Entertaining Easy
I know the words "entertaining" and "easy" don't usually go together. Let's face it, entertaining can be down right exhausting; cleaning, prepping, cooking, cleaning, and more cleaning.and most of the work is done before even one guest sets foot in your house!
Whether you are hosting 2 people or twenty-two, it can be an overwhelming task trying to get everything together and manage to have a good time at your own affair. Here are 5 items that help to make entertaining easy. Get ready to dust off your crock pot (or invest in a new one.) Effortless entertaining, is well, as easy as it sounds.
Crock pots can certainly cook up more than just a roast. Cook and serve crock pots are ideal for effortless entertaining. We particularly liked the Crock Pot Trio Cook & Serve. It is $89.99 and allows you to cook three things at the same time. Crock pots are perfect for serving up tasty cocktail meatballs, spinach dip and any other appetizer that you may be serving that should stay warm. Cooking in a crock pot replaces multiple pots, pans and serving dishes so there is less work for you when the guests leave!
Slow and steady wins the race. Check out crock pots under $50
The more food you have out the less you have to do. Instead of serving your guests in a formal sit down manner. Utilize your furniture and home decor and set up serving stations. Ottomans are a great way to serve lots of finger foods. Place a tray on top of your ottoman and you have an instant server. This will help with the flow of the party and will hopefully encourage your guests to mingle around the room. Also, if you are short on space and seating, you can use your ottoman as additional seating if it is sturdy enough.
Set it and forget it. Check out ottomans under $100
Once the chocolate gets flowing it is hard to stop the party. The great thing about chocolate fountains, is that while they look super fancy and complicated, they are failry easy to set up. And what, I love is that they require absolutely nothing from the host or hostess to do while the party is going. It is literally the dessert that keeps on giving. Having a chocolate fountain will allow you to time to enjoy your party and be able to catch up with yours guests. If you think that you can't spring for a chocolate fountain, think again. We found the Nostalgia Chocolate Fountain for $39.98!
Party over here. Check out chocolate fountains under $80
Munchies? Check. Now it is time to focus on the music. If you already have an MP3 player and want to step up your music game. Invest in a music system docking station. The Bose Sounddock is top notch and while it is not cheap, they retail for over $250, it certainly is a sound investment. A quality music system sets the mood for your party and is a smart buy if you plan to do a lot of entertaining.
Pump up the volume. Check out sound systems under $150
Let's preface this last entertainment essential by saying it is only for the over 21 crowd. If you are over 21 and having an adult par-tay, then a kegerator may really get the party started. Kegerators are good for people who entertain a lot. Warning, don't get one if you are not interested in having stray friends come over every time there is a big game on. And, they aren't cheap. It can cost you hundreds of dollars in order to allow the beer to run "free." While a little pricey, they may be worth if so that you don't have to check all night to make sure that your guests glasses are full. You can set up the kegerator and let it do the topping off for you.
Let the good times roll. Check out kegerators under $1,000
What are your trips for entertaining? We want to know!
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Mayfly54 said 3-02-2010 @9:00AM
Love the crockpot trio.. great way to keep things warm.. always have a big easter brunch and trying to keep things hot is a challenge so this maybe a good solution.
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Carol said 3-06-2010 @8:21AM
google "Whipped and Beaten Culinary Works" so see some hilarous cooking products.. mainly recipe books.. but its something every kitchen should have...
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basketpam said 3-06-2010 @9:54AM
Is this a comment section or a retail advertising board? 90% of all comments today are spam. When is the responsible news sites going to take care of this horrendous problem? Now back to this article. THE most one important thing to help you with entertaining is to work ahead. Do as much prep as humanly possible ahead of time. My mother and I have both done tons of entertaining over the years. She will set her table as much as a week ahead. If you have a seperate dining room that you can do this, it really helps. Prep food a day or even two ahead. Anything that can be chopped, cleaned, peeled, seasoned or somehow worked ahead, do so. This more than anything will guarantee less stress on the day of your function. This is how the pros do it. Make those dips 2 or 3 days ahead. Fill those platters with crackers and items and cover tightly with plastic wrap the day before. This is how you get everything done in time and not be too exhausted to enjoy your own party. Hire a cleaning lady that week, don't try to do it all yourself.
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Larry said 3-06-2010 @11:46AM
Thanks for your actual comment on the subject at hand - and ditto for your thoughts on advertisers using the "comment forum."
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Laura said 3-06-2010 @4:06PM
My husband purchased the trio crock pot as a Christmas gift from Costco. He thought I could cook 3 meals on Sunday and free up some time during the week. I thought it was a great idea too!
replyIt seemed to be a typical slow cooker with high, low and warm settings. So I started our 3 meals in the morning on the high setting and when I went back approx 4 hrs later to turn it to low to finish, everything was completely cooked. I was not too happy about that! I used it again on the low setting and the food was still cooked within 4 hours. I can't imagine what the food would be like if I turned it on in the morning and left it cook all day while I went to work! I left a message on the manufacture website and they didn't respond so it was returned. Also, it didn't fit in any of my kitchen cabinets! Needless to say, it was returned!
I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT AT ALL!
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mattie405 said 3-06-2010 @2:27PM
I can vouch for the Crock Pot Trio. I bought one of these last year and used it a lot during the holidays, talk about having hot gravy and mashed potatoes ready all during the meal for over 20 people. Usually we are re-heating stuff in shifts in the microwave but this year everything was kept piping hot. Keep in mind tho that the unit is almost 36 inches long so it does take up a good bit of space but if you have the room for it and you want your food kept hot then by all means invest in it, you'll be glad you did.
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mattie405 said 3-06-2010 @2:31PM
I have the crock pot trio and it is absolutely one of the best things I've bought. It got lots of use during last seasons holidays and instead of having to re-heat dinners in the microwave in shifts so we all could eat hot food, the potatoes, gravy and dressing was put in the trio set up. When you are feeding a large crowd the biggest challenge is often keeping the food hot, with the trio it isn't a problem anymore. I've also used it for making three fresh soups at one time and then freezing them to have hot homemade soup when I feel like it.
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