If my cooking prowess had to be summed up into a bumper sticker, mine would read: “I don’t make dinner, I make reservations.” Although I would consider myself a fairly accomplished woman, cooking is not a skill that would even be mentioned in the top ten list of things I do well. This presents somewhat of a quandary for me, because as much as I detest cooking, I love to entertain. How, may you ask, can the two coexist under the same roof? Hint…a little pre-planning and a lot of frozen food is involved.
Entertaining is a like an elaborate magic show. If there is music, decorations and ample libations (this is the equivalent to the smoke and mirrors used by magicians to distract the audience from their slight of hand) then, your guests will have a blast and leave happy, never realizing that the food preparation received very little of your attention.
It is easy to entertain when you choose a theme for your party. Whether it’s a summer Luau for seventy or an Italian dinner for eight, having a theme will provide you with some direction. You must create the tone of your party from the onset. The invitations you select let your guests know what is in store for them. Having a Mexican Fiesta? Send a small bottle of Tabasco attached with twine to your invite. Having a Japanese dinner? Get a small take-out box and fill it with several candles shaped like Sushi. You get the idea. Showing that you intend to have fun is paramount.
Depending on the theme you select, you have the opportunity to develop the ambiance with music and decorations. Having a Cuban dinner? Get a hot, salsa CD, dress the table in placemats of bold orange and lime or perhaps hire someone to roll handmade cigars. Having a Middle Eastern dinner? Make sure to have lots of colored pillows strewn across the floor and perhaps a belly dancer could make an appearance? If hiring entertainment is out of your budget, don’t fret. It’s amazing what the right music, a few paper lanterns and well-placed flower arrangements are able to do to transform your living room into an oasis.
As for the food, there is an extensive variety of frozen food at your fingertips in your local grocery store. Don’t feel like you are obligated to make everything from scratch. Mix a few homemade items that you can make the night before, with several frozen dishes or dishes prepared by a gourmet shop and “Voila”…you heat and serve and there is your party.
Although I have alluded to the role that alcohol plays to enhance the mood of your guests, it is not a necessity. If you have “virgin” Mojitos or Shirley Temples, most of the time your friends are just happy that they had an excuse to get out of the house to play. So, stop stressing about the fact that you are not a chef. Don’t let a little thing like not being able to cook stand in your way of having a good time!
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