Progressive Dinner Parties for Fun with Friends

HOW TO MAKE THE PARTY A SUCCESS

Ready to plan a progressive dinner with your friends? Here are some tips to ensure its success:

• Include friends or family members who live nearby, or no more than a 15-minute car ride away.
• Set up a timetable that lists each course, its location, and how much time will be spent at each house. That's helpful for guests who tend to arrive late. It also keeps everyone on track throughout the evening.
• Set the table before you leave home to minimize your prep work when your guests arrive. Advance planning also ensures you have the right serving dishes and utensils ready to go.
• If you're having the party in the neighborhood, and back-and-forth transportation isn't an issue, head home 10 minutes before it's your turn to host the next course. That lets you get the re-heating process underway and do any last-minute preparation that's necessary.

DELICIOUS CHOICES

Here’s the dinner that Hope and her friends enjoyed at their most recent gathering:

Appetizers
Soft cheeses and hot pepper jelly chutney; crab dip with Old Bay seasoning

Salad
Mixed green salad with cranberries, candied pecans and balsamic vinaigrette

Main course
Scallops in caramelized soy onion sauce, Moroccan spiced rack of lamb

Side dishes
Broccoli and cheese, potato gratin

Dessert
Brownies, homemade vanilla ice cream, and hot fudge sauce.

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