Still life with eggs, birds and bronze dishes, from the House of Julia Felix, Pompeii
Time spent in the company of friends enjoying delicious food and drink is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Chatting and sharing stories while eating delicious cuisine is a lovely way to spend a relaxed evening. But, when you are the person hosting the dinner party, you may feel a little left out and as though you are missing out on all the best parts of the evening. Rushing back and forth from the kitchen serving up food, clearing plates, and preparing the next course, can mean you only catch snippets of conversations and miss much of the fun. So, it is understandable that you want to make your life as easy as possible when entertaining guests at your home. Here are some of the ways to make entertaining easier and ensure everyone, including you, has a fantastic time:
Preparation is vital
Preparing as much as possible ahead of the evening will make your life so much easier. Entertaining guests and serving them food can feel like a big responsibility, and you may feel under pressure to make everything perfect. There is no need for perfection when entertaining friends or family members, so try to let go of the pressure and make hosting a dinner party an enjoyable experience.
You can make life so much easier for yourself by shopping for all your ingredients in advance and preparing the courses as best as you can in advance. This will make it far easier to enjoy your evening without feeling stressed and panicked as you rush to get everything ready in time.
Limit the number of courses
While it may be tempting to prepare an elaborate menu to wow your guests, it is better to keep things simple. A simple menu will keep your stress levels low and ensure that you do not give yourself too much work to complete on the night. It is much better to create a few courses that taste delicious than to put yourself under pressure to create several courses. Using the best quality ingredients is guaranteed to make a delicious meal with ease.
Cook ahead of time
Designing a menu that can be prepared during the day ahead of the dinner party will make you feel calmer when your guests arrive and also means less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests. Creating a simple appetizer such as homemade roasted chili corn salsa and serving it with tortilla chips will satisfy your guests’ appetites while you complete the main course and can be prepared with ease in advance. Having most of your main meal prepared and the table already set up will enable you to get your main course to your guests more quickly and means you can enjoy their company rather than spending all evening in the kitchen.
Additionally, incorporating frozen Mexican food into your menu can be a smart and efficient strategy for those looking to save time without compromising on flavor. Consider serving enchiladas or tamales that you’ve prepared and frozen in advance. All you’ll need to do on the day of the party is to reheat them in the oven, garnish, and serve. These dishes, when paired with the freshness of your homemade roasted chili corn salsa, offer a harmonious blend of convenience and authenticity. Embracing the versatility of frozen dishes allows hosts to focus on presentation and ensures a seamless dining experience without the last-minute stress.
Take it in turns
Finally, if you want to enjoy the experience of being the guest rather than the host, why not suggest to your friends to take turns hosting your get-togethers?