Entertaining & Party Foods

Easy Halloween Food For Kids

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:31:03 +0800

Whether your little goblins are having a Halloween party with friends or you want to get into the Halloween spirit by serving a ghoulish meal, a variety of everyday foods can go from boring to spooky with a little imagination. You may squirm in disgust, but your kids will squeal with delight when you serve these terrifically terrifying treats.

Large Party Appetizers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:20:46 +0800

Large parties mean plenty of stomachs to feed, so you'll want to keep munchies for all tastes available and plentiful. This doesn't mean you need to slave away in the kitchen all day before the party. Break up your appetizer preparation by making some items ahead of time, and get your kids to help with the preparation and cleanup if possible.

Tips on a Potluck Dinner Party

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:32:31 +0800

Parties are a lot of fun -- for everyone but the hostess. By the time you plan the menu, do the shopping and clean the house, chances are you are too tired to cook -- and then there’s all that cleanup after the guests have gone home. One of the best gifts a hostess can give herself is to throw a potluck dinner party. While you probably still have to clean your house, you can at least minimize the cost of the party by providing only the main dish and allowing your guests to bring the sides.

How Do Kids Make Food Without the Oven or Stove for a Party?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:20:42 +0800

Letting your child make some of the food for his own party teaches him about making healthy food and guarantees he'll like everything served at the party. Making food without a stove or oven keeps him from getting burned, and food that doesn't need to be hot makes the party day less stressful. Help him prepare food the day before, or the morning of the party.

How to Design Weekly Dinner Menus

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:33:46 +0800

With weekly dinner plans, you'll never be without an answer to your family's eternal question: "What's for dinner?" Devising a week-to-week plan for your dinners saves money, cuts preparation time and enhances your family's overall nutrition. You'll also get to plan ahead for days in which your family is especially busy, while leaving time for special meals when everyone's home to enjoy them.

Fruit Salad for a Kid's Party

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:20:04 +0800

While a luscious piece of ripe fruit may leave your mouth watering, some children will turn up their noses. Combine several types of fruit together so that every guest at your child's party finds something to enjoy, and you'll feel good about serving healthy foods rather than only providing junk. To make the fruit salad look as appetizing as possible, put it together a few hours before the party begins. To keep the salad looking fresh, pair apples with citrus fruits so they don't turn brown and add sliced bananas just before serving.

Easy Party Foods Appetizers

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:33:46 +0800

Whether you're hosting a last-minute get-together or a planned dinner party, creating easy-to-make appetizers will allow you to spend more time with your guests and less time in the kitchen. Make a mix of warm and cold appetizers using a variety of ingredients to please all party-goers. Create finger foods that guests can sample as they move about the celebration space.

Easy Party Food Menus

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:34:57 +0800

One of the most frustrating components of hosting a party is cooking and preparing food for all of your guests. This frustration seems to increase exponentially in relation to the amount of guests you have to serve. Fortunately, busy cooks can create an easy party food menu by mixing and matching simple appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts.

Quick Snack Foods for a Party

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:33:25 +0800

When you are hosting a party, the last thing you want to be doing is preparing food all day in addition to cleaning your home and keeping an eye on your kids. Choose no-cook snack food ideas to quickly transform ingredients into bite-sized snacks for kids or adults to munch on at your party.

A Crazy Dinner Party Menu

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:20:05 +0800

Toss out the boring chips and dips and banish meatballs from your next dinner party menu. Instead, make the evening a memorable one with a crazy menu that reflects your spirit of fun and adventure. Entertain your friends with food they will talk about long after they have digested the final morsel. Take inspiration from one of many different themes and create a crazy dinner party menu that is fun for you and your guests.

50s & 60s Party Appetizers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:49 +0800

Whether you're throwing a "Blast from the Past" themed party for your parents' birthdays or anniversary, or just want to throw a theme party for your friends, a 1950s or 1960s themed bash is bound to get attention. It's easy to find decorations and costumes for a decade party, but you can create an even more authentic atmosphere with some retro-inspired appetizers.

Unique Party Appetizers

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:48 +0800

Great party appetizers need to do more than just appeal to guests; they need to help enforce the overall theme of the celebration. However, busy moms have little time for unique appetizers that require hours of labor. The key to creative party appetizers is to use premade products that speed up the process without sacrificing taste or nutrition.

Dinner Menu Sample

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:41 +0800

An imaginative and nutritious dinner menu will keep the family happy as you gather around the table together. Although life can be hectic, making time to dine together as often as possible is important for strong family relationships. The meal need not be fancy, especially when you have kids to feed. Try a few different dinner menus to see what suits your family.

Anniversary Party Menu & Sandwiches

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:36 +0800

An anniversary party celebrates milestones in your marriage, but it doesn't have to be held at a busy restaurant or an impersonal banquet hall. An at-home anniversary party is intimate, family-friendly and creative. Instead of limiting yourself to a menu assembled by a caterer or cook, delve into your culture, history and life as a family to inspire a menu and memories that you'll treasure for years to come.

Menu for a Seafood Buffet

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:36 +0800

The bounty of the ocean is the perfect starring player for a buffet dinner. From a high-stakes Las Vegas-inspired menu to an Italian-themed feast that draws on hundreds of years of tradition, a seafood buffet is a delicious and fun way for friends and family to explore new foods and different cultures. Get your kids involved in choosing your buffet theme, and let them help you with simpler preparation tasks such as mixing several types of nuts into a serving bowl or tearing fresh herbs into tiny pieces.

The Best Dinner Menus

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:19:34 +0800

Today's version of three square meals per day has changed. The recent food pyramid has been replaced with the visual image of a dinner plate that shows generous portions of fruits and vegetables next to proteins and whole grains. The best dinner menus incorporate a wide variety of satisfying nutrients with a focus on extra produce and less sugar.

Menu Ideas for a Fall Potluck Dinner Party

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:56 +0800

The cool autumn months traditionally are a time to draw friends and family close together for an intimate dinner. The tastes of autumn and the celebrations of the season are the perfect inspiration for potlucks that will please guests and family members alike. Stock up on paper plates and napkins for easy clean-up, and encourage guests to dress casually for a low-key gathering that is full of flavor and fun.

Edible Party Favors for Kids

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:23 +0800

As a parent, you probably already know how much useless junk can come from a party goodie bag -- toys that wind up in the basement, knickknacks that crowd closet space and even T-shirts your kids will never again wear. Give the other parents a break at your child's next party and send their kids home with edible party favors. Tasty munchies are popular with all kids and won't take up room anywhere but the guests' stomachs.

What Is Good Food to Serve for a Kid's Birthday Party?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:31:27 +0800

Planning a menu for a kids' birthday party can be a difficult task. Many children are picky eaters whose palates are not quite developed yet. Others have food allergies and cannot eat common ingredients such as nuts, dairy or wheat products. If you are hosting a birthday party or other kids’ event, serve foods that are nutritious, fun to eat and easy on your budget.

What to Fix for a Dinner Party

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:18:28 +0800

Although they’re more work for you than for your guests, dinner parties can be a lot of fun to throw. Successful dinner parties are full of great food and lively conversation -- and yes, you can show off cooking skills, as well. To make large tasks like a dinner party easier, break them down into smaller goals and write everything down.