I love delicious, home cooked food. But I love it most when I can share it with my people. When I can plan an evening around perfectly paired food followed up by fireside conversations. I believe in appetizers and desserts always. And I think Saturdays and Sundays were made for entertaining, family, and food. I could have people over every single weekend; my home is begging for gatherings and I'm always itching to put it all together, even when it's a simple night with family.
I've found the key to planning successful get-together meals is starting with the entrée and filling in the sides from there, making sure to have a well-balanced main course. Because the last thing you want is a plate full of all starches or all vegetables; it's a balancing act. And once you've decided on complementary sides, you're golden. The appetizer and dessert will nicely fall into place from there and your menu will be complete.
My biggest piece of advice when it comes to entertaining people in your home, where you're doing all the cooking, baking, and décor, is to prep ahead! It saves you unnecessary stress and allows for more free time to float around with your guests. Truly, it's a lifesaver and you avoid feeling muddled by the end of it all if you have given yourself time to make beforehand preparations. Figure out which foods can be prepared early, to later be placed in the oven for reheating and then be served immediately (i.e. the appetizers). Serving cold dishes is another great way to ensure you have items that can be prepared early. It's all about coordinating and thinking ahead.
My other secret weapon is husband. That man can cook! His domain is the grill and he has created some scrumptious rubs for flavoring meat. He's also a huge help in the kitchen and together we make a pretty cook-tacular (yep, I made that up) duo. I really couldn't do it without him.
How do you plan your gatherings? Have any tip for this entertaining-loving gal?? Leave me a comment and share your tricks!
p.s. I've got a plan-ahead appetizer coming up later this week. And it's a perfect addition to any soul food meal!
I've found the key to planning successful get-together meals is starting with the entrée and filling in the sides from there, making sure to have a well-balanced main course. Because the last thing you want is a plate full of all starches or all vegetables; it's a balancing act. And once you've decided on complementary sides, you're golden. The appetizer and dessert will nicely fall into place from there and your menu will be complete.
My biggest piece of advice when it comes to entertaining people in your home, where you're doing all the cooking, baking, and décor, is to prep ahead! It saves you unnecessary stress and allows for more free time to float around with your guests. Truly, it's a lifesaver and you avoid feeling muddled by the end of it all if you have given yourself time to make beforehand preparations. Figure out which foods can be prepared early, to later be placed in the oven for reheating and then be served immediately (i.e. the appetizers). Serving cold dishes is another great way to ensure you have items that can be prepared early. It's all about coordinating and thinking ahead.
My other secret weapon is husband. That man can cook! His domain is the grill and he has created some scrumptious rubs for flavoring meat. He's also a huge help in the kitchen and together we make a pretty cook-tacular (yep, I made that up) duo. I really couldn't do it without him.
How do you plan your gatherings? Have any tip for this entertaining-loving gal?? Leave me a comment and share your tricks!
p.s. I've got a plan-ahead appetizer coming up later this week. And it's a perfect addition to any soul food meal!
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