Hosting and Gatherings
Checklist for cooking dishes ahead of a dinner party
Many dinner party dishes can be cooked a day early if they are cooled, stored and reheated correctly. This checklist sorts make-ahead foods, storage rules and a timing plan.
The collection
Hosting and Gatherings
Cooking for guests at home, from planning a menu and timing hot dishes to feeding a crowd so you can enjoy the evening along with everyone else.
Hosting and Gatherings
Choosing a menu when guests have different food preferences
Build a dinner party menu around one anchor dish, flexible sides and clear labels, so guests with different tastes and allergies can all eat well.
Hosting and Gatherings
Common mistakes hosts make in the kitchen on the day
Avoid common kitchen problems on the day of a dinner, including missed thawing, no room for hot pans, untested recipes and food left out too long.
Hosting and Gatherings
Hosting friends for dinner without spending the day cooking
Host friends for dinner with an oven-friendly menu, make-ahead dishes, a simple prep plan and a few guest tasks, so you spend the evening with your guests instead of the stove.
Hosting and Gatherings
How much food to cook for a group of guests
A practical guide to portion sizes for a group, with starting amounts for mains and sides, adjustments for appetites and a safe margin for leftovers.
Hosting and Gatherings
Laying out a buffet-style table for a relaxed gathering
Arrange buffet food so guests can move smoothly along one line, with clear serving utensils and simple rules for keeping hot and cold dishes at safe temperatures.
Hosting and Gatherings
Timing hot dishes so everything reaches the table together
Learn how to plan oven and stovetop timing, rest roasts and hold hot food safely so several warm dishes arrive at the table at the same moment.