The Dinner Party

THE DINNER PARTY
ELEGANT ENTERTAINING MADE EASY

So you've decided to throw a dinner party. Every woman does have a
little Martha in her—but why does she always have to rear her
hostess-with-the-mostest self smack-dab in the middle of the busiest
times? As visions of June Cleaver dance in your head, you wonder if
you can really pull it off—especially with the kiddies in tow.

Of course, you can do it and why shouldn't you be the one to gather
your closest friends and family for an elegant evening of discourse and
dinner? Just follow our tried-and-true tips for a successful night to remember.

Plan Ahead
Save yourself the headache and do as much as you can ahead of time. Lifestyle expert, Donata Maggipinto, author of Real-Life Entertaining ($8.50, www.amazon.com), suggests, “If you can't make any dishes entirely ahead of time, prepare the ingredients for the recipes before, then assemble them later.” If possible, set the dining table and the food stations the day before, too. Put out descriptive cards, designating where each dish will go. That way, if you ask for a little help from your guests in setting out the food, you won’t have to give them step-by-step instructions on where to place everything. If you’re looking for something extra to jazz up your table setting -- we love these handcrafted floral napkin rings by haute designer Kim Seybert ($85 for a set of four, www.bergdorfgoodman.com).

What to Serve?
Elegant isn’t necessarily synonymous with complex. Take the time to plan a no-fuss menu that won’t cause you to break a sweat—or your wallet. Stick to what you know. If you haven’t been successful with a certain ingredient in the past, don't endeavor to use it this time around. Most importantly, don’t make something you’ve never made before. Dinner parties are not the time for experimentation. Click here for a fabulous and easy-to-make menu from celebrated Food Network chef, Robin Miller.

I Don't Want to Miss My Own Party
To avoid being an absentee host, make sure you plan for a low-fuss, high impact dinner. You might want to choose a roast and a casserole—two dishes that require more prep work than babysitting. A beautiful lamb or beef roast served with savory root vegetables not only makes for a n appealing presentation, but it also requires very little tending after it's placed in the oven. If you choose this option, you may want to try the Grill Alert Talking Meat Thermometer ($75, www.brookstone.com). A voice alarm sounds when the meat is done, allowing you to mingle with your guests, and not your oven during the cocktail hour.

But What About The Kids?
Your guests know you have kids, so, first and foremost, don't stress out over what to do about them. If you are entertaining your not-so-kid friendly buddies (we all have a few), it might be wise to hire a sitter for the evening or shuttle the kids over to grandma’s house, if possible. If you can’t get a sitter or want your kids to interact with your guests, set up a small play area in the corner of one of the rooms in the general mingling area. Make sure the kids aren’t starving when your guests arrive and ask your significant other to help supervise the kids since you'll be busy hosting.

A Happy Ending
These chic black and white espresso cups from Bodum ($29.99, www.amazon.com) are the perfect accessory to your after dinner java boost. And forget about testing your skills as a pastry chef, make your life easy: order dessert ahead of time from Khaya Cookie Company (www.khayacookies.com), a socially conscious dessert-maker (they aim to reduce unemployment for women in South Africa) that offers delicious, all-natural sweet treats.

Five Quick Clean-Up Tips

1	If you choose to make a roast, make sure to line the bottom of your pan with aluminum foil -- it’ll save you 10 minutes of scrubbing.
2	To avoid carpet stains, skip the red wine. If you really want to serve red wine, keep a few bottles of club soda on hand to take care of any surprise spills.
3	To get a clean microwave in a flash, simply combine one tablespoon baking soda with a cup of water and heat until the mixture explodes. The residue left on the inside will remove the food when wiped off with a paper towel.
4	To easily transfer all the plates and utensils from the dining area to the kitchen, employ an oversized tray to pile the plates.
5	Consider hiring an after-party clean up crew. It's not as expensive as you might think and it will do wonders for your nerves in the face of dishes, garbage and leftovers.

—Tara Pringle Jefferson

Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer based out of Cleveland, Ohio.