Entertaining

nanner

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I don't entertain much. I have lots of friends, but I pretty much enjoy my time by myself (and Larry....oh, and my BF when he's in town...
)

So, I got a new cookbook (Rachel Ray) for Christmas and I've decided to have people over to dinner every once in awhile. I'm having 5 - maybe only 3 - over on Saturday night. Wine, beer, cheese, crackers, for starters, and I'm experimenting with a recipe in the cookbook - Buffalo Chicken Pot Pie - which seems easy enough, with a preparation time of a bit more than 30 minutes. (It's in the "A Little More Than 30 Minutes....But Worth It" section.
) Oh, and a salad. Must have a salad as a side.

Then apple crisp for dessert.

I'm looking forward to it!

Anyone else do alot of entertaining? Or just a little? Or never?
 

capt_jordi

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I love to but I dont get a lot of chances anymore since Gary moved. I'm hoping to change all f that soon though!
 

-_aj_-

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sounds like your in for a great evening

i dont entertain much never really have i tend to just spoil blaine lol
 

pushylady

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I used to quite a lot, but nowadays I just seem to get enthused about cooking up a nice meal for DH.
 

natalie_ca

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I used to do a lot of entertaining! I'd cook in themes. Chinese one time, Creole another etc.

Now I prefer to go elsewhere for entertainment! It's easier and I don't have to worry about the clean up.
 

Winchester

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I love to cook, so entertaining is a lot of fun for me. We enjoy having friends in for cards and games about twice a month and I'll make some different appetizers for them. Or about 3 or 4 couples will get together for a big dinner at our house.

We have family dinners about once a month, sometimes for my whole family, sometimes for DH's family. Or our kids and grandkids will come in for the day and I can cook for them.

I love having people in the kitchen, too. The idea of trying new recipes and having people enjoy them makes me happy. In the summer we love to grill meats and vegetables; during the winter, if it's too cold to grill, there's always the ovens and crock pots to get us through. And we all have a great time.

My MIL is a big Neeley's fan (on Food Network), so one time for her birthday, all the dishes for dinner were from the Neeley's. Their BBQ sauce is excellent. I like the Barefoot Contessa, so for one of her birthdays a few years ago, I did every dish from Ina's cookbooks. She calls me about two weeks ahead of time and she'll request certain recipes. And she's such a sweetheart, I'll try my hardest to do what she wants. She and I still cook together, too.

Nanner, I'll be there! Have a great time!
 

vampcow

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I LOVE entertaining since I love to cook and bake. I have my friends and family over often for dinner.
 

larussa

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I hate to cook and then cleaning up is much worse, lol. I would rather go out with my friend Russ to dinner on Friday or Saturday nights. I don't want him thinking since we are dating that I am going to start cooking for him, no way. A man gets used to that to quickly and then we won't be going out at all. I cook for myself of course but not every night, as I said I hate the thought of cooking.
 

3catsn1dog

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We have "company" over about once a week sometimes less than that. Normally its just BFs step brothers and their wives and we play Phase Ten and alternate who gets pizza or if its our turn we cook hamburgers and fries stuff like that. The guys will spend an hour or so in the garage so us girls can be inside and talk without them around...Its nice but I hate the dishes that are involved afterwards and the cleaning spree I go on beforehand...I freak out thinking that people will think we are gross because I like our house to look lived in not hospital sterile and uncomfortable.
 

kara_leigh

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We pretty much never have people over. We aren't really social type people, more hermits. We have had our family (including my brother-in-law's in-laws) over for Thanksgiving two years in a row. Other than that no one ever comes over.
 
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nanner

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Originally Posted by 3CatsN1Dog

...Its nice but I hate the dishes that are involved afterwards and the cleaning spree I go on beforehand...I freak out thinking that people will think we are gross because I like our house to look lived in not hospital sterile and uncomfortable.
Yeah. I do have to go on a cleaning spree. But I usually feel if my kitchen and bathroom are nice and sparkly, a good vacuuming and dusting of the living room will be fine.
 

libby74

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We don't entertain much at all. It's difficult to keep 6 cats out of things (that means 'the food'), and it's more difficult to get the guests to close doors behind themselves so the cats don't end up outside. Three of our 6 are absolutely terrified when anyone comes to the door, and will spend hours hiding after the person leaves. In my head, I like planning for company, but in reality we just don't invite people over.
 
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nanner

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An update!!

The evening was a wonderful success!! There were six of us, and I actually set the table and we had a sit-down. I had crackers and cheese and wine and they all chatted up a storm while I cooked. I have a pass-through in the kitchen, that allows me to be a part of what's going on in the living room.

We all sat down, ate, my friend Scott's partner Mark actually left his meeting early, so when he showed up, we just moved over, I put down an extra plate, and we carried on. People stayed around the table after dessert, drinking wine and talking - it was fantastic!

I had them all come at 6:00, and they didn't leave until 10:45! A perfectly wonderful, friendly, relaxed evening. And the new recipe worked perfectly!

I'm gonna do this more often!
 

pami

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That sounds like it was a great time. Its inspiring me to have some people over soon, maybe for some wine drinking, though.
 

margecat

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I love to entertain. I don't have big parties, but tiny gatherings--nowadays, usually just my BF and her fiance. I like to do the Martha Stewart thing--nothing stuffy, though, just pretty, with lots of good, homemade food.

I buy most of my fancy-looking serving stuff at Goodwill or yard sales. I've gotten some lovely pieces that way. If if ever had a clutter problem, it would be with this stuff! I have a weakness for pretty paper napkins, and pick them up when cheap. I know they're not green, but folks seem afraid to actually use the cloth ones I give them. Conversely, they won't use the pretty paper guest towels in the bathroom, but use the real towel. (For hygiene purposes, I wish they'd use the paper--since using them everyday, I've noticed that DH & I don't get nearly as many colds/flu).

I host a few parties a year, plus dinners every other month or so. I always have a Halloween party the Saturday before Halloween; then my BF & her fiance come over to help give out candy on Halloween, and I make a small buffet for us to pick at during the evening.

I keep my party stuff (most of it, that is) on shelves in my laundry room. I have too much, I think. (When you call your laundry room the "Butler's pantry/Laundry room", you have too much serving stuff! Also, having 2 entire drawers of a chest stuffed with paper napkins and matching plates is too much!
)
 

Winchester

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Wow, Nanner, sounds like such a great party! I'm glad it went so well for you. (When's the next one....and can we all come?)

I love to have people in, whether it's for dinner or some appetizers, or even some kind of a theme. It's a lot of fun for both DH and me and our guests always seem to have a great time, too.

We don't worry too much about housecleaning. We'll do a good vacuuming, dusting, and I'll wash the floors. DH will clean the bathroom and we'll make sure the litterboxes are nice and clean. Other than that, no worries. As long as the house looks presentable, that's fine.
 

pushylady

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Sounds like you all had a lovely time, Nanner!

Originally Posted by Pami

That sounds like it was a great time. Its inspiring me to have some people over soon, maybe for some wine drinking, though.
count me in!

Originally Posted by MargeCat

I have a weakness for pretty paper napkins, and pick them up when cheap. I know they're not green, but folks seem afraid to actually use the cloth ones I give them. Conversely, they won't use the pretty paper guest towels in the bathroom, but use the real towel. (For hygiene purposes, I wish they'd use the paper--since using them everyday, I've noticed that DH & I don't get nearly as many colds/flu).
I know that people don't seem to like using the cloth napkins too. It feels so wasteful somehow, yet it makes more sense than the paper napkins!
That's interesting about the paper towels in your bathroom. I never thought to do that.
 
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