by Becky Lane

Created on: April 16, 2009

Do you ever cringe at the thought of entertaining, believing that you must pull off one of those picture-perfect affairs, only seen in magazines, to please your guests? Well, I've spent years perfecting the art of throwing parties that are as much fun for me as they are for my guests, and I'm going to share some of my secrets with you. The most important thing to remember is that our goal here is pleasure, not perfection. I think many of you fear people won't enjoy themselves if your party isn't perfect, but just the opposite is true. Next time you feel yourself getting uptight before a party, just remind yourself that no one ever invites Martha Stewart to their house. So, the first thing you need to do is come up with a handful of ideas for low-work, high-fun celebrations. Following are a few of my ideas, to get you started.

FALL FIESTA: One of my all-time favorites for fall is a pot luck Mexican dinner. Once the weather turns crisp and cool, just pull out your chili pepper patio lights, fire up the chiminea, and call up a few friends. All you need to provide is drinks, chips and queso, and maybe some grilled fajitas if you are feeling industrious. Ask each person to bring the Mexican dish of their choice, and there you have it. Guaranteed fun, and nothing could be easier. It's sometimes difficult to keep a straight face when I am complimented on these parties, knowing that the guests brought most of the food. However, that is precisely why they had such a good time - their hosts were just as relaxed and having just as much fun as they were!

Another good idea is to put your guests to work when they arrive, especially if you don't know them that well. I realize that sounds odd, but think about it. What's more awkward than standing around, trying to make conversation with strangers, while your host is closeted away in the kitchen? Assigning guests a simple task will put them at ease, and start the conversation flowing. Better yet, plan a party where everyone cooks together. We have used an Italian theme, with one couple cranking out pasta sheets and others making different sauces, as well as a Chinese theme, where we had several different woks going. Assign the more difficult jobs to the more experienced cooks, and vice versa, then serve an appetizer and open a bottle of wine to enjoy while everyone cooks. By the time the meal is ready, everyone will feel like old friends!

SPRING AL FRESCO: When my sister hosts a spring gathering, she enjoys having a French country

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