| FROM FOOD TO FINERY You don’t have to break the bank or your back. |
| As easy as shortcake |
| You’ll need strawberries, whipped cream, whortcake shells (Acme, Giant Eagle, Sav-a-Lot). Let the cut, washed strawberries sit in one tablespoon of sugar; top the shortcake shells with the berries and a dollop of whipped cream. |
| Hide the table stains |
| Check out the $1 fabric section at Wal-Mart for material with patterns or solid colors. The size of your table will determine how many yards you will need. There’s no need for stitching if you buy some interfacing, which you can use to iron a hem without the reinforcement from a sewing machine. |
| Sip with a swagger |
| Check out Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Both have faux fancy glasses for… you guessed it, a dollar each. Try to get enough for all your guests or have a selection for them to choose from. |
| Appetizers for the masses |
| Try these cheap, easy and unique foods that will feed many: - Hummus and pita chips - Sliced parmesan cheese and tomato dish - Mandarin orange salad – Mix two types of lettuce, 1 can of drained mandarin oranges, chopped onion, slivered almonds and croutons |
| Have a wick-edly good time |
| A little wax and flame is always a good decision for creating a relaxed atmosphere. Be sure to keep the scented candles away from the food or dinner table so not to distract your guests from the aromas of the food. |
CLASS OUTSIDE OF CLASS
How to throw a dinner party with a college-student schedule and a college-student budget
Story by Doug Hite/ Photography by Heidi Weber
As far as social functions, the dinner party is a rare breed in the life of a typical college student. An implication might even be made that a dinner party is not a party at all, as it tends not to have the distinctive characteristics of a college party: cheap beer, blazing music and students going wild. The motivation for this type of engagement is different, too. The idea isn’t to be rambunctious or to drink until you black out, but instead, to coherently socialize with good friends while enjoying delicious food. A dinner party is a critical step in moving toward adulthood — to have a gathering you have independently thrown that shows your skills in the kitchen and gives the impression, or illusion, that you’re fairly classy.
To aid in your pursuit of classiness, here’s a breakdown of the dinner party process in five steps:
Initial planning (three to four weeks before event)
In order to choose the best date, you must first review your personal schedule and the schedules of others. Make sure that your friends aren't going to be out of town or aren’t planning to attend some other function on the night of your event.
Create a theme (three to four weeks before event)
A theme can be demonstrated through the types of food prepared, style of dress or entertainment. They can be as diverse as Thai food, ugly sweaters, or circus folk (carnies) doing the Macarena. Themes tend to center around holidays.
Prepare/send invitations (two to three weeks before event)
With the evolution of the Internet, it is no longer informal to send an invitation via e-mail. As host(ess), you might try writing and decorating a physical invitation, but if you would prefer e-mailing, send one as a PDF or JPEG instead of a boring e-mail that could get overlooked. Facebook invitations, while easy and acceptable, may be too informal because word can quickly spread that you are having a “party.” If you aren’t careful, you may end-up having fondue with a thug named BabyFace.
Purchase supplies (two to three days before event)
There’s no need to go past your means when buying food or decorations. A few pieces of décor, likely reminiscent of the theme, are a good idea that will suffice. Keep in mind the number of guests you’ve invited and prepare just enough food for everyone to dine on. You don’t want to be eating eggplant lasagna for the next three weeks.
Final preparation (day of event)
Give yourself plenty of time. Make sure decorations are in place several hours before the party (this gives you ample time to focus on the food). Stagger dinner preparations from the longest time needed to cook a dish to the shortest. Being able to sit down and enjoy the entire meal all at once with your guests is the goal, obviously. Now, it’s time to relax with good food and great friends for the duration of the evening.
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