For people who were raised with hospitality, you probably don’t understand anxiety about having friends over.
I’m not talking about having your best friend over for coffee and one more chocolate chip cookie. I’m talking “setting a date and actually cleaning the house” type of party.
Well, I’m proud to announce I have set a date, picked the invitation, people, time, and food. (And I’ll be able to share more by the end of the Blogathon.)
We are having a Baked Potato and Dessert Bar and I’ll ask my guests to bring what they’d like to have on top of their baked potatoes.
So why do I share this with you?
Because more than once I’ve panicked in my head in the last few days and thought that I didn’t really want to do this. I thought:
Nobody’s going to come…
If they come, they won’t have fun…
They won’t like whatever I’m serving…
I’m going to look like a loser on my blog.
Yes, I know. I’m being overly dramatic but I think doubts and fears can be.
And it’s worth it to me to look a bit silly to make a point. I want to encourage you to step out of your box and pick up the phone or text a few friends to invite them over.
Hanging out with good friends, laughing, sharing, listening and talking is what’s really going to happen.
Share with me an easy dish for you to prepare and serve to a small gathering?
You can never go wrong with friends. Even if you just put out some cheese and bread and grapes.
One friend used to slice up a bunch of really good cheese, serve it with some really good bread and olive, then she would cook one large, really good steak and slice it up, too, served up with toothpicks.
Add wine, friends and laughter.
Repeat often.
I’d go for crockpot chili – one batch of my husband’s sinus-scorching recipe and one batch for normal people! Then lots of toppings – shredded jack cheese, sour cream, diced onions, etc – and tortilla chips.
Add lots of beer and sweet bar-cookies for dessert, and you’re all set!
In Texas, this menu is “in season” all year long. Summer usually means lemon bars for dessert, while fall brings on pecan bars…. yummmmm!
**Katy M
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