Invest in some quality cookware: large roasters, cookie sheets, and jelly roll pans, a few good 9-by-13 pans, a couple large stock pots and soup kettles, etc. I prefer stainless steel or enamelware. Nonstick ones don’t last very long. And as with most things, you get what you pay for.
Forget the fine china. Invest in a nice set of Corelle dishes instead. They are inexpensive and lightweight, take up much less space than traditional stoneware, and come in many pretty patterns. Or try plain white so you can decorate your table around them no matter the season. My friend Carmen actually bought some clear dinner plates from the local dollar store to use for company. For added fun, she can place fall leaves, photographs, and other items underneath them to show through, adding to the décor.
Learn to make simple food, but plenty of it. Many gals in my survey stressed that fancy food was not important. But having delicious, simple food and enough of it to go around was.
Get kid-friendly. Find some recipes that will be hits with kids. Or if you insist on some fun, fancy fare for the adults, make sure you supplement it with something children will enjoy.
Think in themes. Theme dinners are usually a hit. Hold a Mexican night or serve Chinese. Cook several shapes of pasta and serve them with an assortment of sauces, a tossed saladl and bread hot from the oven. Give guests small plates to pour on olive oil, fresh grated garlic, and a little basil or oregano for dipping. Or have a 1950s night with burgers, fries, and malts or soda pop. Get creative!
Next time: Family First
Excerpted from A Life That Says Welcome (Revell) by Karen Ehman. © 2006 by Karen Ehman. Used with permission from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Karen Ehman is a speaker for Hearts at Home and the coathor of the popular Homespun Gifts from the Heart and Homespun Memories for the Heart.
