So, I can’t say I’m an expert in party planning. However, I have hosted four brunches at my house which started right when I arrived (right after church.) And, I’ve definitely learned from mistakes along the way.
When I think about what makes throwing a party easy and fun, it’s always about the preparations. How much can I prepare ahead of time? The more I can do before the party begins, (the day before, preferably) the more I enjoy the party.
Here are the tips from my home to yours:
1. think about your guests, the kind of mood you want to have and set your menu
2. choose a menu that can be prepared almost completely ahead of time
3. choose a menu that will use a variety of colors and look beautiful and appetizing on the table
4. choose beverages and make preparations (ie. preparing the coffee pot so it only needs to be turned on when you arrive or setting the timer
5. set the table with your decorations; tablecloths, flowers, serving items the night or day before
6. have time (ask your husband or a friend to occupy the kids for a while so you can have the necessary time) set aside to cook
7. make as many dishes ahead of time as you can. The menu I chose for this event was:
Ina Garten’s tri-berry muffins
Ina Garten’s easy cheese danishes
Maryana Vollstedt’s brunch bake (a quiche-like egg dish) needed to
heat this dish at the beginning of the party
sides of fresh salsa for egg dish
fresh watermelon (cut ahead of time)
cake (ordered from H-E-B)
orange juice, champagne for mimosas, decaf and regular coffee,
assorted juices, sodas
8. Once the food is on the table, enjoy every second! At this party, I actually ate! Which is a miracle. I’ve definitely come a long way in party prepping!
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| whipping the cheese filling for the danishes |
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| first pan of danishes complete! |
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| berries for the muffins |
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| tri-berry muffin mix- mixed |
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| tri-berry muffins |
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| barefoot, in the kitchen! |
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| The cake |
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| The brunch table! |
