Dinner Party Plans!
07 Dec 2011 2 Comments
Create and mail invitations (to newly selected invitees-see yesterday’s post) – CHECK
Receive RSVPs from invitees – CHECK
Plan menu – SORT OF CHECK – working on it!
Decide on table decor/theme – SORT OF CHECK – working on it – not as challenging as in the past (see reference to new guests. I’m sort of psycho about NOT repeating the tablescape)
Plan two days off prior to Dec. 17 to shop/cook/decorate – CHECK
I subscribe to a good number of magazines and am always boggled at the articles about giving dinner parties. They all make it sound so easy – just toss together X and Y, scatter a few pine cones down the center of the table, wrap up some home made biscotti in cellophane bags for favors, plan a simple menu that comes together miraculously with very little effort.
That’s not how it works for me, but I really, really like the fussy preparations, all the tiny details, all the special dishes and stemware. I go into a mode for a few days prior and am single minded about pulling off an even bigger, better and tastier party than the year before. I’m not sure I could just toss something together. Maybe….?
I’m going to try to remember to take pictures as it all comes together. I’ll add that to my list. I have 4 of them going at any given time – shopping, Thursday to do, Friday to do and Saturday to do.
I can’t wait!
Dec 24, 2011 @ 21:26:19
Dang – I thought I subscribed here but apparently not. Gah! I’ll try to watch more closely going forward…
Last year we did something different for Christmas. Instead of a big formal dinner, we did 100% finger foods. Ham-and-cheese rolls, veggie trays, pigs-in-blankets, sandwiches, etc. We had a house full but people came and went throughout the day so by having things in covered trays and very little that was hot, it worked out perfectly. One of the kids joked about it being a white trash Christmas, but overall I think everyone preferred it. Plus since everyone was basically going to two Christmas dinners – one for sure to be formal – nobody got overloaded on the “big meal” foods.
This year, though, it will just be me and hubby for Christmas dinner, and I plan to surprise him with the crystal and the works. Just because I can.
Jan 04, 2012 @ 18:17:44
I love all appetizer meals!! Something for everyone and no ‘OMG! EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECTLY TIMED TO GET TO THE TABLE ALL AT ONCE’ scenarios!