Easy Home Parties with TSG

September 9, 2010

I love having home parties. Nothing beats sharing great food, drinks, and conversation with friends in a relaxed atmosphere.  What I don’t like is being trapped in the kitchen while my guests enjoy the party! Over the years, I have learned some easy entertaining tips that will help make your next home party a stress free success.

3 Great Tips For Easy Home Parties

1. Keep it simple – for a successful home party, you are not required to serve a 5-course meal or offer 20 different appetizers. Put together a core group of quick and easy appetizer recipes that can be modified for the season/holiday. Appetizers are the perfect party food —  throw in a simple dessert (chocolate fondue or a make your own sundae bar are always hits),  add a signature cocktail (also offer a non-alcoholic version) and your home party will be an instant success.

2. Do most of your prep ahead of time –

I learned this the hard way. I used to think my menu had to be 100% from scratch. The morning of the party I would wake up stressed, thinking of all of the food prep that needed to be done. By the time my guests would arrive, I was ready for a nap.

Enter the TSG line up — From dips to salsas, bread mixes, sauces and seasonings, prepping your menu items a couple days before to the day of, is a snap. Also, don’t overlook grocery store convenience items – my current favorites include rotisserie chicken, egg roll wrappers, and frozen cooked meatballs.

3. Make your home inviting – with candles, flowers, and music

These are my three home party musts. Candles add warmth and a beautiful glow…flowers add unexpected pops of color (I buy a large bouquet of bright colored flowers and break them up into smaller groupings). Make sure to have a good mix of music on hand — you never know when the mood to dance might strike!

3 Easy Party Recipes

Brazen Buffalo Blue Cheese Chicken Wing Dip

This dip is usually the first to disappear. Stir together ½ cup mayo, ½ cup ranch dressing, 8 oz of softened cream cheese and 2 TBSP of Brazen Buffalo Blue Cheese Seasoning Blend. Stir in a cup of diced rotisserie chicken and chopped celery as desired. Spread in 8×8” pan – top with shredded cheddar – bake in 350 oven until cheese is bubbly – serve with pita chips, breadsticks, or your favorite dippers. Can also be made with low fat mayo and low fat cheeses.

Crockpot Meatballs

This is a low fuss, low maintenance addition to any home party. You can serve right from the crockpot. Mix a bottle of TSG Vermont Maple Dijon Grilling Sauce with 1 can jellied cranberry sauce. Place frozen precooked meatballs (appetizer sized) in a crockpot – pour sauce over and heat on high for a couple hours until sauce bubbles and meatballs are heated through.

Caesar Salad Bites

Try this fun take on a Caesar Salad. Press wonton wrappers into  miniature muffin pan cups coated with cooking spray. In a small bowl combine melted butter and garlic powder – brush over edges of wonton cups – bake at 350 until lightly browned – about 8-9 minutes – let cool. Mix ½ cup mayo, ½ cup sour cream, 2 TBSP Great Caesar’s Ghost Seasoning Blend – thin with buttermilk to desired consistency. Toss shredded lettuce with the dressing to coat. Spoon lettuce mixture into wonton cups and top with freshly grated Parmesan.

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Filed under: Cooking Tips, Easy Entertaining, Easy Meal Ideas, Kitchen Tips

Tags: appetizers, buffalo wings, Caesar salad, home parties, meatball recipe, party food, quick and easy recipes, rotisserie chicken