The goddess, always the ultimate entertainer, has never been one to shy away from a shindig. After all, when your neighbors are Hestia and Dionysus, there’s no shortage of eating and drinking. And let’s face it, what’s better than breaking bread with friends and family? But the dining deity has realized the times they are a changin’ and so are her hostessing habits and those of her friends.
Fancy dinners that were days, or even weeks, in the making that used to be the norm seem to have gone by the wayside. Many people have given up entertaining altogether due to time and financial restraints. Even the goddess has come to the realization that organizing events around elaborate meals, which often kept her tethered to the kitchen and out of the action, is so last century. Now she's cooking up meals that she can primarily prepare in advance so she can once again be where she should be, the center of the party!
In the cooler months, there were long-simmering stews that she made hours before her guests arrived. Now that Hot-lanta is heating up, literally, she’s choosing menus with items that can be served at room temperature or need just a quick reheating or final flash on the grill. This strategy allows her to prep early and have plenty of time to coif, dress and drink (but of course she jests ... or does she?) before her guests arrive. Most importantly, it allows her to enjoy her get-together instead of stressing.
At recent gatherings the culinary queen paired grilled meat or fish with make-ahead platters of grilled veggies, various grain or pasta salads, and pre-cooked or raw fruit relishes or salsas. Another plus -- these items are perfect to tuck into a picnic basket and bring poolside for al fresco dining now that school is over and it's warm-weather living.
What about you? Do you enjoy having people over for a fancy meal, or is it just too much work? If you’re still game, have you modified the way you entertain, or are you sill tied to the stove and last-minute prepping? For those of you who couldn’t live without entertaining, do you have a go-to dish that you like to depend on, or do you throw caution to the wind and go for something you’ve never tried before?
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