A Green Garden Party

My favorite events are garden parties. It's so much more fun to entertain at home instead of going out. You can maybe take 8 people out to dinner but if you want to really gather a host of family and friends home entertaining is the best idea. You can easily have 200 people over in an afternoon. Only 40 or 50 guests at any one time will actually be there if you label it an Open House that's four or five hours long. There are great recipes that stretch and there's no reason not to supplement your own cooking with fruit and vegetable platters from your local super market. They cost 20-25 dollars and serve 10-15 people on average. If you utilize a grill, you can serve four or five chickens which have been cut into eight pieces each and marinated them in two different sauces overnight, say a classic spicy barbecue and a tropical lemon and lime pepper marinade. These can be easily rubbed into the chicken and stored in the fridge six to twelve hours before the party begins. Kabobs with shrimp,beef, zucchini, bell peppers and onions are quick and easy once the slicing is done and all vegetable kabobs can be included for vegetarians. Have lots of individual boxes of cold cereal and potato chips and snacks for kids that come with their parents. Kids are picky but they can all relate to these things. You can also prepare spaghetti and meatballs, and grill hot dogs for they. Keep it basic. Pay a couple of teen to watch over the little ones and set up a play room indoors for them. Buy a new first aid kit if yours is depleted and have extra bug spray, hairspray and suntan lotion on hand for people who've forgotten this is an outdoor event and it's time to be out in the elements. People should look and feel their best in a crowd so be thoughtful and help them out. Some people are shy and nervous and your job as a host is to bring them out of their self doubt to some extent.
I like to serve soups at every party and there are some great recipes from the Martha Stewart kitchen to consider, including creamy parsnip and leek soup or pureed vegetable soups. For the latter see Everyday Food Jan/Feb 2008. Try making the Lemon Fruit Tart form Betty Crocker's Mexican Made Easy.Two great recipes for dessert are No Bake Cheesecake with Chocolate Wafer Crust from the Martha Stewart Living Cook Book (p.465) and Lime Bars with Graham Cracker-Pistachio crust also found in Everyday Food. You can bake John Barricelli's jumbo coffee cake muffins which are yummy and easy for people to hold in their hands or Avocado and Papaya Sandwiches also from Everyday Food Magazine. Portable is helpful when people are milling about and falling into and out of conversations. I suggest a bowl or two Russell Stover sugar free candies: including turtles, peppermint patties and chocolate coconut varieties, for the diabetic guests you may have who can enjoy the baked goods and ice cream sandwiches you'll have out for desert but still want a little something sweet to round out their meals.
You can serve green wine as well as detailed in the inquirer article which is linked to below and check out the Women in Wine website to learn more about wine in general. They had an event last October at the Sofitel on 17th street and there's lots of helpful guidance on the website. You also want to buy 10 12 packs of 8 different sodas, don't forget Dr. Pepper, Sprite and diet choices. There should be something for everyone. Also buy (4) 24-packs of 1/2 liter spring water for people. You can place big tubs of ice on either side of the table. Fill them with alternating layers of ice and soda and water an hour or two before the guests arrive. In another big plastic tub you can do the same with bottles of beer. Listen out for the clanging of glass as the evening progresses. It's one way to monitor the sobriety of you guests. When things start clanging and crashing to the concrete you need to take action. Watch out for the drunks and philanderers of both sexes in your crowd. They are the life of the party but you don't want them to ruin other peoples' good time. As for decorations, your garden is the best backdrop for a party and I think white linen is best for the tables with royal blue and bright yellow accents. Napkins or plastic 16 oz . SOLO cups in these colors can be added to the table for a splash of bright color.