| For most of us there has been less wiggle room in | | | | and serve it up minutes later without ever touching a |
| the budget, and less time it seems, for spontaneous | | | | pot or a pan. No clean up either. Try a few of these |
| dining out at local restaurants with friends. Even if | | | | prepared dinners on your own before serving them |
| you're OK in that respect chances are that more | | | | to your guests. I've found a few that are pretty |
| than a few of your regular friends are feeling the | | | | good but as with anything culinary personal taste is |
| pinch and may drop out from the get togethers. | | | | just that. |
| The camaraderie you get from socializing is more | | | | 2. Music |
| important than the location or sampling the more | | | | You can assemble a dinner-time playlist for your iPod |
| interesting menu items at your local bistro. With just | | | | in no time at all. You can vary the mix for the mood |
| a little planning you, and each of your friends as well, | | | | or even for the geography of the cuisine. A docking |
| can keep the relationships rolling by making your | | | | station with speakers is the only other thing you |
| house or apartment the friendly meeting place and | | | | need to have enjoyable background music always |
| entertainment center. | | | | available. |
| Here is a list of just a four items to have on hand | | | | 3. Candles |
| that make it easy to entertain, no matter how little | | | | People respond viscerally to flame. Even a tiny candle |
| time you have to prepare. Everything can easily be | | | | flame imparts warmth, comfort and friendliness. Keep |
| adapted to your budget and the culinary tastes of | | | | a drawer full of small candles on hand to warm things |
| your friends as well. | | | | up. Better to stick with unscented candles so you |
| 1. Food | | | | don't trigger an allergy. Besides, you do not want any |
| Dinner parties are about the food. No getting around | | | | other aroma competing with your table. |
| that. If your group has a very favorite local | | | | 4. Water and Wine |
| restaurant with a specialized or unique menu then | | | | Inexpensive wine does not mean inferior wine. You |
| you can draw on that for inspiration. Depending on | | | | would be surprised at how inexpensively you can |
| your culinary skills you can either try to duplicate | | | | build a formidable wine cellar just on grocery store |
| parts of their menu or craft your own variations. | | | | specials. Experimentation is essential - and perfectly |
| You don't have to be a professional chef to craft | | | | enjoyable too. Try different wine growing regions. |
| great meals. We all have our personal collection of | | | | Chilean wines are often on the low end of the price |
| recipes and cooking books but there is one particular | | | | scale and more than adequate for the job. If some |
| book that I would recommend to even the most | | | | of your guests are wine snobs then decant the wine |
| experienced dilettante chef, Ratio: The Simple Codes | | | | first and never show them a bottle. |
| Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking. Alton Brown | | | | Mix up the Big Reds, like Merlot and Cabernet, with |
| of Food Network fame reviewed the book and said | | | | some whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio and |
| that "having a ratio in hand is like having a secret | | | | you will have the bases covered. You will quickly |
| decoder ring that frees you from the tyranny of | | | | develop your palette, and with the feedback you get |
| recipes". Much of the book is focused on baking but | | | | from your dinner guests your wine list will become |
| there is plenty of other material to work with for | | | | something everybody will look forward to. |
| things like custards and dinner and dessert sauces. | | | | Water, water everywhere. It doesn't have to be |
| Every menu plan should include an appetizer, a main | | | | bottled. Too expensive. If you or your crew are |
| course, and a dessert. Depending on your time | | | | dead set against tap water then get one of those |
| available, budget, and expertise you can swing for | | | | pitcher-filter outfits. Leave it on the counter next to |
| the fences on all three or pick just one to make it as | | | | the sink so your friends can see it and know you |
| special as you can. Believe me, people will remember | | | | filter. |
| a great appetizer as much as a five star entree. | | | | Grocery store brand carbonated water is a must. |
| One possibility for the main course are any of the | | | | Slice up a few lemons and you're good to go. For |
| new, packaged steam-prepared dishes. The big | | | | something a little different have quinine water on |
| advantage with prepared dishes is time savings. You | | | | hand also. It has a different taste that some will find |
| can pop a complete main course in the microwave | | | | quite refreshing - even without the rum. |