Party/Entertaining Guide

Good Thinking for Effortless Entertaining

Friends or family. Cocktails for 40 or intimate dinner for four. From the most casual game-day get-togethers to warm holidays and glittering evenings, Hamilton Beach® has some Good Thinking™ for your gatherings.

Build on a Theme

• Start with the season. For example, Thanksgiving suggests the warm colors of the harvest. Spring is all about pastels. You can create inexpensive centerpieces of fresh in-season fruits and vegetables any time of year -- then use them in the kitchen over the following weeks. Let the season inspire your recipes and tabletop, too. For fall, you can blend all-ages cranberry spritzers, serve sides in a pumpkin-shaped dish and create a runner out of fall foliage collected from your own yard. In warmer months, shift to refreshing ice cream or fruit ices, and plan an outdoor brunch to take advantage of the cooler, early hours of the day.
• Choose an exotic locale. If your party has no predetermined theme, use it as an opportunity to explore a new culture. Try making a few dishes yourself, and letting the local color drive your decorations. A "Taste of the Mediterranean Party" is the perfect opportunity to put your Carmine Red Eclectics® appliances to work on hummus, slow-cooked Mediterranean chicken and almond pound cake for dessert. Complement the scene with rich colors and candlelight.
• Tailgate at home. Dress yourself -- and your home -- in team colors. Then serve tailgating favorites like chili and cornbread or North Carolina pork barbecue. Add stadium favorites such as popcorn and shell-on peanuts. Try burgers on the indoor grill, so you don't miss a minute of the fun. Or choose dishes that can be made ahead or slow-cook themselves.

Simplify

• Rather than setting up a full bar and trying to anticipate how much you'll need of each item, select a signature drink for the evening. Look in the recipe section for drinks or cocktails that can be blended and mixed up in large batches in advance, then held in the fridge or freezer until needed. Add beer, wine and nonalcoholic options.
• Make a few easy dishes, and round them out with prepared items. For a cocktail party, consider whipping up chicken puffs, cheese fondue and red pepper and garlic dip in advance, then setting out pre-cut vegetables and crackers. Larger bowls and platters of a few things are easier and sometimes more impressive than many smaller options.
• Choose a color, and accent. Whatever color you love, a few well-placed touches will bring your home to life. In addition to linens, buy a bunch of one type of flower -- all in the same color -- for maximum effect and minimum expense. Pick up votive holders in the same color family, and scatter candlelight around the room. The monochromatic look can be simply powerful.
• Skip dinner. Have a dessert buffet. Try a few new recipes. Ask friends to bring their specialties. Buy one or two things. And serve with some rich coffee and mix-in liqueurs.

Little Touches – Big Impact

• Don't underestimate the importance of music. It's one of the most overlooked aspects of party planning, but it sets the tone instantly. Select a few CDs in advance, or set up an appropriate playlist on your MP3 player, so the tunes are playing before the party starts.
• Be part of the party. You're the real centerpiece of the event. Don't take on more chores than you can handle before the guests arrive. Meet them at the door with a drink and enjoy the festivities. Your guests will have a much better time -- and so will you -- if you aren't in the kitchen all night.
• Make introductions. The best parties include people who know each other -- and some who don't. Invite a range, and make it your job to introduce people. Add a tidbit that each one might find interesting about one another to get the conversation rolling. "John, this is Samantha. She traveled to Costa Rica last year, too."
• Plan for the tear-down. Make it easy for guests to find trash cans and a tray for used dishes, silverware and glasses, and you won't find them on scattered on windowsills later.
• Leave the mess. It's easier to clean up when the house is empty of guests. So forget about the dishes and have a good time. Your guests will take their cues from you.