So you’re planning a little get-together for your friends, and you’ve got a mental list of foods to serve and people to invite. If you think planning a party is that simple, you’re in for a surprise. For one thing, there’s no such thing as a ‘little get-together’ when you’re in the Philippines. Filipinos love a good party, and they’ll go great lengths to have a feast every chance they get.

Unfortunately, we’re a bit less enthusiastic about putting the party together. How do you know which foods to serve, or how to go about making them? No worries—Filipino parties are really quite simple, even if they’re always bigger than expected. Filipino cuisine is very diverse, so you won’t run out of choices, and as long as there’s lots of food, your guests will be more than happy.

Unconvinced? Here are some useful Filipino food planning tips you can use for your next get-together.

Plan in courses

Ever been to a party where there was too much dessert but not enough of the main course? It’s a common mistake among party planners—they’ll make a quick list of foods they like and then run to the grocery store. Avoid this mistake by planning the entire meal by course. Do you want to serve appetizers or go straight to the main course? How many desserts do you need? If you have more than two main dishes, you don’t need a lot of appetizers. You can serve a variety of Filipino desserts recipes or prepare one large dessert, such as a pie or cake.

Mind the time

If your party is in midmorning or late afternoon, you don’t need a full-course meal because your guests will just have eaten. Instead of heavy Filipino food recipes, serve a range of different appetizers or finger foods. Not only is it more convenient, it also allows them to mingle while enjoying your meal. Be sure to add variety, as people can get tired of one dish fairly quickly.

People’s appetites change with the time of day, so plan accordingly as well. About 10 appetizers per person per hour is appropriate for lunch parties. People are generally hungriest during dinner hour, so if you’re holding the party then, have at least 14 munchies per person. If you’re hosting in the afternoon, you’ll need about half as much.

Don’t serve it all at once

There are few things worse than running out of food when you’re hosting a party. Of course, the safest way out is to overestimate—besides, you can always use the leftovers for next week’s meals. But what if you’re on a tight budget? The best alternative is to portion each course. For example, you can serve appetizers first, the main courses next, and dessert last. Don’t put out all of your food at once. When everyone has eaten, fill up your table with all the courses. That way, when they’re all full, they can simply go back to the table and pick their favorites.

Overbuy the drinks

You can get away with making just enough food, but it’s best to play safe when it comes to beverages. You never know how much your guests will want to drink. To save money without going cheap, prepare a nice punch or a few decent cocktails and stock up on cheaper drinks like beer, juice and soda. Get creative by mixing your own drinks—there are several low-cost Filipino recipes for party beverages. If you’re buying mixers, get them in smaller bottles so you don’t waste the unfinished bottles.

During the party, serve the fancy drinks first, then get out the canned or bottled drinks when everyone’s had their fill. That way, everyone can try the cocktails and freshen up with the drink of their choice later on. Keep the drinks in an ice box. Be sure to stock lots of ice—about one pound per person—for outdoor or morning parties.

Prepare take-home containers

When the party’s over, a lot of your guests will want to take home some of your leftovers. Don’t go scrambling around for spare containers, which most likely won’t be returned anyway. When shopping for the party, pick up a pack of food bags or disposable plates. Give them to your guests when they want to take home some food. It’s more convenient for both parties—you don’t risk losing your best plates, and they can stuff the food in their bags instead of carrying a large platter all the way home.

About The Author

Carlo Villamayor is the owner and co-author of the Filipino food blog, Kusina.ph http://www.kusina.ph A devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of Filipino food recipes http://www.kusina.ph/meal-planning-tips/ with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!

Appetizer Recipes - Elegant Appetizers

These elegant appetizer recipes can be served at any special occasion or dinner party. Showcase them at family gatherings, bunco groups, work parties, church pot lucks, graduation parties, bridal and baby showers. Appetizer recipes suit many special occasions, so enjoy them as often as you like!
Cheesy Asparagus strips
30 fresh asparagus spears, cleaned and trimmed
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper to taste
Steam the asparagus just until tender. Cut 20 asparagus spears into 1 inch logs. Mash remaining spears. In a small bowl, combine mashed asparagus, mayonnaise, flour, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, mustard salt, pepper and lemon zest. Roll puff pastry sheets into 17 inch squares. Place 1/2 of mixture on each each square; top each with the cut asparagus logs. Fold the pastry in half and seal the edges. Brush the dough with beaten egg. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cut into strips to serve (16 servings).
Calamata Crostini
1 cup pitted Calamata olives
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic, crushed
anchovy paste (2" from tube)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 baguette French bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/2 cup (or more) mozzarella cheese
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Combine olives, oil, garlic, anchovy paste and parmesan cheese in a food processor until well blended; scrape down sides of the bowl. Spread the mixture on bread slices; top each with some mozzarella cheese. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

By: Pam Myers

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Many popular restaurant Appetizer Re
1000
cipes are available for you to download now (plus many bonus recipes); as seen on TV! They are all in one place. No more hour long searches for just the right recipe.
Just go to www.squidoo.com/cooking-techniques-from-copycat-restaurant-recipes and read about current cooking techniques. The bonus recipes will surprise and delight...
Author: Pam Myers

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Recipes Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Food & Beverage | Recipes

How To Prepare Orange Jam
Acai Smoothies: The Best Oxidant You Can Get
Blueberry Smoothies For All
Zucchini and Carrot Muffins
Chilled Chai Cocktail
White Chocolate Cake Recipe
Rich, Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe
Famous Secret Recipes
Turkey Giblet Gravy Recepie for Thanksgiving
Creating Copy Cat Recipes in Your Own Kitchen

Discover The Secret Recipes From Your Favourite Restaurants and Easily Cook Them Yourself! Click Here

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: ,

Tagged with: •

Filed under: General

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!