With a busy schedule and a desire to entertain, I have found a system that works for me. By following the same 6-step plan, I am able to quickly plan and execute a dinner with friends. Last Tuesday, I shared Steps 1 and 2 of my 6-step checklist. If you missed that post, you can view it here. Today, I will explain the next two steps in my process.

STEP 3: Invite my friends.

After choosing the friends our family has decided to invite, I will send an e-mail one to two weeks prior to the requested date. In that e-mail message, I will ask that they respond accepting or regretting by a specific date, which is about 4 days prior to the dinner. If they cannot make the dinner, then I will invite another family to join us. I usually can fill our table even on short notice.

STEP 4: Gather my ingredients.

Knowing the menu that is planned, I take inventory of items I have on hand to prepare the meal. In looking at our sample menu, I have the ham, potatoes and gravy/scalloped potatoes, corn, and bread on hand. I do not have the sweet potatoes or dessert. So, I add the ingredients for the sweet potatoes and dessert to my grocery list.

As our guests volunteer to bring a dish to help with the dinner, I will suggest one of the side items that contain ingredients on my grocery list. In this case, I would ask the volunteer to bring sweet potatoes or dessert. If the volunteer agrees, then I can remove those items off my grocery list which will save me from spending that extra money.

Once I have my grocery list nailed down, then I begin looking for sales on those items in the weekly stores’ sales advertisements. If there are no sales and the item is carried at Aldi (one of my favorite grocery stores), then I will just pick it up on my next visit.

By the end of step 4, I have a date, a menu, guests invited, and all of my ingredients on hand. Next week, we will finish this short series as I share the last two steps in my entertainment checklist.