Inviting friends and family for dinner is a lovely way to connect with loved ones and catch up over a delicious meal. However, the reality can be very stressful for the host. Follow these simple tips for a relaxed dinner party that everyone can enjoy, including you!
Plan the Menu
To save stress on the day, get out your recipe books and plan the menu a few days in advance. Do all the shopping the evening before so you’re not running out to the store in between chopping onions and plumping the couch cushions.
Make as Much in Advance as Possible
Choose recipes that get better with time. That way, everything can be prepared before your guests arrive, leaving you free to greet, chat and enjoy a glass of wine before adding the finishing touches.
Make Something You’ve Made Before
A dinner party is not the best occasion to try out that super complicated recipe or make pasta from scratch for the first time. Make something tried and tested so you can relax into the cooking process and enjoy it!
Enjoy Yourself
Remember, this is not a test. Your friends and family will just be happy to see you and thrilled to be cooked for. Stop making the napkins into origami, put down that spatula, and have fun!
