New and Simple Ideas for Dinner Parties

The New Dinner Party idea

Today it is sometimes a challenge to have friends over for dinner. Either people have certain things they cannot eat or certain things they do not want to eat.  There are so many special diets to include: Paleo, Keto, Vegan and Vegetarian along with  low sodium, low fat, low sugar, no dairy, and the list goes on.

I have come up with a new inventive idea and I call it the cocktail dinner party.  Not only will you please all your guests but your work is cut in half.  To me the most challenging thing about a dinner party is the last minute preparation, setting the table, serving pieces ready and keeping everything hot or cold.  The best thing about the cocktail dinner party is that you can  do just about everything ahead of time or choose to make a few things that require last minute prep.  Now the purpose of this is to please all of your guests with foods for your vegan friends, vegetarian and those on Paleo and kept diets. I find that most foods do well being served either chilled or room temperature.

Setting of the table requires:

1. Small plates and napkins
2. Drink glasses

You will need to have red and white wine, beer, soda for your non drinking friends and a nice touch is flavored water.

Here are some suggested menus for this new dinner party.

1. Cold shrimp with sauce
2. Hummus dip with veggies
3. Baked cheese
4. Cheese cubes with green olives and cherry tomatoes
5. Baked cheesy zucchini strips
6. Sirloin steak cubes with spicy sour cream sauce
7. Stuffed mushrooms with ground beef filling
8. Pineapple cubes for something sweet

Everything here can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. 
Remove everything from the fridge ahead of time except the shrimp and allow to return to room temperature.

Set everything out on a table.

Some advantages to serving food this way.  

1. People are allowed to eat what they want and follow their special diets
2. People are moving around and not getting sleepy at the dinner table
3. People are mingling more
4. People don't feel obligated to eat what they don't want
5. Cleanup is easy 

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