as well. Shop and Clean till you drop. About a
week before your dinner party, you should take the time to do
your party shopping and give your house a thorough cleaning.
Cook and decorate. Cook and prepare as many foods as you can
ahead of time, preferable the day before the party. Save the day
of the party for setting up your tables and adding the finishing
touches to your d