When folks can finally call Sedona home, a milestone in living the life of leisure is reached. Here are a few tips to jump start your entertaining as Sedonan’s do:
Choose a theme with a variety of color, texture and flavors that engage and contrast.
Limit the number of guests. Four to six couples equal 12 to 14 individuals, including your selves. While there are occasions when large gathering are appropriate, guests prefer smaller gathering. As a courtesy to your guests, share in advance information about the other invitees and a few details about the menu you’ve planned on. This small trick will set the stage for a more personal and relaxed gathering. Include an RSVP with a cut-off date. If an invitee fails to RSVP (it is shocking how many don’t abide by this common courtesy) call them! Simply say, “Should I plan on your attendance?” thus avoiding preparing food in unknown quantities and miscommunications.
What to serve. Choose a theme and stick with it. Most dinner parties include an appetizer, a main dish, one or two side dishes, and a desert. Resist the temptation to serve too many choices. It is a scientifically proven fact that too many choices impact the results adversely.
Portions should be of higher quality, less quantity. Rather than spaghetti and meat balls, lasagna and stuffed bell peppers, serve only one main dish such as a 10 to 15 count shrimp scampi.
Portions should be appropriately sized. Plan on 5 ounces of protein per person. That’s it! Men eat more than woman. Combined, it will balance out. The math for a dinner party for 10 people X 5 oz. of protein per person equals 50 ounces of meat. In other words, about three and a half pounds of meat, portioned appropriately, is suitable for a party of that size
Provide a protein rich side dish. A rice and beans salad, a three bean salad, deviled eggs, edadames; these are a few suggestions of protein rich side dishes to consider that will provide protein for guests who do not partake in “live” protein and add contrast and variety to your menu.
Keep deserts light. When on a world class cruise, I noticed that the Jell-O table was the largest, and the one from which deserts disappeared from the fastest!
Let your guests help, but don’t count on their help. When a guest offers to bring a dish, suggest an appetizer, a complimentary side dish, or a desert. Never count on their contribution and always suggest a limit to the number of portions you would appreciate. For instance, if you are serving Jell O for desert at a dinner party for fourteen people, suggest that the volunteer bring two dozen cookies of their choice. If two guests offer to bring desert, then ask each guest to bring one dozen cookies of their choice.
Then relax. Your Sedona gathering will be a sucess with less stress and mess!!
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