Arranging A Family Dinner
If you have friends that drop in unexpectedly or if you know that you will have a few people over for a bbq this weekend you may need to do some organizing to make sure that you have enough food to get you through. You never know exactly how many people you will end up serving or how hungry they will be until they turn up. So how exactly do you plan enough food to feed everyone and still have enough left over for the few that are coming later?
Firstly decide what time of the day to hold the function. Morning, afternoon or evening? At a mealtime or in between? All this will determine what and how much to serve. If you pick a time that is close to most people’s normal meals you can almost bet everyone will be hungry. If it is in between meal times then you will be able to serve lighter food.
Next you need to figure out how many guests you will be feeding. Have all those that are invited RSVP by a date at least a week in advance.
Plan your menu so you have a varied assortment of recipes. You need to offer more than the traditional meat and potatoes. You need to have side dishes, bread and dessert along with your meat and potatoes. Not everyone likes the same side dish, remember the vegetarians, so that is why it is important to offer a few.
Breads are a great way to compliment the meal and fill up your guests as well. There is a varied assortment of bread available so look beyond white and brown.
Some may think that this is a great opportunity to make a new recipe while others may want to stick to the basic recipes that they make all the time. For the most part, those who plan on their meal coming out okay may very well experience a disaster. Make sure that you always allow yourself enough time to make a substitute if you something goes wrong.
A crock pot can be a useful appliance to help the meal go smoothly. They are great for keeping food warm and there are heaps of easy crockpot recipes you can try. Consider crock pot mea balls or a crock pot macaroni recipe.
When planning out your grocery list, make sure you allow for the extra amount of food you will be cooking. Plan your shopping trip a couple of days before your party so you can make sure that you have everything that you need. If you need to, you can run back to the store and still have plenty of time.
As your guests arrive, have an appetizer available to hold them off until the meal is served. As guests arrive you can show off a new appetizer recipe. One good point about appetizers is if they don’t turn out okay then you can always open up a bag of chips and dip. Make sure that you have something extra on hand just in case. Your appetizer and a nice beverage will make everyone feel welcome and your dinner more enjoyable.
Your meal does not need to be so much in quantity as it is quality. Offering several things is more appealing then a couple of different foods in a large amount.Relax and enjoy the occasion. Mingle with guests and have the best party ever.
