Why I Will Have A Headache Tomorrow

Do you think it is odd that I keep having largish dinner parties wished upon me? Some are born to dinner guests, some achieve dinner guests, and others have dinner guests thrust upon them.

I suppose I am still just a girl who cain’t say no.

On Tuesday Steve’s cousin Holly (you remember- pretty, nice Holly whose lovely young husband died last summer) left a message saying that she was coming to Minnesota on Thursday and would like to stay with us for the night. Delightful, we said. And, she added, remember when we said that we would like to have her Minnesota friends over for dinner sometime? Wouldn’t Thursday be great?

So I am expecting somewhere between 9 and 15 people for dinner tonight. Surprise!

It will be fun (I hope) and it was just the thing, actually, to shake me from my funk. Sorrow be damned, there are bathrooms to clean! And oh sweet crabapples, cat hair to corral. You would expect these cats to be bald by this point, I swear. How can there be any fur left upon their sleekit bodies when the stuff gathers on the couch by the bushel? Stupid shedding cats.

But back to my dinner… I made the dessert on Tuesday (an old Fine Cooking standby that combines cheesecake and something fudge-like into a nice make-ahead wheel of goodness.) Yesterday I put together two salad dressings, bought a case each of wine and champagne, and assiduously ironed my napkins and placemats. As I still don’t know how many people are coming I decided to just make some spicy shrimp pasta (see recipe, bottom right.) I figure I can just keep adding shrimp and linguine to the pot as they roll in the door. Eeeee-zzzzzzz. Salad, bread, some cheeses… done. Besides, did I mention the champagne? That’s the whole party right there.

Although while I am thinking about it, how much pasta do you think, per person? Let’s say we get 12 (plus three little kids), what do you think, three pounds of linguine and two pounds of shrimp?

I am embarrassed to admit this but I am surprisingly nervous. I am REALLY REALLY REALLY shy (no, really) and I haven’t met most of these people. What if I am weird and awkward and everybody shuns me? And then there is the pressure of feeding them at a reasonable hour and hoping nothing tastes gross…

Not earth-shattering problems I know, but we all have our worries. Lemme know about the food quantities, if you have a second. Also, if you would like to reassure me that everybody will like me and the pasta will turn out fine and it is okay if we set up a card table at the end of our real table that would be nice too. WHAT a relief that the table is always set for a formal ten… (Hi Mollie!)

Comments

[terri c]

OF COURSE they will like you. And dinner sounds delicious.

[Suz]

Sounds amazing and kudos to you for doing it! The menu sounds great, but you might want to be prepared to dump some plain linguine in a pot just in case someone turns out to be allergic to shellfish. Just sayin' you know, because it doesn't sound like you have ENOUGH to plan for.

- Suz

[Tine]

Hello there. Haven't commented lately, though I've been following your posts faithfully, because I haven't been able to think of anything remotely helpful to say.

But today I think I can help! Spicy shrimp pasta (slightly different recipe from yours) is something I make fairly often. I think you've got the pasta quanity just right. But the way my piggy family and friends slurp through pasta sauce, I'd probably triple the sauce ingredients. If there's a chance you'll have up to 15 people, I'm thinking better safe than sorry.

You're going to have a fabulous time. Your meal will be scrumptious. Everyone will love you. (We all do, so why wouldn't they?) The card table's fine. You go, girl.

[elisabeth]

Ah, nothing that I love more than a nice dinner party! It sounds divine. I think 3# of pasta is generous, and ditto the pull some out in case children prefer it plain with butter and parm cheese sprinkled on.....I would also throw out a big bowl of grapes which go lovely with cheese and are good to hand off to children to divert them from the $17/pound cheese that they won't appreciate anyway. Plus assorted red and green grapes just look lovely! Cardtable would be fine if you need it. just have a stack of plates and placemats/napkins ready to go so you can give Steve the evil eye and he can make it happen while you stand at the stove and stir with a glass of wine in your hand, making it all look effortless.

You will be fine, of course they will love you, and it is perfectly normal to be anxious before hand. I always get a bit of angst pre-party, especially with "new" friends. Heck even with old friends....it takes some orchestrating to pull off a nice dinner party, especially with a little one underfoot. And even if something goes wrong (like the time I forgot to serve the garlic mashed potatoes and we ate them with dessert at 11pm) just keep smiling and keep your wine glass full :-)

I'll stop now. This is a favorite topic of mine, can't you tell??

[Her Ladyship]

Generally, the rule of thumb is a (generous) handful of pasta per person. That works out to be about a quarter pound per person, so I think that your estimate of 3 pounds for twelve people should be good. But if it makes you nervous, just throw on a 4th pound, just for good measure. Peace of mind is not to be overrated. It all sounds fantastic, and you have the right fram of mind: champagne makes everything better. Have fun.

[Summer]

I spent one summer working as a caterer, and ever since have had a mystical voodoo ability to accurately gauge the correct amount of food for a party. You'd probably be safe with three pounds of pasta, but I'd do four. Just one Hearty Eater can throw off the pasta calculations. My perennial unwanted houseguest, Mr. Stinky the Shower Destroyer, can easily polish off a half pound of pasta in a sitting. And if any one of those little kids is anything like my boy, he'll be able to consume a full adult serving of pasta with no problem. Thus my recommendation is four pounds of pasta, two pounds of shrimp. Pasta's cheap, so if you have too much, no big deal. You can always torment the cats with it later.

Also, you're gorgeous and a sparkling conversationalist, so don't worry that you won't be liked. The cheesecake concotion alone sounds like enough for your guests to pledge undying devotion to you.

[citygirrrl]

good luck! don't think you'll need it though - menu and company both sound perfect.

cheesecake sounds deee-licious! i'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that you'll share the recipe...

[Lisa V]

This is how I entertain constantly. I think sure I can throw a party, have people over. Then shortly after I hang up the phone inviting the last guest, I think "what in god's name have I done?" Now I have to clean, cook, be charming, and I hate people. I feel under the microscope and I am inadequate to every task. My house sucks, have you seen how ratty the furniture is? I can't cook, it will be a disaster. This keeps up til the doorbell rings. Then I can play hostess, hardly talk to anyone because I am rushing around getting things done, and everyone has a great time. When it's over I am happy and everyone compliments me. It's a sick cycle. You will be fine, keep busy with food and drink and you don't have to talk to anyone, you can be shy. Smile, listen to their stories and let them entertain you. You provided food, drink and place, let them provide the party.

[Libby]

Just a quick suggestion... I would have an alternative to shrimp for the kiddos. Sofia LOVES shrip but her cousin can't even smell it.

Other than that, no worries. You have Champagne, wine and dessert. You are all set!

Oh and how could I forget! nobody is going to hate you, they will love you!

[Ninotchka]

I suck at food quantities so I always let Guy decide. He's a much better judge having been in the restaurant business and all (many moons ago). I'm just here to provide support: It'll all be great. They will love you. Enjoy!

The end.

:)

[LoreneGo]

You are amazing. I am also hoping to get the recipe for the cheesecake thingy. Please let us know how it all turned out. I know you will be the hit of the party. Your recipe for the shimp sounds so good.

[Scully]

You're a very likable person, so you know they're not only going to like you but love you.

Can I come to dinner? Minnesota's only a three hour plane ride from Calgary.

Your dinner sounds divine.

And I often open the card table and put it at the end of the dining room table. People just love getting together and eating great food and drinking wine and visiting. You'll wow them.

And I love the addition of the champagne.

Am I stupid, but did I miss the recipe?

[Christine]

I have an unbelievable fear of running out of food, so I always way overestimate. Which is why we have food in our freezer from a party we threw in August.

They will love you, no doubt. And if you feel shy, drink. That's what I do. Paul has coworkers that have never seen me sober. If they ever met me sober, they'd realize that I don't talk.

[Mandy]

They're going to swoon over you. How could they not love you? You're charming, witty and feeding them awesome food!!!

The card table will be fine, I second the suggestion for 4 pounds of pasta to be on the safe side, and perhaps you might have a small amount of a different sauce on the side for the kids...the whole shrimp thing for them can be unpredictable. It all sounds divine and I would love to attend a party like you've described.

[Cricket]

Sounds great, except......

what about the seafood allergy?

I'M JUST KIDDING!

[Debe]

It sounds fabulous, you will be fine

[Mollie]

Hi Julia!

Oh, and I can eat a pound of pasta by myself, so I'd plan four.

[deborah]

Mollie just said EXACTLY what I was going to say. *pout*

[dayment]

I can't imagine shunning anyone who gives me shrimp and champagne.

[Heather]

Everyone will love you, of course. Who wouldn't??

I'd go with 4lbs of pasta too. You just never know what people can eat. And I too can't wait for the cheesecake thingy recipe.

Oh, and we do that card table thing too. with a good table cloth, you're good to go.

Hope you have a wonderful time. And if for some reason you're not ahving fun, have more wine. And cheesecake.

[jill]

Hi, Julia,

I am delurking for the first time to compliment you on you dinner menu. It sounds delicious! I am envious of your guests!

As for the pasta quantity, let me preface my assvice by saying that I almost always overdo it with food when people are coming over. My philosophy is that too much food is much better than too little food (and I like leftovers). That said, I think I would prepare 4 pounds of pasta. You never know if one of your guests will turn out to be a Hoggy Hoggerson. I had a boyfriend in college whose normal serving of pasta was 1/2 pound, which he always ate in one sitting!

Everything about your party sounds lovely. A case of champagne and ironed cloth napkins...can I come over? :) I am beginning to see why you have hostess duties thrust upon you: you're great at entertaining.

About being shy: I am a bit shy, too, and I have a strategy for dealing with party sitations where I don't know a lot of people. I find that people love to talk about themselves, so I just ask them a question about themselves (eg. "So, how do you know Holly?"), let them run with it, and then throw in a few follow up questions. Works like a charm.

You have a great personality, which is readily apparent on your blog. (As an aside, I am so sorry about all you have been through, and I admire you bouncing back and hosting this party so soon). Anyway, back to your personality: you're a witty person with a positive slant, so just be yourself and of course your guests will like you (and when you factor in that fudgy cheesecake dessert, they will love you!)

[Emily]

I do about a quarter of a box per person. I usually make too much, but that's intentional -- leftovers are good :) Dinner sounds wonderful! I love Fine Cooking, I just drool when the new issues arrive.

Um, just one thing, you IRON your napkins? Seriously? (Emily hiding the 'fancy' paper napkins that graces her tables :).

You're my hero, Julia, let me tell you, to be doing this.

xxo,

[Jenn]

Is there room for one more? It sounds GREAT! I'd probably make 4 lbs too, just in case a few want seconds, or thirds because I'm sure it will be that good.

As for the shy thing, I bet a few of them will be even more on edge going to a strangers house. You'll be fine. Plus there's champagne!

[Karen]

Hi,

Yes, as someone noted...make plain noodles for the freak children who don't appreciate shrimp and would rather have, quite amazingly, plain noodles with butter instead.

Also, please post recipe for make-ahead-wheel-of-goodness! Who doesn't need that!

[Mary S.]

Delurking and taking a few minutes from watching the Oprah show about Suburban Swingers to say: I wish I were coming to your dinner party! Because I love you! And if anyone dared to shun you I would....I don't know, glare at them or something!

Also, yesterday I made the Halibut and Potatoes recipe and my family wolfed it down happily and asked for more. Yay me!

Ok, back to Oprah. This one lady is a swinger AND a Brownie leader. That's just wrong, people.

[Menita]

I just want to know if you survived.
Bet the food was great : )

[Karen]

Well, given that I only know you from this blog, I say if the shyness becomes crippling, just pull this baby up on your computer screen, and flee the room. They read a few of your HI - LAIR- EEE - US postings, and they'll be your friends for life.

I'm sure you did fine. As always, let us know how it goes!

[Sarah]

Delurking to say that it sounds absolutely divine ... and that my dinner-party motto is that *anyone* will eat *anything* once they've had a few drinks. So set the bottles on the card table and hand people an empty glass on their way in. It's my failsafe dinner party plan. Have fun! You'll be fantastic.

[Laura]

That's -- THAT'S THE DINNER PARTY OF MY DREAMS! Shrimp, champagne, ironed napkins...I'm in awe. Your guests will love you. If you ever need an extra guest, I'm the kind that will pour you a glass of wine, make you sit down, and commence to cleaning your entire kitchen, and putting away leftovers and wiping down countertops when the evening is done.

[kristin]

Delurking to say:

1. I hope the surprise dinner party is a smashing success!

2. You're amazing and delightful and admirable. As if it weren't enough that you have worlds of strength and grace, and a huge capacity for hope and love, and an amazing ability to roll with life's surprises (dinner for 15? sure!)...but now you've gone and used the word "sleekit." I've quite lost my heart.

Best of luck -

[Rebecca]

Your party sounds fabulous and you are such amazing to be hosting right now. It's so hard to imagine you shy, since you are so eloquent in your blog. Good luck!

[grumpygirl]

actually, i'd go with five pounds of pasta; i eat 1/2 a pound myself for dinner. (no, i don't weigh 400 pounds...)

and more shrimp, too. never too much shrimp, i say.

[LizM]

I totally agree with the person that suggested pulling out plain pasta. It's always possible that there will be someone who either vehemently dislikes or is allergic to shrimp (as it is a shell fish).
I know what you mean about being nervous. I have social anxiety but I love to cook so that means entertaining. Don't worry. You'll be gorgeous and divine and everyone will be comparing you to Emeril Lagasse!

[oo2xgf7h]

[url]http://hometown.aol.com/drug85606viagra/diet-pill-hoodia-gordonii-beam-to-desert.htm[/url]