Organizing a party

Everyone loves to organize a party, but the trick is to ensure that the cook has enough time too. Whether you are planning a barbecue, an elegant dinner, special lunch for someone or a holiday buffet, a few simple strategies will guarantee you stress free entertaining.
All the good parties are well organized. Start with a few list, a menu, menu preparation time table and the list of dinnerware and cutlery that you need.
Simplicity is they key to a successful menu, especially when you are expecting large number of guests. Take advantage of the dishes that taste even better when made ahead. It is also smart to include some dishes that freeze well.
Marinate the meat, chicken or fish a day before party. If you are planning to make Biryani or Pulao, prepare qorma or yakhni one day before. Use seasonal fruits and vegetables whenever possible. They will be at their peak of flavor and reasonably priced.
If you are going to arrange a barbecue dinner  dips and chips are perfect appetizers, Marinate all the chicken and meat one day before for better taste and refrigerate it for the next day.
Holiday brunch buffets are great for carefree entertaining. Place the table in the center of the room, so guests can serve themselves from both sides of the table. Select the buffet menu wisely so that it should include some breakfast dishes and some lunch dishes as well like omlettes boiled eggs pancakes, cakes, pastries, casseroles, paratha, naan or puris, curries like Nihari, Karahi etc and one of rice dishes included. Serve rice pudding (kheer of firni) or trifle as desert.
When you are planning the menu for a dinner party it is important that flavor, color, texture and richness of the food should be well balanced. Appetizers that you are going to serve should be easy to handle, without being messy. Serve a simple soup followed by main menu that include dishes made up of chicken, beef, mutton and fish or shrimps. One vegetable dish is necessary to cater your vegetarian guests.
Try not to have more than two dishes that require your last minute attention. Also serve fresh vegetable salads and selection from fresh fruits nicely served with dips of chocolate or honey.

Setting a proper table 

There is a proper way to set a table. To begin place a dinner plate at each setting. Top with a salad plate and if you are going to serve soup place the soup bowl on top of the salad plate. Set the bread plates  to the left of the dinner plates above the forks. Napkins go either to the left of the forks or in centre of the dinner plates. Forks are placed on the left, while knives (cutting edge facing the plate) and spoons are on the right. If you are serving soup, the soup spoons are placed to the right of knives. If you are serving salads, the salad forks are set to the left of dinner forks. Butter knives may be placed right on the butter plate. If you have enough flat ware and room on the table, the desert forks and spoons are placed above the dinner plate. Otherwise set out the desert flatware with the desert. Place soft drink glasses above the dinner knives and water glasses to their left.