Best Party Recipes

Few Paragraphs from the book,


The word "hospitable" has a pleasant ring to the ear. According to the dictionary, this adjective is denned as "receiving and entertaining guests generously and kindly." Today, the adverb "easily" should be added to that definition, as the whole trend in entertaining is toward simplicity.

Every hostess likes to receive the compliments, "You always seem to have such a good time at your own parties," and, "You do everything so easily." Of course, this does not mean that she has not spent plenty of time in planning and preparing for a party, but it does indicate that the apparently unharried hostess is not plagued with too many last minute details that take her away from her guests.

With the scarcity of regular household help, the completely formal party is practically out of date. Occasionally, we may get out the best linen and china, employ extra service, and ask a few guests to a small dinner or luncheon. For holiday meals, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, we will have place settings at the table for everyone, though we seldom attempt to serve many courses; and at children's parties, table service is more practical and convenient. However, it is a common practice today when we ask friends to have a meal with us to choose the buffet service, whether the meal is served on the terrace, on the lawn around the grill or barbecue, or in the house.

A noticeable trend that makes for greater sociability and makes fewer demands on the hostess is entertaining with cooperative supper parties. For these, the host and hostess will supply the before-dinner drinks and sometimes the main meat item, while other members of the group will bring, according to a preconceived plan, other dishes that will together form the basis of a buffet meal. This same plan, for either the buffet or a sit-down meal, may be enlarged for a club or church luncheon or supper.