Party Panache, Simple Dinner Party and Pasta Lollipop Trees
Posted by the Painted Apron on October 19, 2014 · 12 Comments

Several people have asked me to demonstrate how to put together a dinner party~
If you have a plan, everything is doable, and a dinner party becomes just another dinner
I try to keep it SIMPLE, add some SPARK, and SPREAD out tasks over a few days
This way I’m not overwhelmed, and entertaining is a pleasure…
I am sure you have your own way of doing things and I don’t want to bore you… if so, just skip to the end for some great party recipes you might want to try…I am just sharing a formula that works for me…
Choose a theme or color scheme, it provides a starting point for your decor
Think about what you already have or want to use and “shop” your house to see what you can find to go with it
I pulled things from all seasons and occasions for this table
A centerpiece tree [decorated in any theme], Easter ribbon grass and pink burlap, an orange polka dot table topper from summer parties, Christmas packages, sweet treat decorations and Painted Chargers~ this all came together for an over the top birthday celebration
DD’s recent birthday dinner party was just family, but we make a big deal about birthdays around here~
This crazy collage of things works together because the same colors and elements are repeated throughout
Anything whimsical and girly was the theme~ there are a lot of boys around here 🙂
Guests always end up in the kitchen, so have some party touches in there
The kitchen island was overflowing with presents and birthday fun
Including appetizers and the dinner buffet set up
I like to let guest serve themselves, easy on the host, and they get what they like~
The dining table is the star of the show, so set it early in the week if you can
If you can’t leave it set up, do a practice tablescape and plan it out, so you can quickly set it on party day
Buy your flowers from places that have a rapid turnover to insure you get the freshest. Costco and Whole Foods are my go to spots~
Then you can do your flowers a few days ahead of time and they will be at their peak on the day of your party
Choose dishes you have made before and that will suit your guests~
Teriyaki Tenderloin is a party favorite at our house, use beef or pork tenderloin, and guests always rave
The potatoes are simple to prep and cook and popular with all ages
The salad can be tossed with all kinds of goodies
I chose a do ahead appetizer that is easily prepared and served up fun and fancy
I bought dessert, DD’s favorite Baby Bites, mini cakes from a local pastry shop, Pastry Art
Naming the dishes to match your theme and posting the menu adds to the festivities
I used a clipboard here, but a frame or an easel works great too
Everyone loves to know what’s on the menu
Make a schedule, print it out, and stick to it~ this is the real key to keeping your cool
Week ahead:
Clean and de-clutter house
Print menu or cards for buffet table [I designed mine in Picmonkey]
3-4 days ahead:
Grocery shop
2-3 days ahead:
Marinate meat, make salad dressing
1-2 days ahead:
Arrange flowers, set table, add decor
1 day ahead:
Cook pasta and toss with pesto, reserving some plain if desired. Keep refrigerated. Prepare serving stand
Pick up dessert from bakery
Day of:
Morning:
Wash lettuce and gather other ingredients
do some touch up cleaning, run dishwasher and empty it
Prep potatoes and refrigerate, or start slow cooker
Cut salami and peppers for Pasta Lollipops
2 hours before:
add berries and fruit etc. to finish salad, but don’t dress until right before serving
add finishing touches to buffet and table, set up beverage station and Pasta Pops
Grill meat ahead if desired. This meat can be served at room temperature if you want to go ahead and cook it before your guests arrive
Cocktail hour:
Serve Pasta Pops and assorted beverages of choice
Put potatoes in oven 45 minutes before dinner time and grill meat
Dinner time:
Toss salad, slice meat
Place salad, meat and potatoes on buffet for guests to help themselves
Dessert can go on display too so guests know to save room
Dinner Party Formula=
easy menu SIMPLE +theme/color scheme SPARK+ weekly do ahead plan SPREAD= Success!
Click on the green recipe titles below for the recipes
Celebration Salad aka Holiday Salad
29 Forever Fries aka Italian Fries or substitute Slow Cooker Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes

PASTA LOLLIPOP TREES
Equipment
- skewers
Ingredients
- refrigerated fresh tortellini pasta
- pesto sauce such as Buitoni low fat basil pesto
- red pepper
- thin salami slices
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Toss with pesto to taste, reserving some plain if desired. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Cut pepper into bite size pieces. Cut salami into squares. Skewer one tortellini with a piece of salami and pepper, and then another tortellini. Arrange skewers into a garden, inserting ends into florist foam or a styrofoam block.
Notes
I used a florist foam block inside a galvanized pan for the Pasta Lollipop Tree Display, and used ribbon shreds from my Easter stash~ parsley works great for covering base too
For another themed dinner party, using this formula, see Walk on the Wild Side here
The Simple was the menu, Grilled Chicken, Alabama Sassy Chicken, which marinates overnight
Green Bean Casserole with Peppers and Cheese, which can be made ahead
No Hassle Hassleback Potatoes preps in minutes on party day
Salad Martini, Chopped Salad make 1 day ahead
The Spark was the table, the menu names and the Safari Martini
Walk on the Wild Side Menu in a frame
For other Birthday party posts and tables see Happy Birthday Surprise here
For a tutorial on the Birthday Cake Banner/table runner click here
To see more on the Birthday Tree click here, a table top tree can be decorated for any occasion
See this tree decorated for a football party, Football Tree here
Faux packages are great for decorating, see Fancy Fake Packages here
It seems like dinner parties are a dying art…but I think they are great fun, and whether it’s family, friends or business, this S formula will insure success and you, the host or hostess, will NOT be stressed!
Now, don’t you want to throw a party?
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I will be sharing with the fabulous parties and blogs on my side bar and:
Filed under home decor, party panache, recipe box, tablescapes, the organized life · Tagged with birthday party, dinner party, easy party menu, menus, party formula, party planning, pasta lollipops
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I love the pasta lollipops Jenna, and you know I’m a big fan of the decorated trees! Bet everyone had a blast:@)
You really do it up! We love the little bites of cake from Party Art! The whole menu is making my mouth water.
Good tips. I love to entertain and do it often, however, I’ve learned that keeping it simple is the only way I continue to enjoy it.
Amen to 29 Forever 🙂 I love your pasta lollies Jenna! Party time is such fun at your house, you are a master!
What fun ideas, especially the pasta lollipops! You’re not going to believe this (or maybe you will!), but again we are one of the same mind. I just recently bought that same polka-dotted ribbon for a kids Christmas tablescape I’m doing for an upcoming fundraiser!!! AND I’m using scads of the pastel ribbon, except mine is all curled up like pig tails. AND I bought 2 pastel Christmas trees for the table. (I’m not as creative in the craft department as you are, so I had to buy rather than making mine!) I bought a couple of huge pastel cupcakes but ended up returning them due to lack of table space. I am totally convinced that you and I were separated at birth!!!
Ha! It’s the great minds think alike thing right? I can’t wait to see your scape!! Sounds darling! I love the untraditional colors for Christmas
Beautiful…love all the bright, cheery colors.
Thank you Bev!