BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE BLACK WIDOWS' BALL

Joe and I had a dinner party on Saturday. 

I love planning dinner parties!

Half the FUN is in the planning. It REALLY is.

And when the door bell finally rings after weeks of planning, I love to WELCOME our friends into our home.

And as promised, I've compiled some tips for a well organized dinner party so that you will feel ready and have FUN! 

Decide on your menu about a week prior to the dinner if you can. Typically, I pull out the “Recipes We Love” folder and keep the menu simple but special.  Your guests would rather have you at the table enjoying dinner with them, than in the kitchen fussing with complicated recipes.

Once you have decided on your menu, it’s time to start a list of items that you need to purchase, and things you want to accomplish before the dinner. Place the list in a visible spot so you can cross items off as you complete them. 


Our menu:
Buffalo chicken meatballs

Spinach cheese ball w/ assorted crackers

Entrée:  Double loin of pork stuffed with apricots, marinated in white wine/herbs, braised and then rubbed with Dijon mustard and brown sugar before roasting

Autumn salad with cranberry dressing and sliced pears

Cornbread dressing with cranberries

Glazed carrots with thyme

Green beans with caramelized onions and tarragon

Pumpkin risotto

Gingered apple sauce

Carrot cake

Favors:  Black widow spider brew (homemade hot chocolate mix)

If you are planning a themed dinner, (ie. Black Widows' Ball), put out some decorations. For example, I decorated an ordinary hall lamp with some paper spiders to make it festive. 

This is also a good time to inspect your home, inside and out. Remove the dirty hiking boots from the back door if necessary. Touch up the chipped paint on the molding if need be. Remove cob webs from the chandelier. Wash all the water goblets, water pitcher and wine glasses in case they are dusty. Inviting guests over is a sure way to get the “to do” list taken care of.

Tidy up your home two days in advance of the dinner.
Save the floors and wiping surfaces until the morning of the dinner. Iron your cloth napkins and cloth tablecloth if you are using. I rarely use a tablecloth since I love the simple look of the beautiful wood on our dining room table. But if you use a cloth, I prefer to spritz my cotton tablecloth with warm water two days before the dinner to make sure it is super wrinkle free.

Prep your dinner as much as possible the day (or evening) before the dinner.
When planning your menu, take into consideration items that can be prepared a day or so in advance and heated right before serving.

The day before your dinner, think FLOWER POWER. Tuck some FRESH greenery in areas of your home to welcome your guests. This time of year, I make little mum bouquets and add lemon verbena from the side garden. A little something FRESH in the bathroom will show your guests that you thought of them. Put a battery operated candle in the bathroom for ambience. 

You guests WILL notice!


Think about what you will offer as your Signature Drink when guests first arrive. Pour to order! 

On the day of the dinner, get an early start. Set goals for the day, and write out a timeline. Set aside enough time to get some exercise if you can. Even a short walk around the neighborhood will clear your head. I love going outdoors to clear my nasal passages from the scent of the kitchen. Or slice some lemons for the ice water....it's very refreshing on the nasal passages. 

If you have Pets, the rule of thumb is that pets should not be greeting your guests at the door. Later in the evening, when the time is right, the pets can join the party. Our pooch wore her collar that matched my spider skirt. Friends notice :-)

Now for the moment you have been waiting for. The doorbell rings, the MAGIC of the evening begins! You have everything well organized, and NOW it’s time to RELAX and ENJOY! Your friends WILL notice all you have done to make the evening SPECIAL for them. 

Sending love to my special friends! Next time we'll get our guys in the picture :-)

Thank you for stopping by! Are you planning a dinner party in the near future? I'd love to hear about it. If you leave a comment, I'll know you were here and will be sure to visit you!

With this post, I'll be joining Open House Party and Tablescape Thursday

Debbie

P.S.  Having an issue with my computer, and the font keeps changing on this post. Please bear with me!