While I’m in San Francisco – I’m leaving you in the hands of some amazingly wonderful guest bloggers!!  Take it away, Ali, from The Healthy Hostess!

I feel so honored to be part of the wonderful, hilarious, honest, smart and energetic GDW blog! Allison is a great blog friend and I am lucky to be guest appearing! Here are some fun tips to keep in mind when having a dinner party!

1. Know your audience:

Think about who is coming to your dinner party. Do they have any special dietary needs such as allergies or a modified diet. If they do, make sure to plan your menu to fit their needs so they don’t feel uncomfortable and you don’t have to worry about hurting them.

2. Celebrate the season:

Think about the season when you are planning your party. Use foods that are in season because they will be the most flavorful and affordable. Keep the season in mind when buying napkins for your party. Napkins are a cheap and fun way to dress up the table.

Blueberries in season in New York this summer

Fun, fall napkins

3. Have a signature cocktail or mocktail:

No need to let the fun stop at the food, find a drink recipe that fits your meal and try it! Your guests will enjoy a new beverage that goes with your meal! If you know that someone can’t drink, plan a modification to the beverage that won’t leave any feeling left out!

4. Pre-plan you playlist:

Think ahead about the type of guests who will be attending your party and the type of music that goes with the event. Make a playlist for your ipod to fit the mood you are hoping for or find a channel on Pandora that suits your needs. This is something you can do ahead of time and can be stressful if you haven’t done it when guests arrive.

5. Play it safe or do a test run:

If you are planning on making something for dinner that you have never made before, you may want to try it out ahead of time. The hardest part of having a dinner party is making sure all of the food is done and hot at same time. By making things you are comfortable with you can plan your timing better than if you are trying things for the first time.

I didn’t test this recipe before I made it up and it was a little more gooey than I was planning!