I love having friends over for dinner. There’s something so much more cosy and intimate about staying in rather than dealing with the crowds and interruptions that go along with restaurant gatherings.
And as much as I’m all about keeping things as simple as possible, I do always go to a little bit more effort when we have company.
But that doesn’t mean I change my cooking style completely. I’m more about dressing up my favourite Stonesoup meals.
Today I’m sharing my favourite tricks for transforming Stonesoup meals into entertaining occasions so you can entertain with confidence. Of course if you’re looking for more help in this area, I recommend taking some time to check out our ‘Stress-Free Entertaining‘ Class here on the SVCS…
[tabs slidertype=”left tabs” auto=”no”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext] Video & Audio [/tabtext] [tabtext] 5 Ways [/tabtext][tabtext] Example 1. [/tabtext] [tabtext] Example 2. [/tabtext] [/tabcontainer][tabcontent] [tab]
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5 Ways to ‘Dress up’ any Meal
1. Add dessert
Adding a treat to the end of the meal is my first step when we have company (any excuse really!)
You don’t have to make it yourself. Sometimes I get one of my guests to bring something. Or I pretend I’m a Parisian housewife and pick up something delectable from the local patisserie (ok I’m wishing we had a patisserie in my town!).
But if you have time to whip up something from scratch, by all means go for it. There are plenty of ideas in the ‘Sweet Treats‘ section of the SVCS recipe index.
2. Add sides
My next go-to for ‘dressing up’ a simple meal is to serve with one or two side dishes. This has the added bonus of making sure there is plenty of food for everyone.
See the examples tab for ideas.
3. Add a garnish
While I always try and make my meals look as appealing as possible, garnishes are often the first thing I skip when keeping my ingredients list short. But when I’m having people over I tend to make a bit more effort in the looks department.
It might be something as simple as adding some fresh herbs for some added greenery, shavings of Parmesan or playing the textural card with some roast nuts for added crunch.
4. Add a starter
Unless I’m having a ‘Saturday night’ special dinner party, I rarely bother with having a first course. But if it suits your entertaining style go for it. For casual meals I’m more likely to serve some simple ‘nibbles’ like a a big bowl of pistachios or olives. Other times I’ll go for something a bit more substantial like some bread and olive oil, finely sliced salami or some cheese and crackers.
5. Don’t forget the golden rule:
‘Less is More’
People are coming to your home to see you and enjoy a relaxed meal. No one is expecting fancy restaurant style food.
It can be easy to fall into the trap of trying to do too much (I’m one of the biggest offenders). You’re far better off spending your time (and your food dollars) on doing one simple thing really well, than stressing over getting many dishes ready.[/tab][tab] 
Example 1.
Simple Meal:
Dressed Up for Company Meal:
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Frozen Yoghurt [/tab][tab] 
Example 2.
Simple Meal:
Dressed Up for Company Meal:
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Shaved Fennel Salad with Ricotta & Warm Peas
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Chocolate PB tart[/tab][/tabcontent] [/tabs]
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