Reluctant Entertainer

Are you looking for some exciting and different entertainment at your dinner party?

At our Cruise Party Dinner Reunion last Spring our awesome kids entertained us and here’s how it all came down.

We asked our kids to put on a Talent Show for us. I will admit it was a pretty amazingly, talented group of kids! Some took turns emceeing, and we had acts such as piano, violin, guitars, and dancing! Dancing, as in Emily did a dance for us, then she got the adults onto the lawn and taught us all the “two-step!”

We’ve been to friends’ houses before, during the holidays, where the children would bring their talent, similar to above, but also seasoned with poetry and singing! Years ago we went to a dinner party where the kids put a play together, and then performed it for the adults.

We have made this tradition in our household. It adds to the evening, it’s good for the kids. It brings joy to adults (especially those who appreciate the gift of music!) and it’s a cheap way to bring entertainment to your party.

I’d be interested to know if you’ve done something similar …

My husband and I have found that the methology we use for entertaining (usually sit-down dinners) really helps people relax and enjoy themselves. Even though friends come together with different personalities and lifestyles, we treat them with respect no matter where they are in life. We have learned a lot around our dinner table! It is our mission to tansform our evening into an intimate time of comfort, warmth and joy.

Here is my PEAR BUTTER recipe. Several people have asked for it:
8 cups of pears (I peel, put in my Cuisinart, puree, but okay to have some chunks)
3 1/2 cups sugar
1 T cinnamon
½ t ginger
1 t cloves
Mix together; cook on low. Jar the cooked jam. Bring your canner water to a boil, put the jars in and PROCESS FOR 15 minutes.
Remove, cool, and … ENJOY!

Also, my friend Debbie shared this recipe with me today! Since it includes pear jam, here it is:
FRUIT SALAD WITH A FLARE (by Debbie M.)
Whatever fruit you choose
Vanilla yogurt
1/4 C of pear jam
Freshly grated nutmeg on top for garnish
Mix and serve with pork tenderloin or lamb!

Our favorite fruit every Fall season is pears. I buy boxes of them at an orchard up the street!

Back in March we were blessed to participate in a five-day cruise with friends to Mexico. What a time of building deeper relationships with these four families! When we got back I decided to host a “cruise reunion” party, which included about 26 people. I divided the party up by adults and children (kids on picnic table). For the adults I put 2 tables together using my standard WHITE tablecloths.

And then, my favorite part of setting up – the table!

Glass dishes (box of 24 at a garage sale for $15)
Water goblets (25 cents each, garage sale)
Flowers (from my garden)
Accessories (butter dishes, salt & pepper, napkins – garage sale)
Chairs (mix ‘n match)
Water pitcher (clear large wine bottles, cleaned with chilled water)

The finishing touch on the table was a small candle holder (10 cent shelf at Albertson’s) with a tea light candle at each place, a tiny ribbon tied around the top, and then with a Sharpie marker I put each adult guests name (as in a place card). That little secret came from one of my best friends in life, Hoppi, a special woman with flare of her very own.

I like to use place cards with sit-down dinners (large groups) and arrange the guests in a way that will stimulate conversation. The reason Paul and I like to entertain is to show hospitality toward our family & friends! The conversation around the table is often the richest part of the evening. (But stay tuned for what was to follow on this special night!)

So, you say, how do you host such a large group on a budget? As far as decorating, I use the same linen, dishes & accessories over and over. I just change the theme, candles, and flowers accordingly to the time of year!

Main Dish? I prepared 2 kinds of salmon. My husband Paul BBQ’d one kind and I cooked the other kind in the kitchen, and we coordinated it so they would both be finished at the same time. The rest of the food? I had the guests bring! They each brought drinks and another dish, which I planned out. The meal was delicious and we ended it with a Costco chocolate cake (which another guest brought). Sharing the load with guests is an easy way to plan a big event. You do not have to prepare the whole meal by yourself! I used to think I had to do it all, as in to impress others. No longer do I believe in that. People want to bring food! Having this mind-set has really helped me want to host larger events!

In my next entry, I’ll be sharing with you how this awesome group of KIDS ENTERTAINED US!

Are you reluctant to whip up a meal for friends because the conversation around the table doesn’t always go the way you’d like or are comfortable with? Just bring your kids into the mix and a couple of thought-provoking questions for the entire group and …Wah-Lah! You’ll have an entertaining evening on your hands!

Last night was a school night, but it was the only time we could squeeze in a meal with our really good friends whom we love to dine with. Since our families are growing now (4 adults, 6 children – ages 10 – 14) we had to add another table to the end of our dining table. It didn’t fit perfectly but that’s okay. Now you may be thinking … put the children in the other room – especially the teens! But we wanted to all be together.

The kids were starving (a few of them had played soccer that day) and they informed us that is was okay to put bread on your plate before prayer & everyone had sat down. Mmm … I’ll have to check with Emily Post on this one! I used a simple place setting of white dishes (my original wedding dishes 15+ yrs. old), cloth napkins (don’t need to be ironed) and fall leaves and candles in the middle of the table.

We offered up a prayer of thanksgiving, and then the interesting part of the evening began when my husband, Paul, asked the “intriguing” question for the evening. “What adult person in your life (other than your parents) makes you feel good about yourself, and why?” We went around the room and all 10 of us shared. It was both serious and funny, and it brought a tear to my eye to hear everyone’s response.

Then Paul asked, “what characteristics does this one person portray?” Many of the responses included humor, authenticity, and feeling genuinely cared for from this person, with wanting nothing in return!

Some comments last night were: he makes me laugh, she encourages me, she never puts me down, he tells me what I’m doing wrong, then gives me a second chance, she tells me that I’ve done a great job, she validates me, he listens to me, she buys me things (oops!), he comes down to my level and plays with me, she always includes me.

We are often shaped by the people who impact our lives. We are shaped by their wisdom.

Our kids felt valued by their parents last night. We wanted to hear what they had to say. Their opinions mattered to us. We wanted to know who was important to them. We ended our evening with an outside fire, laying on hammocks and staring into the embers, until we dozed off.