The holiday season is the perfect time to host a casual affair, where friends and family can drop in at will and not have to worry about conforming to the constraints of a formal dinner party.
Of course what's casual and easy for the guests, still requires a lot of planning and organization for the host.
Here are a few tips that might make pulling a party together a little bit easier.
What New Year's fete would be complete without a fantastic bottle of bubbly?
Whether you opt for a simple Italian spumante or a sophisticated French champagne, a sparkler is a great addition to any meal with friends and family.
Champagnes are almost always made from one of three grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier.
Living for a number of years in an area with a large Italian-American population has many benefits when it comes to the world of food.
Surround yourself with Italian friends and you have a unique opportunity to experience wonderful mealtime traditions.
The seafood dinner prepared on La Vigilia (Christmas Eve) is a perfect example.
Cheese platters always make an elegant and well-received prelude to any dinner party. They can be easy on the host or hostess, too.
We recently discovered a rather nifty new brie that lends itself to creative presentation without a lot of fuss.
If you come from a small family or members of your extended family just aren't available for Thanksgiving dinner, you can still enjoy a traditional holiday feast without going overboard. We've put together a Thanksgiving menu for a small group that won't keep you chained to the kitchen for days or leave you eating leftovers until Christmas.
No one can deny that grocery prices seem to have risen dramatically in recent months and entertaining can put a dent in your wallet if you do it frequently enough.
I generally feed a party of six once a week, and I thought it would be a challenge to see if I could put a complete meal on the table, beer and wine included for no more than $10 per person.
According to a poll conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), more Americans than ever are choosing their outdoor grill over their ovens and stoves when they entertain during summer months.
The creative influence of grill loving celebrity chefs has inspired home cooks to expand their horizons beyond the old standby steaks and burgers.