Saturday, August 28, 2010

Basic Tips In Doing Your Own Catering

By Chloe Schneider

Even if we all believe we are Martha Stewart and do everything by ourselves in hosting a party, sometimes, accepting aid is all we need. Even the most organized person needs a little help here and there so don't be embarrassed to ask for a little help, particularly in the kitchen station where the life of the party is made.

If you are determined to cook and prepare for your invitees on your party, be prepared for the challenges it will bring. The hosting of the event, the designing of the decorations, the planning of the activities, and the organizing of each and everything on the list would fall onto your shoulders. Top that with the planning and the preparing of the menu and you likely won't have much free time on your hands left.

Determining the kind of party before anything else:

First, you need to determine the type of party you are having as your menu should depend on this. If you are having a kiddie party, then your food menu must be kid-friendly, no intoxicant ingredients or any food that would need the use of a sharp knife. If you are having a get-together party for your gym buddies, then let them come to your party without ruining their efforts in the gym by preparing low calorie and low fat foods.

But whatever the sort of party you are having, you should always add assortment to your menu. There are guests who lead a veggie lifestyle, so while it is good that you have steak on your menu, try to please everyone by having an all-veggie fare on the table.

Set your budget limit:

Just because you wish to display your culinary skills it doesn't have to mean you should empty your wallet. Don't be too harsh on yourself and just established a limit to your budget before you go over board Count your guests and make an allowance, so you will still have extra food just in case someone crashes your party.

Reasonable amount means not overly cheap as well. You need to still fix realistic budget even if you are aiming for practicality. In our current economic situation, all prices are going up. Make sure your budget will still allow you to purchase the essential ingredients. But even with the price hike, you can still do something to save on cost.

Go bargain shopping:

If you wish to look for a great deal, scour your region for discounted deals. There are local stores and bargain shops that can offer cheaper prices. You can find the table napkins, dinnerware, ornaments, eating utensils, and others, as well as some food ingredients, to be a little less expensive there. You just have to see which ones have more steal prices.

Don't overdo it, though. Stick to your tried and tested food ingredient brand. Don't experiment on other labels of seasoning if your usual brand can give you the taste and quality you are looking for. You don't have to compromise quality over price.

Set a timeline:

Make sure that the days leading to the big event are ready. If you have an item on your fare that calls for long preparation, start making it a day or so before. Examples of which are barbecues, which require to be marinated overnight. Cold desserts that need no cooking or baking may be set an hour before the event.

Although it is tough, catering for your own party shouldn't be completely difficult. Just keep in mind to follow the guidelines and most importantly, enjoy.

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