Pt 4 Holiday Parties - Help
Don’t do it all yourself. Get help. It’s more important to be with your guests then in the kitchen.
Family, children, husbands, friends, the teenager across the street, the college kid, hired help - don't even think of having a party without help.
Family and Friends: First place to look is your family if you’re planning a family party all children over the age of six can help. They can help plan, decorate, stir, measure, mix, set a table, and clean. Husbands are also useful at a variety of tasks. Ask other family members and friends for help. If your family wants a complicated or time consuming family dish at the table have a cooking bee, many hands make light work. If people want to bring a dish, let them. If someone can mix drinks, play an instrument, or fold napkins - ask them. People like to help. Don’t ever turn down help.
Hired Help: Even if you can get someone to help for a few hours it’s worth it. A good cleaning lady can do so much more than I can because she doesn’t answer the phone and she’s organized! Have someone there to clean up or wash up. Try non-profit organizations that have labor pools of competent hard working people- I’ve used them. You might try student labor services. Try the local culinary college for extra help with food. The teenager across the street could help for a few extra bucks. Or you could get a caterer but still have a couple of dishes of your own.
Other Sources: Remember not everything on the table has to be yours, you can make a few. Go to the bakery or the deli or the party section of your supermarket. If you don’t want to use paper plates then try renting, it saves on washing up.
For more information on all aspects of Party Planning see:
