Party Times

The grand 2nd birthday celebration was, by all accounts, a smashing success. Our house is still standing. The furniture and walls are without any additional adornments such as glitter and the guests all had plenty to eat. I assume the latter because we are almost finished the last of our leftovers and its Wednesday, people! I felt quite a bit of pressure to provide a nice spread because many of the guests were coming from out of town. Regardless, it is usually a good idea to have a plentiful spread to ensure that everyone can enjoy themselves. Not that I am Suzy Homemaker, but I have a cardinal set of rules — which I call the Party Food Commandments — by which I like to entertain. 

• Entertain because you want to and not because you feel you have to
• Serve the food you would be happy to eat at other’s parties
• Always, Always, A-L-W-A-Y-S accommodate allergies (not to be confused with preferences) especially for children and definitely when it impacts cake
  • This one is especially close to my heart. My nephew has tree-nut allergies. I am always disappointed when I am at a party with him and the host (if in the know about said allergy) has not provided a sweet alternative to a tree-nut contaminated cake. How would they feel if their child couldn’t eat cake and was going to a kid’s party?
• Change things up. If I can guess your menu before arriving because it is always the same, then please change it up
  • My family is often guilty of this! Mom, if I see one more olivie (Russian potato salad) at your party, I am going to incite a mutiny!
  • For her first birthday, we hosted a bonafide tea party complete with tea sandwiches, scones and the likes. This time, it was hoagies and the likes. What’s next?
• Thou shalt never buy store-made guacamole. Besides the fact that it is expensive, it is downright nasty-tasting
• Drinks are just as important as food. Evan is in charge of ours and we usually settle on one or two types of beer, a red and a white wine. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just good.

Last year’s tea party