I’m not a sports fan, but even I am waiting to find out if the New Orleans Saints are going to the Super Bowl. I lived in New Orleans for 12 years and everyone loves an underdog.

Now that I’ve told you just about everything I know about sports, let me talk party food to you. That’s something I really have a knack for. If the Saints do make their way to the big game, make your party center around the food of New Orleans. Have a big slow cooker full of gumbo and another of jambalaya. This way, your guests will be eating the best food of all the Super Bowl parties on your block.

Most large supermarkets have frozen crawfish which adds an exotic touch outside of Louisiana. Use it in the dishes above or in a dip in place of crab. Also, change up the spices a little. You can try some of Emeril’s Essence, which is also available nationwide. Add a little cayenne or Tabasco to spice it up a bit. You can also do it all the easy way with Zatarain’s Mixes. It’s really all up to you.

If the Saints let us down, you can still do better than a table of chips and pre-made dips. Get out your little dipper Crockpot and make a fondue instead of the usual nacho cheese. Even if you use cheddar and beer in it, it’s still a step above. Have lightly toasted bread hunks, steamed veggies, and you can still have a few tortilla chips out for the die hard junk food fans. Turn a plain old bean dip into something special by adding some goat cheese in place of the usual Monterrey jack and puree some chipolte chilies in adobe sauce to replace the jalapenos.

Create a make your own sandwich buffet. Use your Sengware platters to put out an array of thin sliced meats and cheeses. Have and array of interesting rolls - ciabata, oat, whole grain, sunflower and more. Have a few unusual cheeses, including goat cheese, so the vegetarians have something yummy too. Put out smoked mustards, basil aoili, and even steak sauce, they all make a sandwich more interesting.

Have cute mini cupcakes in place of a big cake. You can make them easily at home and even healthy them up with whole wheat pastry flour if you want to. Make sure to put out a fruit tray so your friends can keep their new year’s resolutions at least a little longer.

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You can go with any theme for your Halloween dinner party, but it just won’t be complete without a few dishes to remind you of the holiday. From mummy hot dogs for a kids party to ribs served on a platter with a carving knife stabbed into a fake heart - they all create an atmosphere your guests won’t soon forget.

I throw a fancy Gothic dinner party. I have my guests dress up in all black or a dressy costume. Each guest chooses a dish to bring from a list of recipes. I make sure there are recipes that everyone can make.

You can create a buffet using ordinary crockpots to keep the food warm, and allow for people to arrive at different times. I do a big sit down dinner with multiple courses. Of course, you have to count on your guests a little more, but the results really shine.

It takes some planning to have each course ready when you want it. After all, you want to be in the party not in the kitchen all night! If you want to do a little bite (amuse bouche) to start your meal, try something cold that you can have plated up in the fridge. Do the same with your salad course, plate it up, and put dressing in the serving bottle you want to use.

Keep your soup hot in a crockpot and ladle out in small bowls you set up nearby the minute you want to serve it. Have your main course cooked ahead of time, and you can pop it in the oven to warm up as you eat the soup or salad. If you have a room temp dessert plate it up and cover with a dish towel until you are ready. Or if it’s a chilled dessert, try and prepare it in individual serving dishes to speed up your time in the kitchen.

Make sure you have enough plates to serve on ready ahead of time in the kitchen. Nothing will slow you down more than stopping to wash dishes for your next course. Pick up a few thermal carafes, and make your coffee and tea while you are heating your main course. It’ll be hot and ready to serve when bring out the dessert. Also have sugar and creamers ready to make coffee service a breeze.

I set my table so that all the silver for the night is already in place. Set a water glass, wine glass, and coffee cup just like a restaurant would do and you’ll have less to haul from the kitchen. Make sure your dishwasher is clean and empty before the party starts, then you can put your dirty dishes straight in for an easier cleanup.

Have I got you thinking about your Halloween dinner? There are a ton of  ‘clipped’  Halloween recipes saved in the Halloween recipe notebook on Evernote. Happy party planning!

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No cool weather gathering is complete without a toasty drink. Kids and grown-ups alike love a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Having 20 children over for a pumpkin carving party? Get ahead of the game by making a batch of hot chocolate in your slow cooker. You can make large amounts, and it’ll be ready when the thirsty herd is.

For a smaller gathering you can still prepare it in advance, just use a thermal carafe to keep it warm or use a little dipper sized slow cooker. I do this before a fancy sit down dinner with coffee and tea. It lets me enjoy the company of my guests instead of staying hidden away in the kitchen.

Let the kids add their own touch to their drink. It’s amazing how easy it is to have so much fun. Create an area filled with little bowls of goodies to add to their cocoa. Decorate the table with a tablecloth and a few mini pumpkins.  You can also use flame-less candles to add a special touch with no danger to the little ones.  My hot chocolate goody bar usually includes whipped cream, chocolate shavings (milk, dark, and white), crushed peppermint candy, mini peppermint patties, mini marshmallows, and anything else I have on hand that seems like a fit.

If you will have older kids or adults around, try a mixture of ground chili, ginger, and cinnamon for a taste similar to what the Aztecs drank. It can have a kick, so keep an eye on the kids when you let them use this topping. Also try infusing the hot chocolate with a cinnamon stick and some cardamom pods when you make it for a delicious drink that needs no topping at all.

Flavored syrups like vanilla, hazelnut, and almond are another great addition. You can use them in fancy coffee drinks you make at home too. If there will be a lot of adults, bring out the liquors. Bailey’s, Amaretto, Frangelico, Grand Marnier, and even spiced rum make great grown up additions.

Make sure to ask the parents if any of the children have food allergies, before you decide what to put on your topping table. For someone with a milk allergy make your favorite hot chocolate recipe and use vanilla soymilk or almond milk in place of the dairy. Most mixes contain dairy, so you will need to make yours from scratch. It’ll be worth it and you may find yourself doing that for all your cocoa parties. It doesn’t take much time or effort, but it has a huge party payoff!

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Pears are my favorite autumn fruit. Delicious, richly textured, and perfect to use in both sweet and savory dishes. They are a wonderful ingredient to plan a fall party around. You can create a cocktail or a full dinner menu incorporating this luscious fruit. If you have a big kitchen and a well stocked pantry, you could throw an Iron Chef style party. Your guests and you can make the dinner course by course.

If you want to plan your menu in advance and cook yourself, take a look at a few of the following menu possibilities. You’ll be surprised with how versatile the pear is.

Start your guests off with a pear cocktail. Ahead of time peel few ripe pears and puree the flesh in a blender with the juice of a lemon. Strain if you want a thinner syrup or add some water. Use this in your usual martini, or mojito recipe. Liven up the typical mojito by using basil in addition to the traditional fresh mint. If the pear is sweet enough, you may be able to leave simple syrup out of your usual recipes all together.

Assemble a pear-brie bruschetta on top of lightly toasted bread spread with a little pistachio-thyme pesto. It’s a beautiful appetizer. Make a silky pear winter squash soup with a hint of port wine. Serve with a spinach salad topped with dried fruit and goat cheese tossed in your favorite vinaigrette for a complete meal. (Hint: make your own vinaigrette using pear puree, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Incorporate some fresh herbs that you happen to have on hand.)

Create a quick and easy pear main course by getting a pre-made pizza shell at the grocery. Spread the crust with garlic butter or a your favorite pesto sauce, then a layer of thinly sliced pears, top with some truffle oil and sliced fresh mozzarella cheese. You can either bake it in the oven or cook it on top of the grill. As another option, Trader Joe’s has an Italian truffle cheese that makes a great panini combined with sliced pear and crusty ciabatta.

You probably already have a pear dessert recipe in your arsenal. But try a pear sorbet. It’s a snap if you have an ice cream maker. Just puree ripe pear flesh with a little of your favorite sweetener as a base. The pear makes it the perfect ‘ice cream’ consistency. Add fresh or frozen berries and a tablespoon of your favorite liquor to amp up the flavor.

Remember pears need to be stored at room temperature and should ripen within a few days. Throw them into paper bag when you bring them home from the store to speed the ripening process up a little. Once they are ripe you should use them immediately.

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There are many reasons to host a dinner party, and one of them is for the chance to get creative with a “themed” dinner party. One  theme you can try for your next dinner party is a mystery dinner. The whole dinner party would be focused around finding out “who done it” and each dinner guests will be a part of the mystery. You can send out murder mystery invitations online which will allow you to send each guest unique information. Tell them what character they will be playing so they can dress the part (dressing up will add to the fun). Check out these murder mystery online invites from My Punch Bowl.

They also have other fun tips to plan your murder mystery dinner party, so get planning!

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Do you entertain? Upload your best “Summer Entertaining” photos and enter Hostess With The Mostess’ Facebook contest! Check out the fab prizes they are giving one very lucky winner. Five finalists will be selected then it’s open for a vote on The HWTM Facebook page!

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Entertaining can be expensive. from the decor to the menu… all the little expenses can add up rather quickly. Here are 5 tips that can help you keep your party expenses manageable. Go ahead, throw that party- just be cautious not to overspend.

1. Make your own desserts. No need to buy that fancy cake from the bakery, simply bake your own cake or other dessert. Even baking several different kinds of cookies and placing them on a large platter can look elegant. Save some dough without skimping on the sugar!

2. Keep your guest list small. You might want to invite all of your friends and neighbors, but resist inviting everyone. Hosting a smaller and more intimate party can really help you save money. Bonus: you will be able to spend more time chatting with fewer guests to juggle.

3. Skip the DJ and supply the party music yourself. You can play an ipod, mixed CDs, or a satellite radio and have great party music. Plan ahead and get your party music set up, turn it on, and enjoy. This is an easy way to save a lot of money.

4. Skip dinner. Plan your party earlier in the evening and serve appetizers rather than dinner. Dinner can be costly to provide for a party where as appetizers will be much more budget friendly.

5. Host your party at home. Resist booking a venue or resturaunt space for your party. Hosting your party at home can be just as nice and will save you a hefty rental fee.

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Any party host or hostess has probably has some sort of love hate relationship with these for letters. ­

R.S.V.P. meaning, “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” in french (translated “please reply” in English), can cause such frustration for a party hostess. Why? Because many people do not R.S.V.P. which often times leaves the hostess guessing at the guest count and unable to finalize party details.

Why is that more often times than not- no one R.S.V.P.s? Do invited guests simply forget? Do they not think it is required or important?

Please share your thoughts? I would loooove to know what you think!

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It’s that time of year again– time to plan your child’s birthday party. What will it be this year? Firetrucks? Star Wars? Oh the decisions.

Rather than trying to come up with the perfect party theme for your child’s birthday yourself, let them inspire you! Check out these three ways your child can inspire his own party theme!

What he watches: Is it endless replays of Shrek? What about that cartoon on Disney Channel he cannot get enough of? If your child is always eager to watch something in particular, chances are they would be thrilled with a birthday party focused on that show or movie.

What he does: Is your child constantly playing with his dinosaurs or pushing his toy tractors around the house? Pick a party theme inspired by what he likes to do. Whether is be is favorite action toy or outdoor activity. Soccer party to play dough party- he’ll be happy to participate if it is already one of his favorite things to do!

What he is interested in: If your child is fascinated by art and always creating little materpieces- then I say have an art party! Does he love science? Do some experiments. Children are naturally curious, it would be great to run with one of his interests and create a party around it. You’ll be sure to keep his attention!

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Entertaining for a crowd? Get a jump start on your party prep and read these 5 tips that you can do ahead.

1. Clean out your fridge (yes, seriously). This will give you more room to store party dips and appetizers that you have prepared ahead of time.

2.  Make any dishes (that can be prepared ahead of time), including casseroles, dips, and desserts the night before your party. This will cut down on the amount of time you are stuck in the kitchen the day of your event.

3. Dress and set your table the night before. You can place all the table settings and do just about everything except light the candles the night before. This will free up a ton of time the next day.

4. Gather all your serving dishes and utensils ahead of time and place them all in one area. This way when you go to plate and dish up all your food, you will not be searching around your kitchen for that serving dish you misplaced.

5. Clean (yuck I know). The only thing you should have to do the day of your party is make your beds. Do all that “dirty” work like cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors ahead of time. This will cut down on your pre-party stress…which is the whole point after all!

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