Kuel Life
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Community
    • Business Directory
    • Exclusive Member Content
    • Kuel Conversations
    • Share Your Story
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty & Fashion
    • Relationships
    • Home
    • Money
    • Work
    • Travel & Adventure
  • Wellness
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Mindfulness
  • Jack’s Smack
  • Membership
  • eShop
    • Books
    • Kuel Swag
    • Services
    • Products
  • Contact Us
  • Community
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Community
    • Business Directory
    • Exclusive Member Content
    • Kuel Conversations
    • Share Your Story
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty & Fashion
    • Relationships
    • Home
    • Money
    • Work
    • Travel & Adventure
  • Wellness
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Mindfulness
  • Jack’s Smack
  • Membership
  • eShop
    • Books
    • Kuel Swag
    • Services
    • Products
  • Contact Us
  • Community
No Result
View All Result
Kuel Life
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Home

Five Secrets to Dinner Parties

Five Secrets to Dinner Parties

dinnertablepartyset

Guest Writer: Delia Lloyd
Back when I was just out of college and living with three friends in Washington, DC, I once told one of my friend’s mothers that my roommates and I were going to throw a party.
“Oh?” she asked. “What will you serve?”
I paused, unsure how to answer.
“Um…beer?” I said, finally.
What a difference twenty five years makes.
While I still love beer, one of the hallmarks of adulthood is leaving the phase where beer and (if you’re lucky) chips will do and stepping things up a notch to more grown-up fare.

Curtesy of Jean Pedigo http://www.jpedigophotography.com/

Which isn’t to say it’s easy. Although I resolved a few years back to have people over more often (and have made good on that promise), it’s taken me a while to figure out how to entert
ain without finding it stressful. Because even though I’m fairly far out there on the extrovert spectrum, it does make me anxious to have to organize a meal for anyone other than my family.
Lately, however, I’ve noticed that things have gotten easier in that department. Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Less is more. As with so many things in life, less proves to be more. Once upon a time – partly for efficiency reasons (“I’m cooking anyway“)  and partly because I’ve always subscribed to “the more, the merrier” school of thought – I would routinely have dinner parties with eight or more of us at the table. It just seemed more sociable. These days, six people is my maximum. And increasingly, having just one couple over is becoming the norm in our household. Not only is it a lot less work, but when you keep a dinner party small, you can actually talk to your guests and – Egads! – listen to what they say. Try it. It turns out that having fewer people over is actually more fun.
2. Clear the decks. For a long time, I thought that the reason I found entertaining stressful was because I hated to cook. Turns out, I don’t hate to cook. I even, on occasion, find it therapeutic. What I found stressful was not having enough counter space to prepare the dishes. So while I was getting ready for the dinner party, I’d constantly feel like the party itself was closing in on me. It helps to have a large kitchen if you want to feel less hemmed in. But let’s face it, I live in London so that’s not happening. But even if you don’t have a large kitchen, if you can somehow manage to clear the counters of clutter before you start cooking – so that your cookbook (see below) isn’t balanced precariously on top of your mixing bowl – you’ll find that the whole thing is much more enjoyable.
3. Get a good cook book. I’ve always admired my friends who could just stare at a bunch of random ingredients and whip up something delicious. But that’s just not me. Nor will it ever be. I have learned, however, the value of a good cook book over time. Having a few recipes which you know are a. doable and b. tasty takes a ton of stress out of meal preparation. A few years back, a friend of mine gave me a cookbook called How To Cook For Food Allergies, because of my son’s multiple food allergies. I cracked this book open one day and realized that it was a gold mine – not so much for him (he really doesn’t care what he eats), but for me. It’s chock full of absolutely fantastic, healthy recipes and I’ve been using it as my staple ever since. This past year, I’ve tried out Persiana (when I have more time) and Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients (when I have less).
4. Practice meals in advance. This ought to be a no-brainer, but I’ve been burnt before on many an occasion so I thought I’d share it with you. Unless you’re super-confident in the kitchen (and I think I can safely say that I’m not), you do not want your dinner party to be the first time that you try out a new dish. Rather, once you identify a meal that sounds promising, try it out on your family and/or spouse or significant other first and see how it fares. Sometimes things that sound great are real duds.
5. Don’t make dessert. I love dessert. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the meal. But when you’re pressed, it’s hard to find time to prepare appetizers, entrées and desserts for six people. So even though I don’t mind baking, I usually buy my desserts so that I don’t have that extra task hanging over me before a dinner party. Takes the pressure off.
How about you? What are your secrets for making entertaining less stressful and more fun?
*Delia Lloyd is an American writer based in London. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times and on the BBC World Service. She blogs about adulthood at www.realdelia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @realdelia.

Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our ad-free Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your expert content delivered straight to your inbox.

Related Posts

Decluttering In Midlife: How To Let Go Of The Physical And Mental Weight
Home

Decluttering In Midlife: How To Let Go Of The Physical And Mental Weight

September 13, 2025
Low Maintenance Gardening In Midlife: Keep The Beauty Without Breaking Your Back
Home

Low Maintenance Gardening In Midlife: Keep The Beauty Without Breaking Your Back

September 1, 2025
Minimalism Before Moving: A Powerful Strategy For A Stress-Free Fresh Start
Home

Minimalism Before Moving: A Powerful Strategy For A Stress-Free Fresh Start

August 25, 2025
Next Post
Healthy Turkey Taco Salad Bowls

Healthy Turkey Taco Salad Bowls

Lancome’s New Chapter – Welcome Back Isabella!

Lancome's New Chapter - Welcome Back Isabella!

Pam’s Butternut Squash Frittata

Pam's Butternut Squash Frittata

Recommended

Midlife Stress Mistakes: Proven Ways Women Over 50 Can Avoid Costly Traps

Midlife Stress Mistakes: Proven Ways Women Over 50 Can Avoid Costly Traps

3 weeks ago
Benefits Of Orgasms For Menopausal Women: A Delicious, Science-Backed Guide

Benefits Of Orgasms For Menopausal Women: A Delicious, Science-Backed Guide

4 weeks ago
Fall Fashion Trends for Women Over 50: 5 Stylish Updates You’ll Love

Fall Fashion Trends for Women Over 50: 5 Stylish Updates You’ll Love

1 week ago
Parenting Teens In Midlife: Proven Strategies To Stay Sane Through Big Milestones

Parenting Teens In Midlife: Proven Strategies To Stay Sane Through Big Milestones

3 weeks ago

Don't miss it

  • All
  • Jack's Smack
Dating Profile Tips For Women Over 50: What To Write (And What To Avoid)
Relationships

Dating Profile Tips For Women Over 50: What To Write (And What To Avoid)

September 13, 2025
Oral Health After 50: Stronger Teeth, Smarter Choices
Health

Oral Health After 50: Stronger Teeth, Smarter Choices

September 13, 2025
Shopping For Clothes During Menopause: 3 Smart Styling Secrets
Beauty & Fashion

Shopping For Clothes During Menopause: 3 Smart Styling Secrets

September 14, 2025
Embracing Aging: Bold Ways Women Over 50 Can Celebrate Life
Mindfulness

Embracing Aging: Bold Ways Women Over 50 Can Celebrate Life

September 13, 2025
Should You Wear Your Glasses All the Time? A Midlife Guide
Health

Should You Wear Your Glasses All the Time? A Midlife Guide

September 13, 2025
Quiet Pressure In Midlife: 3 Powerful Ways To Lighten The Mental Load
Mindfulness

Quiet Pressure In Midlife: 3 Powerful Ways To Lighten The Mental Load

September 14, 2025

Purchase with a Purpose

  • VitaJuwel – Healthy Water VitaJuwel - Healthy Water
  • Metamorphosis in Stanzas Metamorphosis in Stanzas $2.99 – $12.99Price range: $2.99 through $12.99
  • Better Not Younger – Better Hair Ahead Better Not Younger - Better Hair Ahead
  • The Tracy Gold Collection The Tracy Gold Collection
whatsapp image 2024 05 17 at 21.38.19 933b48c6

Kuel Life is committed to normalizing aging for women. With more than 65 KL Thought Leaders, we bring you the latest, most relevant, HOT TOPICS to address the opportunities and challenges for women 50+.

LEARN MORE »

COMPANY INFO
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Press
  • Contact Us
PURCHASE INFO
  • FAQs
  • Payment Methods
  • Shipping & Delivery
  • Refunds & Returns Policy
  • Membership
LATEST NEWS

Dating Profile Tips For Women Over 50: What To Write (And What To Avoid)

September 13, 2025

Oral Health After 50: Stronger Teeth, Smarter Choices

September 13, 2025

Shopping For Clothes During Menopause: 3 Smart Styling Secrets

September 14, 2025

Embracing Aging: Bold Ways Women Over 50 Can Celebrate Life

September 13, 2025

Sunday RoundUP Signup Here…

Be part of the movement to normalize aging. Get all your HOT TOPICS delivered directly to you.

 

CopyRight© 2017-2025 | Kuel Life | Created By Kuel Life Developers Team.

 

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Community
      • Business Directory
      • Exclusive Member Content
      • Kuel Conversations
      • Share Your Story
    • lifestyle
      • Beauty & Fashion
      • Relationships
      • Home
      • Money
      • Work
      • Travel & Adventure
    • Wellness
      • Health
      • Fitness
      • Nutrition
      • Mindfulness
    • Jack’s Smack
    • Membership
    • eShop
      • Books
      • Kuel Swag
      • Services
      • Products
    • Contact Us
    • Sign In/ Sign Up

    CopyRight© 2017-2025 | Kuel Life | Created By Kuel Life Developers Team.