Weekends are usually the perfect time for you to slow down and enjoy the company of your family and friends. However, if you ever hosted any kind of dinner gathering you know first hand how stressful it can be when you have to prepare everything. It can get overwhelming if you are not careful. You want to make your meal enjoyable and simple for everyone.

Keep the Menu Simple 

The secret to having a stress free dinner is to make sure that you are choosing the right dishes. You want to ensure that they don’t take hours to make in the kitchen.  You should offer foods that you can prepare well ahead of time. This could be solids, pasta and casseroles. Casseroles have a lot of advantages, including being easily prepared in advance and very quick to be reheated when the group is ready to be eaten. They’re great for feeding large groups as you can make multiple casseroles at the same time. The Loaded Baked Potato Casserole makes an excellent centerpiece at dinner parties or family get-togethers due to being easy to prepare and only needing minimal ingredients. Plus casseroles make an excellent option for accommodating special dietary requirements or picky eaters in your group since they can be customized accordingly. Also you shouldn’t forget that the easiest option is to order take out. It could be tacos, or pizza. This is going to give you the opportunity to have a lot more time with your guests and you won’t be stuck having to cook.

Set the Mood Without the Fuss

You don’t need elaborate decorations or even a fancy set up. None of this is necessary in order to create a welcoming space. Having a clean table as well as some string lights and even a few candles will make your evening feel extra special. Background music is also going to set the tone so make sure you pick something that will relax you. This way the atmosphere is going to feel comfortable and still lively.

Share the Workload 

You have to do it all by yourself. You should ask your friends if they can bring desserts from a side dish or even drinks. Most people will be happy to contribute to your little get together. You need to make the dinner a lot more collaborative. This is not only going to lighten your load but it’s also going to give everyone a strong sense of being a part of the entire evening’s success. This is going to build rapport between everyone because they will feel a lot more intimately connected to the events that are happening. It doesn’t take much to get people to feel involved. Just by asking them to bring something to contribute makes them feel as if the evening has a personal touch.

Enjoy the Night Together 

When you start focusing less on everything being perfect and more on spending time together with your friends and family, the night is going to become much more meaningful for you. When you start simplifying your menu and setting the mood you’re going to end up sharing responsibilities in the long run. You’ll enjoy the gathering as much as your guests do. After all, the best part of the entire weekend is going to be connecting with all the people that you truly care about.

The post How to Plan a Stress-Free Weekend Dinner with Friends appeared first on SB Magazine.