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Planning your party food can seem overwhelming, but once you start making
lists and counting appetizers, you'll quickly realize that it's not as
difficult as it seems. Anyone who's ever thrown a party has dealt with the
problem of figuring out how much food to prepare or have on hand. While
having lots of food left over isn't exactly ideal, it would be much worse to
run out and have your guests leave hungry.
The first thing to consider is your overall menu. You'll
need far fewer appetizers if you're planning to serve a meal during the
party. As a rough guide, estimate five appetizers per person per hour before
the meal is served.
For a party without a meal being served, the number of appetizers needed
will increase. But here's where it can get complicated. The time of day
factors in here, because holding a party during the dinner hour will require
much more food than having a reception later in the evening. Also, people
tend to eat less earlier in the day, so a morning or afternoon gathering
will cut down on the number of appetizers you'll need.
For dinner hour parties, which don't include a meal, estimate about 14
appetizers per guest per hour.
Over the lunch hour, about ten appetizers per person per hour is about
right.
Afternoon or later-evening parties require about 6-8 appetizers per person
per hour.
If you're overwhelmed with the number of appetizers you'll need to have on
hand for your party, consider changing the menu up a bit. Picking up a deli
platter or two, an assortment of cheese, and some fresh rolls will reduce
the amount of appetizers needed. Or add a dessert buffet, with an assortment
of cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats. Make some yourself and purchase
the rest from your local bakery.
One other thing to consider is the age of your guests. Older people tend to
eat less than younger ones. A party for teens will need more food than a
retirement party, in general.
As a rule of thumb, always have extra appetizers on hand, just in
case you need them. This will reduce your stress a great deal!
Stock your refrigerator with cut veggies and the ingredients needed to whip
up a quick batch of dip. In case of a dip emergency, creamy salad dressings
work well. Pop some cook-from-frozen pre-made appetizers, such as sausage
rolls or meatballs, in the freezer. If you need them you can cook them
quickly, and if you don't they will make a nice addition to a meal for you
and your family when the party is long over.
Remember the cardinal rule: for every person, you need a pound of food for
snacks and one and a half pounds for the actual meal.
If you end up with a lot of food left over, it's always a nice gesture to
send your guests home with a plate of appetizers that they can reheat and
enjoy the next day!
There are so many high quality specialty foods in the market; it's really
unnecessary to cook everything for your party yourself. Cook and prepare
whatever you like to do best, then save time by filling in the rest with
gourmet products. |
