When we entertain we are continually looking for the unique, to please our guests and stimulate our imaginations. When winter hits with its full fury and memories turn to spring outings or summer barbecues, we feel even more deprived. So, how about a picnic in your own great room, living room, or family room? It's an easy way to have a casual party as much of the food can be made ahead and reheated.
The decorations are also easy, memories of summer fun, flowers, and some summer sports equipment. The best part of this type of entertaining is the surprise you'll get from your guests when you tell them the type of party you're planning. Even better, they will appreciate not having to dress up after a month of holiday parties.
First, decide where you will have the party as you'll need to move furniture. Now, decide if you want to move outdoor furniture indoors, use card tables and chairs, or go really casual and spread blankets on the floor and provide large pillows for comfort. You'll need big cloth napkins because of the menu, so consider buying new dish towels which you'll recycle for your own use after the party. All of us need new dish towels and this is a good way to get some.
Baskets for the flatware, large mugs or glasses which don't easily tip over for drinks, and earthenware plates will serve you well. Remember, this is a picnic, but some of the food is warm. And, since the party is actually being held inside your home, not outside, paper plates may be a hazard to your carpet or lovely wood floor. We've done these parties with several themes depending on our guests, food fads, and whims. A down home Southwestern theme is always fun, as is home on the prairie, or a night at the lake, beach, mountain cabin, etc. Take a clue from where you live, as well as your history with the guests you've invited and what you have around for decorations.
For this party, we've decided to make it an old-fashioned summer picnic, compete with fried chicken, salads, rolls, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. You can almost hear the fire works going off as we think about the menu and the decorations. We will spread blankets on the floor as we would on the grass with wicker baskets filled with flowers as center pieces. Our one concession to indoors is that we will serve buffet style to make our lives easier. We have begged and borrowed pillows from all around the house (as well as friends), and added several plastic and foam balls for decorations as well as some bats, tennis rackets, and boating gear. We don't want any mishaps when someone starts up a game of catch so we try to keep anything that can be hit, kicked, or thrown as soft as possible.
To complete the mood, we've brought hurricane candles indoors, and there are even some stone animals from the garden watching us eat. For this party, we have the 1812 Overture on the CD player, but the main stay is Beach Party music and other summer music we've enjoyed in summers past. We are hoping that our guests will want to clear away the blankets after they eat and dance to the music they,too, remember. This is an evening of fun, good conversation, and the surprise of a picnic in the winter.
The recipes included here are for you and your guests, many of whom may not need to follow as restrictive diet as you. There is a wide selection of foods, so plan ahead and taste everything you like, but remember to keep within your food allowances so that you feel good during the party and the morning after.
(Dishes and glassware courtesy of Pier 1 Imports)
(for the recipes, click on The Recipes or click on the individual recipe above)
