If you have recently moved into a new home and would like
to show off your digs, throwing a simple yet classy dinner party for your
friends and loved ones is a great way to celebrate. While planning an affair can
become stressful and costly, you can also easily organize an
affordable and uncomplicated party with proper preparations
and smart shopping.
Plan a simple but unique menu
If you have
just moved into a new home, you may be on a tight budget and
unable to craft a lavish gourmet meal. Instead of driving yourself crazy and
going over your budget attempting a complicated dinner with costly ingredients,
plan a simple and affordable spread that still has flair. You can jazz up any
ordinary dish with one or two star ingredients. For example:
- A simple tossed salad is easy and inexpensive for your first course. Add
some goat cheese and pecans to make it pop.
- Go basic with your entrée-protein, starch and veggie. Pasta is a good option
as well-it's cheap, it's easy and everyone loves it. Look for whatever's on sale
to keep your grocery bill manageable, and make the dish memorable with some
exotic spices or combining contrasting flavors and textures. Avoid attempting a
brand new recipe that you have never tried-slightly different is fine, but if
you have never made something difficult like pork chops or lasagna before, now
might not be the best time to start.
- Add an artisan component. Pick up a loaf of crusty French bread from your
local deli, a brick of imported blue cheese from the cheese shop, or a box of
Italian cookies from the bakery. If everything else on your menu was economical,
you can splurge a little on one specialty item to impress your guests.
Write your grocery list
Once you have planned your menu, take
inventory of your fridge and cabinets and find out what you will need to
purchase. Sit down and write a list of each ingredient and how much of it you
will need. Plan to have about 6 ounces of protein per guest, 1 cup of starch and
1 cup of veggies. If you are making pasta, at least 2 cups per guest should be
sufficient. It's usually better to err on the side of excess so you don't end up
having to skimp on portions when you realize you didn't prepare enough food.
Write your guest list
Who do you want to invite to this shindig?
A good number for dinner parties is usually eight or 10 guests-don't go
overboard with the invites or you'll find yourself preparing enough food for an
army. Invite a mixture of couples and single friends, and have some guests in
mind as back-ups in case not everyone can make it. You could also ask one or two
guests to bring a friend if you'd like some new faces at your table. Refrain
from inviting people that make you nervous-having your boss or mother-in-law at
the party may cause some unnecessary anxiety if something falls short of your
expectations.
Prep what you can in advance
To limit the chaos in your kitchen
when your guests arrive, you should prepare whatever you can prior to the party.
Make your salad or cold first course, chop and dice ingredients in advance,
marinate or season your protein beforehand. Slow-roasted or braised dishes work
well for dinner parties, because they require little maintenance as they cook,
and you can begin the process before your guests arrive-rather than running into
the kitchen between courses to sauté or sear.
Clean and organize your home thoroughly
A clean, orderly home perfectly complements a
beautifully-presented meal. While ripping apart your house to
organize your clutter and give it a thorough, deep cleaning
may seem time-consuming while you're planning a party, it is an essential task.
Eliminate clutter from tables and counter tops, dust and wipe down all surfaces,
vacuum, sweep and even mop the floors if needed. Make sure your bathroom
sparkles-your guests will surely use it over the course of several hours. Wipe
down the toilet, sink, and put away any toiletries or other items cluttering the
area. Make sure clean towels are available and freshen the air with a pleasant
spray fragrance or potpourri.
Have a festive table set up
Presentation is everything-a lovely
table set-up will certainly leave an impression and add to your party's flair.
You don't have to lay out fine china and crystal, but a linen table cloth,
matching cloth napkins, and your best set of dishes and wine glasses can really
class up your meal. Some fresh flowers in a vase and flickering candles will
also create ambience and add a little sophistication.