Informal meals usually include salad, the main course, and dessert. First courses may also be included. Appetizers, such as cheese and crackers, are a great and simple choice for a first course. Cocktails, fruit juices, or other cold drinks go along well with the appetizer. For the main course, it is best to select foods that can be prepared ahead of time, with only a last minute need for attention. Foods that can be cooked and served in the same dish are work saving selectio

ns. A big tossed salad served from its bowl, rather than on individual plates is easy too. Any dessert is suitable.

The last step in planning an informal dinner party is serving and arranging the food. For family-style meals, the main dish is set in front of the host or hostess. Other dishes are set wherever there is space on the table. The host offers the main dish to the person to the right, who then passes it to the next person on the right, and so on until everyone has been served. The host or hostess then pours the drinks.

Offers for second or third helpings should be made by the host or hostess, and the dishes should be passed around the table. Additional beverages should be poured also. When the main course is finished, the place settings should be removed. The host or hostess should then pass dessert plates to the right so that e

Some common words found in the essay are:
, dinner party, informal dinner party, informal dinner, host hostess, main course, hostess dishes, host hostess dishes, step planning, dinner plate, plate placed, main dish, dessert plates,
Approximate Word count = 575
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)