~The Art of Entertaining~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning my Stylish Sisters!

Have you had your coffee yet? Because today is going to be a very busy day. Today I will be doing one of my absolutely favorite things to do! I will be entertaining guests! I love to have people over for a meal, a special event, or even a cup of tea. I love to visit and catch up with old friends, to reminisce, to share stories over a pot of strong coffee or a plate full of hors d'oeuvres.

But just as much as visiting with my guests, I love the preparation and planning that goes into a successful gathering. There is no better feeling than having your friends fawn over your fruit plate, or drool over your desserts.

Because I love to entertain so much, I've gotten it down to a science. From the silverware to the centerpiece, the decorations to the desserts, I have got it covered. And now I am going to share my secrets with you, my sisters; all of the tips, the techniques to entertaining that I have learned throughout the years so that insh'Allah you, too can throw soirees that are truly couture.

So refill your coffee, and get a pen and paper, because you are not going to want to miss this.


#1. Plan Your Soiree According to the Occasion
Children have no place at a formal dinner party, there is no comfortable way for fifty people to socialize in a two bedroom apartment, and you are probably better off not inviting men to a women's halaqa. The rule "the bigger the better" does NOT apply to social events, so keep it simple and plan accordingly.


#2. Invitations Are a Must
Whether inviting your closest friends for a Saturday brunch, or throwing a formal business banquet invitations are absolutely necessary for a fashionista fete. They show you are genuinely interested in your guests attending and in this hectic world who wouldn't appreciate a reminder of a social event? Evites are okay as a last resort, but old fashion hand-written notes are the best. If you are on a tight budget (as most of us are) you can get adorable and affordable all-purpose cards that will work for any occassion at Target, or your neighborhood drugstore.

Target Stationary:

http://www.target.com/s/176-5632011-3261565?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&keywords=Stationary%20and%20Invitations&searchSize=30&ref=sr_bx%5F1%5F1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=1038576&searchPage=1&searchRank=target104545


#3. Lists Are Always a Good Thing
Planning ahead is invaluable, so keep a running list of things you need, or need to do. Not only does this keep you organized, but checking things off of a list is an instant boost for your mood because it shows your accomplishments. (no matter how trivial they may seem)


#4. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Do as much as you can ahead of time. Guests do not want to come to your house to watch you cook, you are not Emeril Lagasse and your home is not the Food Network, so if you are playing chef, then plan a menu with items that can be mixed, prepared or even cooked the morning of your event, but will still be delicious to serve later.


Which brings me to #5...

If You Can't Cook- DON'T
Now this is a touchy subject for some sisters. As women we are conditioned since childhood to think that knowing how to cook is vital to our success in this world. But the bottom line is this: it is better to serve a delicious meal that has been purchased from a local restaurant, than to let your guests leave starving because they couldn't stomach your meal. A wonderful alternative to either of those is fondue. If you can afford a quality fondue set, it can save you a lot of embarrassment in the future, and it is delicious and classy.

Inexpensive Fondue Sets:
http://www.amazon.com/Trudeau-Century-Fondue-Piece-Set/dp/B001BFZ3JG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1265861307&sr=8-1


#6. The Table is Your Canvas
Many chefs will tell you that half of a good meal is the presentation. Do not, do not, DO NOT use paper plates...ever. (did I get my point across? LOL) The only exceptions to this rule are barbecues and kid's birthday parties. If you do not have matching china and are on a budget, then a good alternative is to go to Ross, TJ Maxx or Overstock.com and buy a nice 8 serving set of dishes that you use ONLY for these occassions. It is greener, classier, and much more functional to do this than to use paper plates, and you can usually find nice sets for under $50.00 if you are willing to do some bargain shopping.

Try looking here: http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=Dinner+Plates&SearchType=Header

If you are not a tablecloth lover (or are unwilling to iron a tablecloth- which is absolutely necessary) then it is a good idea to pick up a set of coordinating placemats when you buy the dishes. Personally I prefer a crisp (ironed) white or cream table linen with contrasting napkins and plates, but that is up to you. Finally, no table is complete without a beautiful centerpiece. If you are crafty then make one yourself out of flowers, pebbles, or other natural elements. Keep it simple for daytime luncheons, and more decorative for dinner parties, and always keep it within the season and occasion. You can also use food as a centerpiece by simply filling a decorative bowl with exotic fruits like starfruit, mangoes, prickly pear, or other texture-rich succulents. Or you can buy an edible bouquet at http://www.ediblearrangements.com/ or make one yourself like I am for today's lunch; out of honeydew, apples, watermelon, and chocolate dipped strawberries.


#7. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
It is easier said than done, but even with careful planning you cannot prevent the inevitable. Go with the flow, enjoy your guests and graciously accept what may come, because nobody is happy if the host is not happy!



#8. Always Serve Dessert
You don't have to bake a cake, or make a pie to serve up a tasty treat after a delicious meal. Creatively cut-up fruit and cheese works well for lunch gatherings, or a small scoop of sorbet with a fruit sauce served with coffee works well for an evening event. Cupcakes are very trendy right now, and easy to make. My personal favorite is miniature Red Velvet cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. I like them in the bite-sized form so as to limit the embarrassment of Red Velvet crumbs stuck in your teeth. Here is a delicious recipe for them: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/red-velvet-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/index.html

Another option is to make a pineapple boat out of a quartered pineapple, scooped out. You can serve melon chunks, strawberries, and pieces of various cheeses inside, and top it with a drizzle of vanilla or pineapple flavored yogurt and chopped nuts. It is a healthier alternative to cupcakes, and beautiful as well as tasty.


#9. You Are Never Too Old For Goody Bags
Okay, so I don't mean you should send your guests home with a Mickey Mouse bag full of gumballs and noise-makers, but you should never send them home empty handed. Either make enough dessert to be able to send them on their way with a tasty treat for later, or you can buy inexpensive fabric bags at any crafts store to fill with mints, mixed nuts, or dried fruit. You don't have to do anything extravagant, but your guests will truly appreciate the extra thought. My favorite is to buy chinese style to-go boxes at any crafts store, and fill them with after dinner mints, a thank you card for attending, or something relating to the occassion. You can buy these style boxes here: http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/colored-chinese-take-out-boxes.html



#10. Follow Up
Last but not least, the party does not end the second the guests walk out of the door. Within a week of the get-together send a quick email or (better yet) a written note simply thanking them for attending and letting them know you enjoyed the time. It is always nice to send a picture that was taken during the event, to remind them of the fun had by all.

So there you have it in a nutshell. Of course, I could go on and on about decoration ideas, delicious recipes, and fete faux-pas, but half of the fun of entertaining is learning as you go along. And speaking of entertaining I have a quiche to make, a table to decorate, and a cake to frost so it's time I leave you lovely ladies to enjoy your day.

Insh'Allah you have found my tips helpful and your next shindig is a success!

I'll be waiting for an invitation! :)



Ma'Salaama and Happy Hosting!

Fashionably Yours,
The Mujahada in Prada