"Welcome"...it's a very good word!

-Decide your menu in advance as best as possible and think carefully before you do this who your guests will be, if there will be children, bosses, neighbors, friends etc. or a combination of all.

-Never have fish or pork as your main dish if you are not sure if your guests have allergies or dietary restrictions, stick to poultry or beef or give at least two options to include a vegetarian option.

-Do not try a new recipe the day of your gathering, believe it or not many people have made that mistake or are thinking about it, me included! My experience is one of extreme stress, so stick to the tried and true. 

-Always include a green leafy salad that you can prepare in advance and will add a nice pop of color to the menu and a fresh alternative. Have a natural dressing ready such as vinaigrette and something creamy as well such as garlic ranch or creamy Italian. I recommend these dressings be bought in the refrigerated aisle to ensure they have less preservatives. 

-A casserole that you can prepare in advance is a great addition to the menu and it will save time such as Broccoli Casserole or baked Mac & Cheese, all you need to do is put it in the oven half an hour before your guests arrive. A cold dish is always a good option as well as a pasta salad. 

-Have at least 3 or 4 types of cheeses, (this does not have to be expensive aged cheeses) cold cuts platter, fresh fruit , dry fruit and nut platters, finger foods such as Deviled Eggs or Empanadas as appetizers and set them out before your guests arrive in a festive display. A generous charcuterie board is very easy and fun to make if you get creative. 

-Dessert is also very important, so make sure you choose something that everyone can eat if you only have one item, try not to have something with nuts in case of allergies. Ice Cream with a nice fruit topping adorned with tea cookies is always a good option or a fruit salad. Grapes and strawberries go with your cheese tray but also with dessert so don't forget to pick those up and use them. 

-Choose your tableware, tablecloth and stemware and napkins in advance, if your gathering is small, always go with real cloth and real glass , there are some nice options even at discount stores or even the dollar store. If you are creative you can still make it stunning. 

-If you would like everything to be dazzling and sparkling no matter the scale of your gathering always  place emphasis on the details such as candles and flowers. Non aromatic candles are best in the dining or open kitchen areas and a nice fresh scent is always nice in the living room.

-Place a centerpiece of fresh flowers, you don't need to brake the bank to do this, as flowers can be expensive, you can gather leaves, greenery and flowers from outside or the nearby park or buy single stems at the grocery store and combine them with greenery. 

-If you are serving cocktails, wine etc.  make sure you wash your stemware and glassware in advance and remember you may also serve non-alcoholic cider, a refreshing "mocktail" or sparkling water in nice stemware instead of alcoholic drinks for a festive look always. 

-Always please do yourself a favor and buy a 5 dollar bag of ice, your refrigerator's automatic ice dispenser (if you are lucky to have one) cannot produce that much ice and you could run out. Never run out of ice! 

-Have a cake stand, some glass or wood cake stands are very inexpensive. Have serving platter displays of different heights for a more elegant and rich display no matter how casual the reunion and the food.

-Set your table the night before, candles are always nice and a nicely  pressed seasonal tablecloth makes a whole world of difference.

-Decide if your meal will be sit down or buffet style depending on the size of the gathering, but still set your table appropriately. 

-Clean or have your house cleaned one or two days in advance. Especially your restroom with a fresh clean towel for guests as well as a nice new hand soap and a small votive.

 -Don't let the small details escape you, when entertaining at home, the difference is in the details and there is no substitute for real. Real food, real flowers, and people that are real. 

-Sandra