It is no secret that I do not really cook. Entertaining for me at home involves pizza, pasta, soda and plastic paper plates from Yellow Cab Pizza all the time. Better spend money and enjoy than to cook and have your guests eat burnt food is what I always tell myself.

Setting up a party isn’t always easy, especially if you’re the host. To help with this, one good tip that you should probably keep in mind is the checklist, which consists of all of the things that need to be done and when you need to do them. Here are some points you might want to consider.

1. Think through your guest list. Determine the number of guests coming. Make sure people RSVP!
2. Once you’ve a guest list, believe by means of the timing. Make sure you make all the details clear.

3. Pick a theme. People are much more most likely to arrive out if there’s a call to action. Host an ugly sweater party, a potluck or a party for watching the season finale of the favorite show. It doesn’t actually matter what the theme is itself, but having one is likely to motivate your guests by giving them a thing to obtain excited about. Besides, half the fun of party planning really planning anything.

4. Get sufficient refreshments.

5. Take lots of pictures. And make sure you are in them!

After you are done with basics, you must focus on the highlight of the party – FOOD! There are two things that you should always have plenty of supply of: finger foods or appetizers and drinks or refreshments. We don’t control the flow or the length of the party at times and these two will make extended party times easier. Party Food Recipes can always be found online and I suggest you have a list of great appetizers on standby. It also makes a great serving food for guests during impromptu visits.

Some recipes to try:

Cream Cheese Wonton

Ingredients:

• 1 – 8 oz. package of cream cheese softened
• 16 – Wonton Wrappers
• Oil for Frying
• 1 – Jar of Sweet and Sour sauce for dipping

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer or pour into a deep skillet on high temperature. Vegetable oil or peanut oil works best.
2. While oil is heating, lay out as many wrappers as you plan to use.
3. Have a small bowl of water nearby to wet your fingers in.
4. Put a small dab of cream cheese in one corner of each wrapper, about 1/2” from the edges. Use about 1 tsp.
5. Using your fingers, wet the two edges nearest the cream cheese, then fold the other half down and seal the edges, making a triangle shape.
6. Seal the edges tightly, but try to leave small gaps at the corners so the triangles will not expand so much that they burst.
7. Drop several wontons into oil at a time. Turn over when the edges start to brown and cook for another minute or two.
8. Set on paper towels to drain, then serve hot with sweet-and-sour sauce.