Home Entertainment and Party Tips

Here are some little party tricks that I have learned along the way. They have made my life a little easier, especially when more guests attended my party than expected.

If you entertain regularly, you may want to invest in a coffee machine for espresso and cappuccino. I have found that having equipment on hand makes a great impression on a moments notice. Capresso has some nice machines that I’ve used to pleasantly surprise guests.

Dimmer switches throughout the house keep the atmosphere consistent. Have your music selected in advance. You can have it set it up in a multi-disc player and ready to go. Consider the age range of your guests and try to choose some tunes that you think are appropriate based on that information.

For smaller gatherings it’s nice to send your guests home with a memento of the evening. A poem rolled up “scroll style” and tied with a ribbon is a thoughtful gift, I have used potpourri wrapped in mesh, tied at the top with thin ribbon.

You may want to put little extras in the bathroom such as lipstick, perfume and cologne and even breath mints. It is a good idea to have an extra table cloth on hand; it can easily be thrown over a table in the event of a large spill. Have replacement utensils and napkins laid neatly on a tray. Wet wipes on the side can be a comfort to folks that just need to wipe a smudge without having to run to the restroom. Hope some of these tips come in handy. Happy Partying! Written by Delightful Biteful 

Did you ever find yourself in the position of having to play auto host/hostess? Well I have, and after a couple of years I have stockpiled a few quick fixes in my appetizer arsenal.Cheese and Crackers *for a literal moments notice - I to keep some Brie, Sharp Cheddar and Smoked Jack on hand. Three types of crackers are good (no Saltines or Ritz for this kind of thing).

Guacamole during the warmer weather - 2 large soft avocados, 4tbs. of mayonnaise, 2tbs. of lemon juice, ¼ tsp. of garlic salt, 1/2 tsp. of paprika and a couple of shakes from your salt shaker. Mix it up really well until it has a paste like texture. Buy a bag of corn chips for dipping.

Salmon Dip – 1lb. of Smoked Salmon, 3tbs. of mayonnaise, half a fresh lemon, a dash of fresh dill and some ground peppercorn (season to taste), mix into a paste like texture. Seeded crackers are perfect with this dip.

If you are in a real pinch, don’t forget the shrimp cocktail at the supermarket; you can also pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery, some whipped butter, bread sticks and olives… People will be more impressed than you think.

I also keep frozen desserts and coffee on hand. I try to keep a sugarless dessert around too. Most good desserts can be frozen for a few months. I hope this helps when you get the call that people are stopping by this evening. Bon A petit!

Written by Delightful Biteful