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Taking Your Party al Fresco
by Martha Matthews
Summertime is the perfect time to take your party outdoors. Whether it
is a large celebration with lots of friends, or a small gathering of
family members, going al fresco, as the Spanish say, is magnífico! To
guarantee that your next outdoor gathering is a success, follow these
five important preparation guidelines.
1. Bug Patrol
This is not the most fun part of planning a party, but if you don't do
it, you may see your guests leaving early due to a small band of
kamikaze mosquitoes. It's a good idea to pick up some citronella candles
and tee-kea torches just to be safe. If you know that your yard is host
to some party crashing ants, call your pest control service a couple of
weeks in advance to have your place de-bugged. Also ask their advice on
how to handle any bugs that might show up on the day of the party.
2. Lawn and Garden Care
Take a stroll through your yard and note its condition. If it needs
sprucing up, make a note of what needs to be done: weed, pick up toys,
sweep the patio, wash down the patio furniture, and trim bushes that
might get in the way. Have your flowerbeds and potted plants looking
their best. Move pots around to make room for foot traffic. Make sure
the lawn areas have been mowed a day or two before the party so it has
time to recover and start growing new grass.
3. The Menu
Keep the menu cool and easy to handle. Choose dishes that can be eaten
with the hands to reduce the need for awkward utensils. Try serving cold
fruit or vegetable soups that can be sipped from a cup, skewers of
marinated, grilled meat, chicken and seafood, bruschetta with pates and
roasted vegetables, tapenades, and fresh fruits.
Do your grocery shopping the day before so that the ingredients are
fresh. If possible, start your food preparation a day in advance. Don't
wait until the day of the party. Consider getting food canopies for
keeping flies at bay.
4. The Mood
To set the mood for your garden party, make sure that you address your
outdoor lighting. Consider adding a string of small white lights to
accentuate a door way, patio covering or trellis. Music is another
important aspect of any gathering. The right music will really set the
tone for your party. Choose songs that encourage conversation. My
favorite low-key party music is light jazz.
5. The Set Up
If your garden is in bloom, serve your menu from different stations in
the garden. Have one station for the hors d'oeuvres, one station for the
main dish, one for the side dishes and one for desert. Provide a
do-it-yourself drink station. Stock it with plenty of ice, mineral
water, slices of lemon and lime and glasses. Set out a cork screw,
bottle opener, swizzle sticks, cocktail napkins and all the necessary
ingredients for making the beverages you are offering. You could also
include raspberry iced tea, wine spritzers and sodas. For your paper
goods, choose something bright and festive that compliments the colors
in your garden. Decorate your serving area with pots of fresh herbs and
flowers, they make attractive backdrop. Have clean trash cans, freshly
lined with a disposable bag, tucked discreetly nearby for easy trash
disposal. If your party is during the day consider a canopy or umbrella
for shade.
Have fun!
About the author
Martha Matthews is the Executive Director of Christian-Homemaking.com, a
web site with resources devoted to helping Christian homemakers succeed.
She also has a popular free monthly newsletter for Christian homemakers
called The Christian Homemaking Newsletter. To subscribe visit
www.christian-homemaking.com/newsletter.html
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