Queen of the Food Age

If you want to create an original recipe then you’ll be glad to know that it’s easier than ever to do. All you need is a little creativity and these top tips to get your culinary adventure well under-way.

Ask Friends and Family For Help

It’s always a good idea for you to have close friends and family who are willing to be your lab rats. They will be able to test out your dishes and they will also be able to help you make the right changes. If you have never thought about recruiting someone to your kitchen before then this can be a daunting experience, but remember that they are only there to support you. If you need help coming up with inspiration for a recipe or ways to get started, try bouncing some ideas off of a trusted confidant and see where that leads you!

Learn From Your Mistakes

Another thing that you need to do is learn from your mistakes. Sure, you might have always wanted to have a signature dish, but if it doesn’t work the first, second or even the third time then don’t give up. Learn from your mistakes, but don’t be discouraged. Food is there to be experimented with and with success comes failure.  Once you have nailed your recipe and you are really happy with it, save it and write everything down that you did. You might also want to learn how to how to use Google Docs offline on Mac so that you have a cloud-version of it when you re-connect to the internet.

Look For Inspiration Everywhere

You should always try and be open to ideas everywhere you look. Read cookbooks, blogs or even look up favorite chefs. Culinary inspiration will come from all kinds of places and you would be surprised at how easy it is for you to find something new to experiment with.

Use a Wide Range of Ingredients

You should never just focus on using ingredients that you enjoy. Let’s say that you love olive oil and garlic. This is great, but if you use them in everything, then you won’t be pushing your boundaries. Try and share original recipes that everyone will like with your friends and family, or even try and use ingredients that are in season. There is nothing wrong with trying something new and you never know when you are going to uncover that next big thing.

Know the Basics

There’s an old saying that goes “before you can break the rules, you have to know the rules.” Knowing standard recipes is a great place to start before mixing things up on your own. This could include how to roast garlic or even learning how to make a vinaigrette. When you are set in the fundamentals of cooking you can then experiment a little. If you don’t know how to cook technically then it is always a good idea for you to try and enroll in a course. You don’t have to be a chef in order to take advantage of things like this either because a lot of courses are open to those who want to perfect their skills without being in a professional atmosphere. Why not look to see if there are any courses in your area? You never know what you might learn.

The problem with the world of food today is that we tend to overcomplicate things. We tend to assume that the only way to eat healthy is to go on one of these fad diets or to live a boring and unexciting life. This certainly does not need to be the case. Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle. So, with that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of some simple tips that can help trick you into eating healthier. 

Try 1 new healthy recipe each week

Being healthy should be fun! We should not view it as a chore. One way to keep things fun is to try a new healthy recipe at least once every week.

Drink more water

You’re probably sick and tired of hearing that you need to drink enough water. However, the reason why you hear this so much is because it is true. There has been a lot of research that has shown water can assist with a whole heap of things, from getting more energy, to losing weight, to having better skin! It may even have an impact on the amount of calories you burn per day.

Increase your protein intake

It is also a good idea to look for different ways to increase your protein intake. Protein is often deemed the king of nutrients. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. However, it does have the ability to impact your satiety and hunger hormones. In one study, it was proven that you’re likely to eat 441 fewer calories per day on average if you increase your protein intake from 15 percent to 30 percent. 

Grill food when possible

Another piece of advice is to grill food whenever possible. This is one of the healthiest cooking processes. Plus, grilled meat, vegetables, and such like taste delicious. You will need a good grill, so visit Grillseeker.com for some assistance. 

Slow down

Slowing down while you’re eating is another important tip. The pace at which you eat will influence how much you eat. In fact, there have been a number of studies that have compared different eating speeds. One study showed that fast eaters are up to 115 percent more likely to obese when compared with slow eaters. This is because eating at a slower pace gives your brain more time to realize you’re full. 

Get out the good china

Rather than save your good china for only when you’re having company over, consider treating your meals more like a luxury. Set the table, light some candles, and focus solely on what you’re eating. Research has shown that thinking of healthy food as indulgent can help you feel fuller longer. Plus, it makes you appreciate each bite and really focus on what you’re eating.

As you can see, you do not need to make any crazy changes in order to follow a healthy lifestyle. If you make the simple changes that have been mentioned above, you’re bound to notice a change for the better. The little changes all add up when it comes to leading a healthy life and maintaining a healthy weight. 

Planning and preparing our food ahead of time saves time, money and hassle. It can also save you on calories too, because you never find yourself having to order takeout at the last minute where there’s nothing in the house! But along with menu planning and shopping to a list, another thing you can do is cook, prep and store food in your fridge ready for the days ahead. This means you can easily grab them for snacks or put together really quick and easy meals, even after a long and stressful day at work. No sugar and salt packed processed meal or fast food order in sight!

Chicken Drumsticks

A chicken drumstick makes a great snack between meals, they’re full of protein and don’t contain sugar or a ton of salt so are better than reaching for chips, candy, or other typical snack foods. Buy a spice rub or mix together your own using your herbs and spices, marinate overnight, and then cook. Keep them covered or in a box in the fridge and you have a fantastic tasty snack or a last minute dinner with a bit of microwave rice and salad. 

Hardboiled Eggs

Again, hardboiled eggs can be snacked on but can also be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Slice hardboiled egg on a slice of toast, or mash it with some mayo for a tasty lunchtime sandwich. Crumble it over salad at dinnertime for a delicious added protein boost, they’re very versatile. 

Pasta 

Pasta is an easy lunch or dinner, even easier when it’s already cooked. Boil up a few portions and keep it in tupperware. Mix with a can of tuna, some mayo, and corn for an easy lunch, or with some canned stewed tomatoes, herbs, and chorizo with melted cheese as a quick dinner. 

Salad and Veggies

Having your salad prepped–all washed and chopped–means you’re more likely to actually use it. It can be a daunting task to drag out lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, and other salad-y bits just to make a quick salad at lunchtime but if it’s all there ready to go, it’s much easier. Throw in some ham or chicken slices and chunks of cheese for a fresh and healthy lunch, or have it as a side with just about any meal. Whether it’s to add some freshness to a steak and fries or to bulk out a chicken shawarma recipe, it’s good to have healthy salad on hand. Vegetables are another thing you can prep ahead, steaming things like carrots and broccoli ahead of time and then storing them in the fridge. When you’re ready to use them, all you need is a quick blast in the microwave to warm them up. No chopping, peeling, boiling, or straining needed. 

Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a great starchy staple for many meals, and complements just about any piece of meat with vegetables. But it can be a bit of a pain to make, especially if you’re making it a few times a week. Prepare some mash ready for the week in one go, and use it as you need it. Any leftovers can be mixed with fish then coated in breadcrumbs to make fish cakes, or it can be eaten as a side dish or mixed with cheese and fried onions to make a cheesy potato pie. It can top shepherds pie and much more!

Mastering the art of using chopsticks is essential if you are planning on visiting any Asian restaurant (or if you eat sushi 3 times a week like I do). This set of utensils has been used since at least 1200 BC in China and by AD 500 they were being widely used around the rest of Asia. Early chopsticks were mainly used for cooking, making it possible to reach deep into boiling pots of oil or water. People did not start eating with the utensils until approximately AD 400. This came about because cooks started to chop food into smaller pieces in order to be more economical, as this approach demanded a lower amount of cooking fuel. It also meant that the meals that were produced ideal for the sort of grip you expect when using chopsticks – like tweezers. Since then, different cultures have adopted their own chopstick styles and this utensil is widely when enjoying Asian cuisine.

How to eat with chopsticks:

Whether you are eating dumplings, Peking duck or any other traditional Chinese dish, it is a good idea to know how to use chopsticks properly. You can put away your knife and folk and enjoy the true authentic experience of eating this type of cuisine. It’s definitely worth practicing at home before you go to a restaurant. You can get meal kits so you don’t need to prepare food yourself from scratch. Check out this Gobble review for a good example. So, where do you start? You should begin by picking up the first chopstick with your middle finger and thumb. This chopstick is not supposed to move, it is your anchor, so make sure you have a firm grip. After this, pick up the second chopstick and grip with your index finger and thumb. This chopstick is supposed to move. You should place your thumb over the side of it so that it rests above the first chopstick. To avoid crossing your utensils and being unable to pick up the food make sure the narrow tips are even with one and other. Practice opening and closing the chopsticks to ensure you feel comfortable and that they do not make an ‘X’. Once you have done this you are ready to start enjoying your food.

Chopstick Etiquette

When plate sharing you should a fresh pair of chopsticks to get food from the dishes. You should never use the utensils that you have had in your mouth. If you are not provided with a fresh pair, use the other end of your chopsticks to pick up the food and place it onto your own plate (although note this is considered faux pas in a Japanese restaurant).

You should lay your chopsticks to the side of your dish on the left when you are finished eating. Don’t cross them.

You should never pass food from chopstick to chopstick nor should you stick the utensils upright into your food. Both are funeral protocol and are viewed as bad table behavior. Don’t be afraid to really get in there. If you are eating rice you may need to pick the bowl up to prevent making a mess. There is nothing wrong with doing this.

When it comes to fine dining, there often seem to be a lot of rules that we’re all expected to follow. We’ve all had those strange moments where we’re not sure which fork to be using or which one is the soup spoon. But if there’s one thing that often leads a lot of people to feel incredibly tense when they’re at a dinner party or out for a meal with friends, it’s the moment that they’re asked to choose a drink to go with the food.

It can often feel as though this is some kind of test to see if you have as sophisticated enough palate. However, that’s not the way it has to be. The truth is that the right drink paired with the right food can be a wonderful way to enhance your dining experience. With that in mind, here are just a few simple things to remember when pairing drinks with your food.

Wine

The most obvious place to start is with wine. After all, wine it the drink of choice when it comes to trying to pair food and drink. The first and most obvious question is always red or white. Generally speaking, the way to look at it is if your food has a lot of very rich and intense flavours like any kind of tomato sauce or red meat, then red wine is always going to be your best bet. Within that, you have to think about the specifics. If you’re having a rich cut of steak then something like a Malbec from Argentina is going to be perfect.

If you’re having some kind of rich pasta dish with something like a ragu, a Chianti or other slightly drier style of Italian is a great choice. When it comes to white wine, the key is to understand that one of the major features of white wine is its acidity. This means that if you’re eating something with a great deal of fat like pork belly, rich white wine with a decent amount of acidity like a Chardonnay is always going to be a great choice. If you’re having something spicy then a wine with just a touch of sweetness to it like a Riesling or a Gewurztraminer is going to help bring out those flavors beautifully.

Whiskey

Of course, wine is far from the only drink to be paired with food. If you’re having dessert and you’ve opted for something rich, dark and chocolatey, whiskey is a surprising but absolutely wonderful accompaniment. Dark chocolate and whiskey bring out huge amounts of interesting flavours in one another. Plus it lets everyone know that you really do know what you’re talking about.

Of course, this kind of knowledge and information is valuable but the most important thing is what you actually enjoy. There is so much pretentiousness surrounding a lot of drinks, especially wine, but the truth is that there is as much of it that’s smoke and mirrors as there is real information out there. If you find a combination of flavors that you enjoy, never let anyone try to tell you that there’s anything wrong with that whatsoever.

When you think about chain restaurants in America, you start to realize it’s been a little while since we saw a new one that was a big, nationwide hit. We see things spread to new regions (like Chick-Fil-A or Dunkin) and we see existing chains attempt to reinvent themselves (like Domino’s or Dunkin). But the last time we saw a massive, nationwide chain essentially come out of nowhere may have been Chipotle (which I didn’t eat for the first time until after college) and before that maybe… Panera? I really have no idea.

There’s no way to accurately predict what might be next (if there was, I’d be a millionaire). However, based on some budding companies and general trends in restaurants, food, and even entertainment, these are some chains (and types of chains) we have our eye on.

Bareburger

There seem to be innumerable burger chains around the country, and while some are hits in certain local areas or even entire states (think Whataburger in Texas), few really make it big nationally. Bareburger might have a shot. It’s a publicly funded, elevated fast food chain taking a sustainable, farm-to-table approach to fast casual dining. It also has a more interesting menu than just about every existing restaurant on its level, with bison, elk, and turkey burgers, grilled and fried chicken sandwiches, extensive milkshake and dessert options, and now even a vegan egg burger. It’s a place that reaches out to modern consumers concerned with health, variety, and sustainability, all without sacrificing quality.

Cava Grill

Cava Grill may be the closest thing to a Chipotle phenomenon we’ve seen since. It’s far from the first chain to imitate the basic build-your-own-meal approach (which didn’t start with Chipotle to begin with), but it may do so most successfully. Cava, specifically, is a Greek-inspired grill at which you can start with a pita or bowl and put together a meal full of healthy and interesting ingredients. These range from the restaurant’s signature “crazy feta” topping, to lamb meatballs, to a spicy lime tahini dressing – all delicious, and all the sorts of things you don’t get just anywhere. The process is every bit as quick as it can be at a Chipotle or Subway, the meals, on average, are probably healthier than either, and the prices are reasonable. Cava is already expanding fairly aggressively, and seems to have a chance to become a major chain.

Chipotle-Style Dumplings

Dumplings seem to be just about everywhere. You can find them in passing Korean BBQ food trucks in big cities, or on the menus at fancier Asian restaurants here and there. You might have a favorite, off-the-beaten-path, authentic dumpling restaurant in your town. A new dumpling restaurant-slash-brewery in North Carolina even made a Forbes list of the coolest new restaurants in the world. Simply put, Americans are enjoying a bit of a dumpling craze. And if someone figures out how to present them in a Chipotle-like (or Cava-like) fashion, it could be a hit. Can you imagine the crowds of people who would wait to walk down a line and fill up their own dumplings?

Sportsbook-Style Grills

This idea comes less from a food trend or existing chain and more from a budding entertainment concept across the country. According to the latest news on U.S. gambling, states across the country are moving toward making sports betting legal. This would be a massive change, and there’s already talk about the different ways in which Americans will bet: through sites, through apps, at casino sportsbooks… and possibly at brand new venues. There is already some talk of Buffalo Wild Wings developing its own in-house sportsbooks, which leads us to wonder if there could also be a major new chain on the way, combining the traditional sports bar and grill with sleek, modern sportsbook features.

All-Day Breakfast Chains

This idea basically speaks for itself. It seems that just about everybody loves the idea of being able to eat breakfast all day. Indeed, even McDonald’s made the switch not long ago to expanding its breakfast menu to 24-hour availability. But we don’t really have a nationwide breakfast food chain that’s fast, easy, and widely liked. There are certainly some restaurants that approximate the idea – various biscuit- or donut-centric places may come to mind – but there’s not one leading the pack. If one such restaurant could separate itself and become the leader in this limited but desirable category, it too could be a huge deal.

Discover new restaurants in your area by searching on Groupon!  

For many people all over the world, spicy foods hold a special place in their hearts. Whether you rouse your tastebuds with a mild flavor or nearly set fires in your mouth with a high-level pepper, adding heat to a dish can make it a lot tastier. Although I am somewhat of a wimp when it comes to spicy foods, I have recently been trying to acclimate my tastebuds a bit more. The benefits of spice go far beyond flavoring alone. Recent research has found that, when consumed in moderation, it can positively affect your health too. With that in mind, here are five healthy reasons you should eat spicy foods.

Assist Weight Loss

When you’re trying to keep the weight off, adding spice to your food can be a major help. The main reason for this is that most spices increase your body heat, which boosts metabolism, and therefore makes it easier for you to burn calories. Other types of spice, like cinnamon, assist in balancing your blood sugar, making you feel fuller for longer. Adding spice to your food can also make it taste better, which means you’re more likely to stick to a healthy food plan.

Protect Against Ulcers

Anyone who has ever eaten spicy food before has probably heard the old wives’ tale that it can cause ulcers, or, worse still, burn holes in your stomach. Thankfully, this is far from scientifically proven. In fact, research instead suggests that certain hot peppers can actually protect you against ulcers. This is because a compound in those peppers kills the bacteria that causes them. So, next time someone tries to scare you off eating Indian food, you can tell them that.

Alleviate Sinus Trouble

When you’re stuck at home with a terrible cold, spicy foods are probably the last thing on your mind. However, adding a drop or two of ghost pepper sauce to your food can make you feel a lot better. After all, spicy food tends to leave you with a runny nose, which means that, if yours is all bunged up, the heat from the spices can be helpful. The hotter the spice, the greater the decongesting impact, so opt for the hottest one that you can handle.

Prevent Heart Problems

Inflammation is believed to be the cause of many serious chronic diseases, including heart disease. Luckily, certain spices have the power to fight this issue. In addition to this, many of these spices can also dissolve blood clots, reduce stress, lower cholesterol, and much more. They also help you to maintain a healthy weight, which is also vital for good heart health. By reducing the risk of heart problems in this way, it allows you to live a much longer life.

Naturally Improve Your Mood

Some spicy foods trigger the release of a neurotransmitter called serotonin in the brain. This chemical is known as a feel-good hormone, as it helps to improve your mood and fight negative feelings, stress, and depression. Just be aware that eating a chili pepper now and then isn’t going to cure any mental health issues. If you’re struggling, you should seek professional help, rather than relying on spicy foods.

As well as being tasty, spicy foods offer a number of benefits for your health. If you’re not a fan of spice yet, then start with a few mild dishes and slowly work your way up to the hotter ones.

Dinner parties used to be trendy in the 1970s and 1980s. However, with the boom of the hectic office lifestyle, more and more households have shied away from entertaining guests. It’s only recently that we’ve rediscovered our love with entertaining. Inviting friends over for a meal and a chat is gaining in popularity. However, in practice, we sometimes fail to create a healthy and happy feeling of togetherness during our dinner parties. And with the bikini months looming at the horizon, you can’t afford to invite everyone for a pizza and a beer. You want to consider health-friendly options that keep everyone entertained!

Plan Ahead

Nobody likes planning. When it comes to seeing your friends, you may want to inject a little bit of spontaneity. But, the truth is that when you’re having guests, you can’t be too spontaneous about your dinner. You need to plan if you want to stick to your healthy and happy dinner party resolutions. You can use the group chat on Facebook to invite at random and order a pizza when everybody’s here. Select who you want to ask so that you can plan what to cook. While it might sound dull, the better prepared you are, the quicker you’ll be to get ready. As a rule of the thumb, you should give yourself and your guests at least a handful of days notice. This will provide you with plenty of time to pick a recipe or even share the work with your guests – someone can offer to bring a dessert, for instance.

Find Healthy Alternatives to Chips

Let’s be honest. It doesn’t matter when you tell your guests to arrive. You’ll always get some early guests who ring your doorbell long before the party begins and some latecomers who got stuck in traffic on the way to you. So you have to plan not only for your dinner but also for nibbles to keep everyone satisfied until they’re ready to eat. Don’t place bowls of salted peanuts and chips, as these can be filling and greasy. Instead, have a look for a simple but healthy substitute, such as this hummus recipe from Nomads Marketplace. Add some fresh carrots cucumbers and celery sticks to dunk in, and everyone will wait happily.  

Everyone loves a good game

How many bottles of wine should you buy? It’s always a tricky question, and in the end, most guests tend to drink too much. Unfortunately, drinking and snacking is part of a typical response when everyone sits at the table for a chat. You can take your guests’ minds away from nibbling after dinner by playing games.

Board games can not only let you connect, but also provide for a great relaxing and entertaining evening. You’re never too old to play! And most guests will welcome the exciting change. As a rule of the thumb, you should keep your dinner parties small so that everyone can have a go and talk freely. And you’ll find yourself having a lot more fun than you would otherwise!

The food industry is buzzing at the moment, new trends like gourmet fast food and veganism, and the introduction of different cuisines from around the world means that you’ve got more choice than ever when it comes to eating out. There are so many amazing restaurants out there serving delicious food and you probably want to try it all. The only problem is, you probably don’t have the money to do that. Eating out can be quite expensive and most of us don’t do it as often as we’d like to because we just can’t afford it.

But what if I told you that eating out doesn’t always have to be expensive and you could start going out to all of these amazing new restaurants that are popping up nearby? It might sound too good to be true but it isn’t, just use these simple tips and tricks and you can afford to eat out more often.

Switch to Soft Drinks

You’ve probably noticed that when you get the bill for your meal, it’s the drinks that really push the price up a lot of the time. In some fairly cheap restaurants, it’s easy to spend more on drinks than you did on the food. A lot of the time, it wouldn’t be that expensive to go out if you didn’t spend loads of money on drinking, so why not just go for soft drinks instead? You can still enjoy all of the great food but the bill will be a lot smaller at the end.

Don’t Write Off Fast Food

When you think of eating out, you’re probably not thinking about fast food restaurants, but you shouldn’t write them off entirely. Going out to eat isn’t all about the food sometimes, it’s about the occasion. Part of the joy is getting out of the house, not having to cook and, most importantly, not having to wash up. If you can’t afford to go anywhere fancy, you should check out Fastfoodmenuprices and see if there is anywhere more affordable nearby. Fast food isn’t all cheap flimsy burgers any more, there are actually quite a lot of fast food places that do decent food for a good price, so don’t write them all off.

Look For Deals And Offers

Restaurants are very up and down businesses. They’ll have a lot of trade at the weekends but it’s harder to get people in during the week. That’s why a lot of restaurants offer deals and discounts during on weeknights. You might also be able to find deals on certain holidays as well, so it’s always worth looking online to see if you can get a discount before you go. In some cases, you might be able to save yourself a lot of money.

Lunchtimes are another slow period for a lot of restaurants so they’ll usually offer a reduced price menu to get more people in. If you’re more flexible about the time that you go, you can save yourself quite a bit of money and it’ll be easier to get a table in busy places as well.

Set Menus

A lot of restaurants offer a set menu service that is usually a lot cheaper than ordering off the normal menu. They usually include some of their best dishes on the set menu which means that you’re getting a good selection. It’s a great choice when you’re visiting a restaurant for the first time and you don’t really know what’s good, and it’ll save you a lot of money as well. If there are items that aren’t included with the set menu that you really want to try, you can still save money by ordering the set menu and then another item on the side to share.

Save Money On Home Cooking

If you’re spending a lot of money cooking at home all week, you’ll have less money to spend on going out. There are a few simple ways that you can save money on your food bill at home. First off, you should switch to a cheaper supermarket because you can get the same stuff for half the price. Cooking in big batches and freezing it is a great way to cut the cost of meals and you’ll have plenty of food that you can heat up if you can’t be bothered with cooking.

Have A Dinner Party

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you still can’t afford to eat out. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great dining experience. When money is tight but you still want to eat great food, why not throw a dinner party instead? You can have all of your guests bring some food along and you can all enjoy a great dining experience without spending that much money at all.

Eating out can be expensive, but following these simple tips will help to cut down on how much you’re spending when going out.

Throwing a dinner party can be a fun, yet incredibly stress-inducing experience. Every decision that you make, from those on your guest list to the music that you play, can be a source of anxiety. As a host, you will need to approach this task with a clear sense of determination. Whatever type of party you plan to throw, you need to be driven to maintain good relationships, entertain and, of course, impress. To make this easier, here are six things that you should do.

Invite A Select Group

You may not be hosting the Met Gala, but those on your guest list should still be a select group. After all, you don’t want to give yourself too much work or invite people that don’t get along. Make sure that you select individuals with similar interests, or, at the very least, people that need introducing. When you send out invitations, remember to ask about guests’ dietary restrictions.

Cook What You Know

As tempting as it can be to cook something new and exciting for your dinner party, you should avoid this at all costs. The last thing that you want to do is to try and fail at cooking some exotic dish. Instead, you should choose one that you’ve cooked before and are confident in preparing. There are many stress-free mains to consider, which look fancy, but take very little effort.

Check Your Kitchen Inventory

Before the night of your party, you need to check that you have all of the necessary dishes and tools to prepare and serve your meals. If you don’t, checking your inventory early gives you plenty of time to research and stock up. This allows you to take a look at, Cut It Fine, for example, for advice on purchasing boning knives. Remember to check all of these again on the day.

Get An Early Start

Cooking a meal for more than just your family is no small feat. For this reason, it helps to get an early start and prepare as much as you can before your guests arrive. Certain items, like baked desserts, can be made a few days prior to your party, while veggies can be peeled and chopped the day before. Your table can also be set a few days back so that you have less to do.

Go Easy On Appetizers

Everyone knows that a charcuterie board is a must for any dinner party. However, that doesn’t mean that you should go overboard on it and other appetizers. If you do, your guests will fill up on cheeses and meats, which means that they won’t be hungry by the time your meal is presented. To avoid this, you should limit them to only a few options and don’t replenish the supplies.

Ask For Some Help

You may be the one hosting the party, but that doesn’t mean that you should be doing all of the work. If you want a little time to enjoy yourself too, then you may need to ask for some help. This could be having reliable friends bring their own side dishes or desserts to contribute to the meal. If guests ask how they can help, find them an easy task to complete.

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Hosting a dinner party can be a lot of work, but, with these tips, you should find the task a lot more enjoyable.