NMCM All Things Family Blog

If you have friends that drop in unexpectedly or if you know that you will have a group of guests over for a party this Saturday night you may need to do some planning to make sure that you have enough food to get you through. You never know exactly how many people you will end up having to cater for or how hungry they will be until they turn up. So how exactly do you plan enough food to feed everyone and still have enough left over for the late comers?

Firstly take a moment and decide what time of the day to invite all the guests. Do you want to serve a full meal or just something in between meals? Do you want it in the morning, afternoon or evening? Deciding a time will help tremendously with the menu. If you pick a time that is close to most people’s normal meals you can guarantee that everyone will be hungry. If it is in between meal times, like mid afternoon then you will be able to serve lighter food.

Next you need to determine how many guests you will be catering for. Have all guests RSVP by a date at least a week in advance. The best thing to do is to take that number and add at least two more to it. There are times when extra guests drop in and you want to make sure that you are a polite host by offering everyone a seat at your table.

Plan your menu so you have a varied range of food. You need to offer more than the traditional meat and potatoes. You need to have side dishes, bread and dessert along with your meat and potatoes. Not everyone likes the same side dish, remember the vegetarians, so that is why it is important to offer more than one.

Breads are a great way to compliment the meal and at the same time fill up your guests. There is a varied range of bread available so look beyond white and brown.

A crock pot can be a handy appliance to help the meal go to plan. They are great for keeping food warm and there are heaps of cook at home crock pot recipes you can try. Consider crock pot mea balls or a macaroni crock pot recipe.

When planning out your grocery list, make sure you allow for the extra amount of food you will be cooking. We usually buy without thinking so if you are used to a four serving amount you may find yourself going back to the store for the extra amount. Plan your shopping trip a couple of days before your party so you can make sure that you have everything that you need. If you need to, you can run back to the store and still have plenty of time.

As your guests arrive, have an appetizer available to fill them up until the meal is served. As guests arrive you can show off a new appetizer recipe. One good point about appetizers is if they don’t turn out okay then you can always open up a bag of chips and dip. Your appetizer and a sparkling beverage will make everyone feel welcome and your dinner more enjoyable.

Your meal does not need to be so much in quantity as it is quality. Offering several things is more appealing then a couple of different foods in a large amount.Relax and enjoy the occasion. Mingle with your friends and have the best party ever.

Tags: Cooking For Your Family

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