Hope you're all okay with the new name of my blog: Simply Sarah B.
We're talking about dinner parties today and some housekeeping, Some of you will just scroll right on by this post but for some it could prove useful. I figure you may as well learn from my mistakes!
Never try a recipe for the first time when you are having a dinner party. The creme brulee will be soupy, the jambalaya will be dry, the rib roast will be very expensive pot roast. Granted, it's tricky to have a test run on a rib roast with just you and hubby but it's worth learning these recipes before going on stage. Rack of lamb is a super thing to have for a dinner party and not nearly as intimidating as you would think. And, it's easy to have a test run with this.
I have never managed to serve a first course. Well, I managed once. I am a fine cook but the orchestration of a first course and then making sure the main course is perfectly timed to come after that has always sent me into a tailspin. I have cream soup bowls that I specifically asked for from Santa and I only managed to serve soup once. So you'll have to study up on that somewhere else or if you have a helpful hubby/significant other maybe he/she can help. Actually, now that I think about it, you can manage a first course if you have a stew as your main course but the noodles-at-the-last-minute always throws me for a loop.
I had lunch with some very smart ladies yesterday and one had had a dinner party recently. She had been nervous about it but another lady had suggested buying the main course. Yes, yes, in this day and age you can buy anything. So she bought turkey tetrazzini, instant salad, dinner rolls and berries for dessert and there she was, all set. At this time of year berries with sugar and cream is a grand idea for dessert. Serve the sugar and cream separately in case one of your guests is planning on outliving us all.
And then you can follow my sister's advice which is that everyone you invite is so happy to be out socializing and having fun that they really don't care all that much about what's for dinner.
One more note on entertaining: always have a well stocked bar. You don't want Mrs. B. saying to her hubby, "Oh, we're going to Sarah B.'s tonight" and then have him groan, "Oh no, that means I have to have her cheap vodka." You want to be popular and so you should have the better brands of everything you stock. You can drink the cheap stuff when it's just you but treat your guests to the best.
Last tip: don't have a terribly long cocktail hour. It's just not a good idea.
After your guests have departed you may decide you don't want to clean up that night. However, there are a couple of essential things you must do before going up to bed.
Clear off the dining room table and wipe it with a paper towel. You don't want to come down the next morning and find a water mark. You should go around to all the end tables and do the same thing - clear them and wipe them down.
Blow out all the candles, including the chic little votives you put here and there.
If you aren't going to wash the dishes at least leave them to soak. Put one plate in, add a little water, stack another plate, add a little water and so forth. That way the task in the morning will be easier.
Take all of the table linens and put them in the washing machine to soak overnight. Don't add anything drastic like bleach but a little Oxyclean or a little detergent are fine. Let the tub fill up, twist and turn a little bit, then stop it for the soak.
Empty all drinks glasses and set up a waiting area for them to be washed. In the morning you can tackle this task. It's just much easier if they are all together.
If you allow people to smoke in your house take the ashtrays with the butts in them and put them in the sink and pour water over them. Let them get good and soggy overnight. You definitely don't want to throw them into the trash that night; the last thing you need is a fire. (Learned from someone else's mistake...)
Cleaning up is best accomplished with your favorite music blasting as loud as it can go.
This is a tip for before the guests come because after you have invited people over you invariably look around and say, ooooh, I must clean this, touch-up paint this, hang this mirror, picture, etc. This is not bad, in fact it can prod one to get some things neatened up, especially yours truly. You may even decide to wash the windows and screens.
To clean screens use a damp washcloth and wipe them down. You don't have to take them out of the window to do this but you might need a ladder if they are high up. You'll need to rinse the washcloth off frequently but it is miraculous how well this works.
Ooooh, I almost forgot. Make some fun playlists with your iPod so you can set the mood for what is sure to be a fun party!
If you are waking up to lots and lots of rain today you have two choices: go to work, or read my post on what to do on a rainy day (that doesn't involve cleaning out closets).
Hide in your room with a good book. I have read The Devil in the White City which I liked. The next is by the same author, Erik Larson, and has good reviews. Of course you have your Kindle by now so you don't even have to rush to the bookstore. The music is darling Jackie Evancho.
How on earth can I get these ads to line up????
P.S. By now you've figured out that the books I recommend are not the most difficult reading but, rather, enjoyable or informative. As well, you should know that I could care less what you think about politics, what you think about what I think about politics, etc.
Bye for now ...
on my 
