WEEKEND UPDATE
I have been told that no woman can possibly be entertaining to others if she can’t entertain herself, all by herself. Does the prospect of an evening alone give you the blurs? Can you look forward to a week end without any invitations or engagements without any premonition of boredom? If you can then you are well on your way toward being an entertaining person. In other words, a good hostess.
~Dorothy Draper (1889 – 1969) Entertaining is Fun! (1941)
THE EXHAUSTION WEEKEND CONTINUES
Sorry for the utter lack of originality in today’s title, but I’m battling fatigue as I try to keep up the content while things are accelerating in my non-blogging life. Beginning a business if not for the feint of heart and, while I’ve always been blessed with lots of energy, I am feeling the effects of exhausting my stores of energy, including first-hand knowledge of where the expression So tired I can’t see straight originated. Unable to post last night because of that affliction, I’m posting before a meeting with my business partner. And before breakfast. And before coffee. Such is my life at the moment.
I’ve already posted Steak, Portobello mushrooms, Teriyaki Chicken & BBQ Spareribs, so look up preparations on the left sidebar for your barbecue menu. If you know how to work a grill – gas, charcoal or wood – you know the drill.
Mid-Memorial Day Weekend I offer some tips on entertaining:
- Buffet works great because it’s casual and everyone can serve themselves when they want. Put glasses and flatware (knives, forks, spoons) at the end of the table rather than the beginning so guests won’t have to juggle utensils while serving themselves.
- Forget the buffet table centerpiece. Place flowers in other places – out of the line of fire to get to the food – like fireplace mantles, deep windowsills and bookshelves. If you have any large stereo speakers in storage, haul them out for additional tabletops.
- Put two serving spoons in each dish so two can serve at once.
- If you have room for a separate table, use it for beverages, glassware, ice, condiments and utensils to keep the buffet line moving.
- If serving anything with butter, consider buttering it before serving so guests don’t have to fuss with it. Baked potatoes can be sliced open and buttered at the grill. Maybe you have a child who can be enlisted in this helpful task.
- Sprinkle napkins at various places (on table tops, mantles) for easy access. Placing them in glasses or baskets make great dispensers.
- Buffet is nice but if you’re grilling individual things like hot dogs and burgers, most folks are happy to get theirs as they come hot off the grill.
- Grilling chicken is another matter, as chicken parts take longer and you might have an entire platter full of thighs or breasts. Marinating beforehand will increase their juiciness and wonderfully suited since grilling is a dry cooking method. Consider using all thighs or all breasts for a single cooking time where they’re all ready at once.
- For apartment-dwellers or otherwise grill-less situations or when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen by using the oven, consider getting Peruvian rotisserie chicken from a local restaurant. You get the grilled flavor without the fire fuss.
- Have trash cans visible so used disposable plates don’t collect on valuable table space. Consider separate bin for aluminum cans and plastic cups.
- If you don’t want to go all china or all disposable, consider paper plates and metal flatware since plates are the things that take up more space and more washing time. Having a sink full of hot, soapy water (or a rectangular pan) to collect used flatware will speed washing.
- Make sure the dishwasher is empty at the start of the party so you can load it as serving dishes empty.
That’s it for today! Tomorrow’s Meatless Monday post will be Grilled Vegetables, so pick up whatever produce you like and I’ll tell you how. Time for coffee.
Don’t wear yourself out posting! That’s something learned from 3 + years of doing this. I’m trying your portabella recipe now that I can get my grill out (the wren nest was too close. I’ll also be watching your meatless Mondays with great interest :-) Hope you get to slow down and enjoy the holiday.
This Eclectic Life´s last blog ..Try Walking in HER Shoes
Hi! Thanks for stopping by. No chance of slowing down; worked seven hours today on the other part of my life and have more of the same tomorrow. Sigh. Best bet is to shorten my posts which, believe it or not, I’ve been trying to do. Today’s was written at lightening speed because I just didn’t give myself more time. Need to do more of that, especially as my other project encroaches more and more into the day’s allotment of waking hours.
Went meatless all this week, so check out the Omelet Anthony. It’s not the quickest fix, but maybe Mr Tucker would like it, if he likes eggs. I read your past post about oatmeal, and will bet you any amount of money that you would like my granola if I could get you to try it. I’ll even send a small batch to you to try. In the interest of research, you understand.
Let me know how you like the mushroom! Cheers on your MD holiday.
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