If you haven�t had a party in a good while, get busy
and give one real fast.
I used to think it was impossible when my mother, in
her later years, would say she was cooking so little that she was about to
forget how. This from a woman who ran a boarding house in World War II to
help feed the thousands of munitions plant workers who swarmed into our
community for the war effort. She was a good cook and, heaven knows, she did
her bit and more for the war with her cooking.
How could she forget?
When I gave a party recently, nothing fancy, but the
first one in a good while, I was reminded of my mother�s remark. Use it or
lose it is true. When you entertain fairly often, your practice makes your
party easier AND more fun! Likely, the silver is polished. You won�t have
to go on a search, as I did, for the silver bowls (that I never did find!).
You�ll remember more about how much food to prepare. And a menu will more
easily come to mind. Consequently, you�re less likely to get frazzled and
tired.
When our last guests left, they said, �Don�t bother
to get up and see us out.� I replied, �Good.� Fortunately, they are
good friends and I let them see themselves out while I was collapsed in a
comfortable chair.
Fortunately, some items such as salad-dressing mixes
and frozen puff pastry can make your party preparation easier. That leaves
more time to look for the misplaced silver that will probably need polishing
if, and when, you find it!
Party Perfect
Pinwheels are similar to a recipe published here some years ago, but
they are a party favorite for me � easy, can be made ahead, and are
gobbled up. The new version was equally successful.
Another �roll-up,� Spinach
Cheese Swirls, uses puff pastry. Again, these are made ahead,
refrigerated and popped in the oven and served warm or at room temperature.
Because our party was in the nature of a buffet supper
where knives wouldn�t work, a knifeless menu was important. Easy-to-Eat Twice-Baked Potatoes were perfect � a potato finger
food that went well with our casual supper.
PERFECT PARTY PINWHEELS
Ingredients:
