Hospitality Part 3

Food preparation is probably one of the biggest points of stress after the "house beautiful" issue. I hope the following tips will help you organize the food to make it as easy as possible.

4) When it comes to the food, menu planning is the first step. Choose foods that are simple and flavourful. Well prepared, simple food will appeal to a wider range of people, and their dietary needs and is much thriftier.

I like to have 2 or 3 standby menus for warm weather and 2 or 3 complete cold weather menus. Everything from starters, if you are serving them, to dessert to beverages, planned in advance. Most of my menus are cooked in advance, or crockpot meals for the colder months. I love to get creative in the kitchen, and try new things, but if extending hospitality is stressful for you, keep it simple, this may not be the time to try out that new recipe. Homemade soup in the crockpot with a roll, butter and cheese, is a wonderful after church meal to invite people in for, it doesn't have to be complicated or fancy.

5) Preparation is vital. The more you do in advance, the easier and less stressful it will be when your guests arrive. I have learned that every tiny detail completed ahead of time will make everything sooo much easier later. Having the meal prepared in advance if possible, the table set, beverages ready, butter on plates, whipped cream already whipped, salt in the shaker, everything you can think of to do in advance, DO. Even making sure the toilet paper is on the roll, and clean hand towels and soap are in the bathroom, no detail is too small. It will feel like a much bigger deal if you are running around trying to find this or fill that, instead of visiting with your guests.

Prechop veggies, especially things like potatoes and carrots, the night before. They will keep just fine in a pot of cold water until it’s time to cook. In fact, I do alot of my food prep the night before, some times even days before and refrigerate or freeze.

Figure out the timing. What needs to be in the oven when, and what in the microwave. How long for the rice, or for the roast to rest before carving....if you have a firm timeline in your head, figured out in advance, actually getting the meal on the table is much smoother, and everything might actually be hot. This has always been a challenge for me, so I spend extra time making sure I know that I have it figured out.

Use your tools. Sometimes I’ve called them my servants. My crockpot, breadmaker, microwave, and delay timers on your oven if available all make food prep and service so much easier. They are not essential, but if you have them, use them. In the summer, bbqing is a favourite and easy option, in the winter the crockpot can’t be beat. Everything chopped, prepared the night before, and dumped into the crockpot early the next morning will result in a wonderful after church meal ready and waiting for you and your guests. I also love potblessings, each bringing something to share, in the hospitality of a comfortable home. All you need to host is a willing heart and an open door.

Planning and food prep, are really not too complicated, really just takes some focused time planning and organizing before hand....so what holds us back from being as hospitable as we should be? We'll look at that tomorrow.

blessings to you,
Niki