Forever asked and always in search of what works…Here are a few more ideas about tried and true, sure fire successes.

Casseroles, S’Mores And Do-It-Yourself Anything.

I swear to you when I say that casseroles are just the hit! Every customer that I’ve had any influence on lately has heard my pitch about including one of my fabulous casserole ideas in their menus (if it’s appropriate of course.) We just did a fabulous one with tamales and jalapenos. Another good recipe features corn, chicken and cheese. I cannot tell you why they are so popular. My theory? It’s winter and even here in sunny Southern California, we have some bleak days. Casseroles are tasty, warm, and just truly satisfying. If you need some great recipe ideas, check out: www.epicurious.com and do a search using the keyword: “casserole.” You will be truly floored at how pleased your guests will be.

S’Mores could actually fit into their own category and into the Do-It-Yourself group as well. Not much of a camper, yet interested in staying positive through all kinds of experiences that have challenged me in the past, I fell in love with marshmallows roasting over the open fire. One can only eat so many marshmallows, but add some Hershey’s chocolate bars and a few graham crackers and you’ve got a mini meal. S’Mores and casseroles both fall into the category of foods you don’t normally cook at home. Perhaps that’s why people enjoy them so much. They don’t often get them? I don’t know, but trust me they are good. Dr. Atkins, please forgive me.

The Do-It-Yourself grouping works for food and activities. Guests LOVE to be involved. As kids we love to decorate gingerbread houses and holiday cookies, as adults we also love to participate. People love to participate in the fondue making process, s’mores making process, sundae making process and in general, any process at all.

This concept of participation also extends to activites at parties. People love to hear about themselves (through psychics and tarot card readers at events) and express themselves (costume parties) and also with the strange activity of hat making. Believe me, before you couldn’t have convinced me that adults would have fun decorating hats, but it’s true. Lately, I have pitched hat making to clients doing certain themed parties and you can’t imagine how in to it they get! We just pick a base hat and add all kinds of stuff from the junk drawers: feathers, buttons, fabric, beads, tissue paper, fake flowers, leaves, etc. and set up a gluing station where people just go to town. If you want to mix it up at your next event and get some great photos in the process, try it!