Catering a party

Lemon aide is a main stay around here at a party. It is an inexpensive way to provide beverages for a crowd.Not cheep by any means, but a lot of pleasure for the buck.
Melt your sugar in a glass cup to make your simple syrup ahead of time. Lemons were out of season so I used this.

When loading a platter look for color and shape like an artist would on a canvas. Washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly is VERY important. I can not stress the enough!

After washing thoroughly clip the grape section into little packages with a handle. This is a little thoughtfulness they may not say anything about , but it is nice that your guest only needs to touch the one they take, and take the only one they touch.

Even when your meat is sliced still separate it. By turning 5 degrees you make the slice easier to remove off the tray.

If you look closely you can see the separate pieces of meat, Your guest again can easily take what they touch.

I have an electric slicer. This is how I can save a bit. This is perchased summer sausage. Use the slicer to make time saved a gift to yourself.

By placing the slices in a different form (shape) it can easily be noted that they are a different meat. Abutting them up to the side of the other in a curve gives your tray movement and is pleasing to the eye. A simple package wrapped with care is a pleasure to open.

Walla! Same with the cheese. Smaller section give a dieter an opportunity to try a little of several different things.

A picture is worth a 1000 word here. I hope you see how I formed the try in a overlapping method.

Wash your veggies!

That is zucchini from my garden.

before I saved up and got the electric slicer I used the hand held. I love old tools. We may not always have electricity to depend on. When the power goes out on a holiday morning I have back up tools.

Preparing Celery. After it is washed and drained cut off the butts and save them for stew or for a base for soups, stuffing and the like. Fine chopped for tuna salad for example.

Everything washed and prepped and set to assemble.

By tipping the basket as it is loaded it will ease the task of keeping things separate.

The "Bunny Basket"!

cucumber and zucchini with the olives pickles both dill and sweets.

Open an extra can and jar them so you do not have to open it when your guest are here.

Chex mix using raw walnuts, pecans and sunflower seeds.
Real butter.

I laid out the earrings on the table for ease.

The big red enamel pot is the Lemon aide pot.

Last night 9 wonderful women came.
You know they timed it at 7 pm sharp as to not give my heart a moment of doubt. We all had a wonderful time and they were able to address some of their Christmas shopping.
Today we opened it up at 10 am. One person came at 1pm,by 3:30 the Grandparents arrived and 3:45 the next door neighbor came. Many folks who said they would show did not. This is life it happens differently sometimes than we had hoped .

I will do my best to be real with my children , yet walk into this with dignity.

This weekend was the big craft show weekend . In three major cities around me there were shows with many tents and major shows. I did not realize this prior to setting my date.

Lots of left over food, but as My Dear loving husband said...I did a great job.
I am a little crest fallen though.