An Easy Tradition

by Anne Bergman

As the calendar creeps into 2008, there are many calls for getting together with friends and family. Some of these are spontaneous and intimate, while others are bigger. Either way, I love this tradition of getting together to share!

The best events are those which are well planned, though that does not necessarily mean "fussy"!! A few weeks ago, we had about 60 people over for our annual open house. We invited everyone to come over, including children, during a 4 hour timeslot. This is an afternoon event, so that everyone gets to bed at a reasonable hour, and people can drop in for a few minutes, or can stay longer.

It is not our first time doing this. In fact it is our 7th year, or so. Over the years, we have figured out the systems, so now, on the morning after the night before, we are exhausted and delighted! Our tiredness comes from having been to a good party, not from stressing about how to do it.

This year, one of our friends commented that the party was a success because I had made lots of lovely food. I thanked her for the compliment and made her look at the table which she was admiring. What I wanted her to see was that there were only 3 things which we had made ourselves: chilli, cookies (2 kinds) and gravlax salmon. Everything else was purchased, without breaking the bank. The table was prettied with a nice table cloth, and there were lots of bits to nibble on. There were flowers, and some nice serving dishes which I borrowed from neighbours. In fact, my husband took care of the salmon, the chili and one batch of cookies. I looked after the planning and the other cookies. My version of kitchen coaching is about making it easy and enjoyable, not cooking myself crazy!

Here are some other secrets to our easy open house, which you can easily adapt to your own gathering, large or small. Rent dishes, glassware, tables and linens if possible. Everything is delivered in advance, and you return it all, dirty. No need to worry about cleanup, and ecologically, it is better to wash dishes than to send disposables to the landfill.

Have clean up needs ready: paper towel, broom, mop etc. When they are needed, it's best to have them close at hand, and ready quickly. Remember to keep a supply close to the children's area too. At our party I broke a glass and was very happy to be prepared, as most people were in their sock feet!

Look for a variety of flavours and textures for the table - sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, etc. At our event, we had a kids' table which was lower, so they could help themselves. On that table were carrots, chips, grapes, cheese and crackers. Everything to make them happy at a party. On the adults' table there was vegetarian chili, a variety of breads and crackers, three cheeses on a platter with grapes, dried fruits, salmon, fancy cold cuts, olives, cookies, cut up vegetables with store bought dip and small nectarines. There was something for everyone.

Because we want everyone to enjoy themselves, we hired 2 sitters to mind the children. They came early to help us set up, and left late to help with the clean up. Having that help was great for the parents - they could be confident that their children were having a good time, safely, while they enjoyed adult company.

People have the most fun when the hosts are enjoying themselves too. This is a great way to do it. If you want to have an elegant event, the dynamic is quite different. Although I would implement it differently, the elements would be the same: planning, and ensuring that the hosts are having a pleasant time.

Our friends know what to expect from our annual party, and they look forward to it. In fact, some people prepare for it. We invite our guests to consider donating a new toy for a local charity, or donating their spare change. The change, often jars of pennies, gets rolled by our children, and then we make a cheque payable to an international aid organization. This year, some people did not bring pennies, but their cheque books! We were very touched by this generosity.

Any time is a good time to have friends over, and if it becomes an enjoyable tradition, so much the better. Keep it easy and carefree!

I wish you a very happy New Year for 2008!
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