Easy Entertaining Tips

Pull together a party in no time with our top entertaining tips.

DRINKS

A shaken-versus-stirred rule of thumb: Shake mixer-heavy drinks that can be hazy and frothy, and stir liquor-laden cocktails you wish to keep clear -- such as martinis (no matter what James Bond might say).
Make Brunello wine sauce on the cheap by substituting Rosso di Montalcino.
Keep white wines like Chardonnay in the fridge and remove 15 minutes before serving.
Use a Thermos as a cocktail shaker. It keeps the ice extra-cold and doubles as a strainer.
Slice and freeze fresh peaches to use as ice cubes in lemonade.
Freeze cocktails overnight for a party -- the liquor makes the drink slushy.
Stir leftover chocolates into steamed milk to make instant hot cocoa.
Freeze tea and coffee into cubes so iced drinks won't get watered down.
Rim cocktail glasses with crushed hard candy insead of sugar.
Dunk champagne bottles in ice water instead of ice for a faster chill.
Place stoneware mugs in a 200°F oven for a few minutes before serving hot chocolate.
Keep a jar of simple syrup in the fridge to sweeten iced tea or lemonade.

FOOD

After a spicy main course, serve scoops of lemon sorbet as a palate cleanser before dessert.
Ask potluck dinner guests to bring copies of their recipes with the dishes.
Upgrade bread and butter for a party by whipping chopped herbs into softened herbs.
Eat dessert on the porch and give dinner-party guests a change of scenery.
Skip dessert and bring out a tray of dried fruit, nuts and chocolate.
Line your cheese tray with butcher paper so you can write the name of each piece right next to it.
Dress up ice cream with ground espresso beans.
Scoop sorbet into hollowed-out oranges for dessert.

INVITATIONS

TABLE SETTINGS

Liven up your next holiday dinner party -- just ask everyone to change seats before dessert.
Label glasses with a grease pencil at your next party -- the names will wipe off later.
Elevate your serving platter by using chopsticks as a trivet.
At your next dinner party, use paint-chip cards as colorful placeholders.
Add uncooked rice to your shaker to keep salt from clumping.
Toss a few pieces of chalk in the silverware drawer to keep utensils from tarnishing.

DECORATIONS

Dress up a wreath with strung cranberries and bunches of rosemary.
Add a little lemon-lime soda to your vase to keep flowers fresh.
Rub a little olive oil on candlesticks to keep wax from sticking.
Dim the lights -- a 45-watt bulb casts a flattering glow, and is still bright enough to encourage mingling.
Push a small pin through the tops of stems to keep tulips from drooping.
Place candles in the fridge for an hour before a party. They'll burn slowly and evenly.

PARTY FAVORS

Send guests home with a mix CD after your next party.
Pamper your guests with steaming washcloths -- just dampen and roll up the cloths, then microwave for 45 seconds.
When you're giving away holiday candy, present it in a large mug; the candy will disappear but the cup won't.

OUTDOOR EVENTS