5 tips for an elegant and inexpensive evening with friends

I love entertaining and could have people to my house every day!!  Summer is a great time to invite people to spend an evening on the deck.  Of course, I never have anyone to my home that there isn't food and something to drink.  As much as I love to entertain, that can get expensive.

Over time I've realized that people are really pretty easy.  Most come for the company, not the food and drinks.  So with just a little effort you can make an inexpensive evening look like an elegant affair.


First, it is all about presentation.  You can actually get away with small servings and light fare if it is presented beautifully.  Use pretty bowls.  You can usually pick up cool bowls for under $5.00 at Marshall's or TJMaxx.  Or, use mini appetizer plates and bowls to create a tapas style buffet.  Make your own hummus which is inexpensive, easy and a great conversation starter.  And always serve what is in season.

Second, ditch the bottles and serve water from a pretty pitcher.  You can slice lemons, oranges, cucumbers or anything else that has a fresh flavor and float them in the pitcher.  Put out two pitchers with different fruits.  The more slices you add, the stronger the flavor.

Third, if you want to have cocktails then create a signature drink.  Try a porchcrawler or bellini's for a light, pretty cocktail.  Put in your invite that you will be serving a special cocktail and that guests are welcome to bring anything else they would like to drink.  It is appropriate to allow people to bring something else and appropriate if you are serving a limited drink selection (as long as you have water or some other non-alcoholic option).


Fourth, make your setting company ready.  Using things that you already have, make the place where you want people to mingle special.  Maybe you light candles, put on music or even put out pictures that will spur conversation.  Make sure that there is seating that allows for conversation.  You can move chairs into conversation pits for the event.  Also make sure that your "company" bathroom is clean and has toilet paper, soap and a clean hand towel.


Finally, spend time with your guests.  They've come to see you so don't spend time worrying about the dishes or running around refilling glasses.  If you have everything premixed and ready you can focus on enjoying your guests.  That's why you invited them over, right?

Valentine's Day Dinner

For those of you that avoid restaurants like the plague on Valentine's Day, here's a very special menu.  I'm posting it today because it does take some planning.  But, this is a meal that my whole family gets excited about.  I even took this tenderloin (8lbs.) as an appetizer to a party the other night and it was gone within 30 minutes!!

Beef Tenderloin
Steamed Asparagus
Wild Rice
Lava Cake with Raspberries and Cream

You need to start the Beef Tenderloin a little over 2 hours in advance of your dinner time.

Buy a whole beef tenderloin (some grocers will call it a roast; Sam's has a good selection) and have them trim the fat from it.  I've tried to trim the fat myself in the past and it isn't worth it.  The butcher, even at big box stores, will do it for you.  I allow a lb. per person so that we have leftovers.  Makes fantastic sandwiches!!

Preheat your oven to 500 degrees.  Take a long piece of tin foil and sprinkle with lemon-pepper.  Roll your beef tenderloin in the lemon-pepper, coating the entire thing lightly.  Line a cookie sheet with heavy duty tin foil and transfer the whole beef tenderloin to the cookie sheet.  Cook the tenderloin for 1.5 minutes per lb.  (family likes their tenderloin with no pink so I cook ours for 2 min per lb.   It's better when cooked for less time).  Turn the oven off after it has cooked and DO NOT OPEN the oven door for 2 hours.


About 20 minutes before the tenderloin is ready to come out of the oven I get my wild rice and asparagus going.  I just use a wild rice mix like Uncle Bens, but I add slivered almonds and a pat of butter at the end of cooking.


To steam the asparagus, you can put it in a shallow dish with about 1/8 an inch of water at the bottom.  Sprinkle it with Butter Buds and Salt-Free Cavendar's.  Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for about 4 minutes for a slightly crisp vegetable.  Microwave longer for softer veggies.


As those are cooking, get your Lava Cake started.  Use Dr. Oetker's mix.  I know it is available at World Market and maybe some grocery stores.  If you put it in right before you sit down for dinner it will be warm when you are just finished eating (you will have to get up briefly to take it out of the oven).  Have on hand Cool Whip (thawed) and a few fresh raspberries (already washed) to garnish.


To make the evening special...light candles, put on some soft music and set the table pretty.  Maybe even have some flowers (if that suits your style) or sprinkle the table cloth with a little silver confetti or chocolate kisses wrapped in silver and gold.  You don't have to go out or kill yourself in the kitchen all day to make it super special!  Even the kids will enjoy a special meal.


Bon Appetit!