Every dinner host longs for the perfect meal. However, with countless dinners and parties under my belt, I have learned that chaos loves a good social event. Everything from mixed up starting times to smoke to undercooked food can cause any dinner to unravel quickly. But before you start to panic, I have created some easy tips to help make your dinner go much smoother.
Tip #1: Invitations are important. One of the worst mistakes I ever made was hastily throwing together a dinner at the last minute. I assumed that simply slapping together a quick but delicious meal was bound to be effortless. I’ve been cooking for years, so how hard could it be? It turned out to be a lot harder than I imagined. Since it was last minute, I used the phone-chain method to invite my guests, not once considering that information tends to change a little each time it reaches a new person. As a result, I had some guests arriving hours early; others way too late. A couples guests took it upon themselves to invite people not even on my guest list. In the end, if you don’t want to repeat this disaster, ensure your invitations are direct and clear, regardless of whether they are written, in person, or over the phone.
Tip #2: Practice makes perfect. My top dinner disaster, though, was when I decided to make a new main dish at a holiday dinner. The recipe seemed easy enough, so I thought it would be a wonderful change and surprise for my family. Yet, my good intentions backfired! Instead of my guests arriving to the alluring aromas of my cooking, they found themselves bombarded by smoke and the shrill cry of smoke detectors. Although I am happy to say nothing actually caught on fire and some of the food was salvageable, I will never forget one of the most crucial hosting rules: never try making a new dish the day of your dinner. Rather, experiment days before to ensure the best results, and if any problems arise, iron them out before the big day or decide on a more tried and true meal.
Tip #3: Organization is the key. The first time I hosted Thanksgiving for my family, I was extremely nervous. With the turkey as the centerpiece of the festivities, I knew I had to get it perfect. In addition to turkey, I also volunteered to make a number of side dishes and pies. On Thanksgiving morning, I woke up early to prepare the turkey for roasting. But to my horror, the bird was still frozen solid inside. That is when I noticed on the package that I had forgotten to take the turkey out early enough. I spent much of that morning running water in that turkey, desperately trying to get it thawed so I could finally get it in the oven. Because of my blunder, at dinner time, I still had an undercooked turkey, while all my side dishes were sitting around going cold. To avoid this now, I always make a checklist of everything that must be done before and on the day of the dinner, including approximate cooking times next to each dish,. That way I never miss an important step or have any food finished long before the rest is done.
Tip #4: Simplify for sanity’s sake! Lastly, don’t overstretch yourself. Dinners are supposed to be fun. However, if you are too busy stressing or running from one pot to the next, chances are you might miss out on your own event. If there must be a lot of food, consider delegating some dishes to your guests. Just because you are the host, it doesn’t mean you have to provide the entire meal. Allowing others to cook one of their favorite side dishes will lessen your load significantly, while allowing your guests to feel they are returning your hospitality.