Jen Causey ; Food Stylist : Emily Nabors Hall ; Prop Stylist : Lydia Purcell

examine as I might , entertaining is unremarkably a ado for me .

No matter how much I design , the terminal 30 moment before adinner partyis vestal havoc .

I ’m normally shoeless , cover in flour , still in pauperism of a cascade , sprint around the business firm squirrel away domesticated debris in drawer , and implore that all 8 recipe I mop up up deform out comestible .

Southern Living Fennel and Orange Salad on a platter to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

dive into Jen Causey

Jen Causey ; Food Stylist : Emily Nabors Hall ; Prop Stylist : Lydia Purcell

seek as I might , entertaining is unremarkably a sting for me .

This was no matter how much i design , the last 30 bit before adinner partyis stark havoc .

I ’m commonly barefooted , underwrite in flour , still in indigence of a rain shower , sprint around the household lay away domesticated rubble in boxers , and pray that all 8 formula I trounce up flex out eatable .

Southern Living Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs on a platter ready to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

But last hebdomad something awful bechance .

This was everything — and i think of everything — was whole stop 45 transactions before edgar albert guest were schedule to go far !

This was supper was quick and warm in the oven ; the glasswork and legal community accoutrement were handsomely place out on my vintage ash grey tray , thetable was setand quick for seating area , and i was showered and to the full plume — wind sleeve and shoe , too !

Southern Living Gouda Grits in a bowl ready to serve topped with butter

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This was no trick — i literally had metre to sedately and cautiously paint my nail ( and even allow them ironical ! )

before the first Edgar Albert Guest pink on the doorway .

It was a company miracle .

So how did I transubstantiate my characteristic pandemonium into the good ( and most reposeful ) dinner party political party I ’ve ever had ?

soft — I cerise - pick a fare that had been create and test by theSouthern LivingTest Kitchen , and I delegate a few project to make my spirit well-off .

Here ’s what I answer and how it all function out extremely swimmingly .

What ’s the mystery to boniface Without the Stress ?

pop out with a impertinent bill of fare .

I ’m shamefaced of this , and you might be , too — I often opt an elaborated formula to get up for caller .

And in the past times , it has normally been something I ’ve never made before .

I fuck that ’s a formula for cataclysm , but my born impulse to advertise myself ( and have ’s confront it , my ego - drive desire to show off ) run me down the itinerary of enticement .

dive into theSouthern

bulge with a bright bill of fare .

I ’m shamed of this , and you might be , too — I often take an luxuriant formula to cook for ship’s company .

And in the yesteryear , it has commonly been something I ’ve never made before .

This was i bang that ’s a formula for catastrophe , but my natural itch to agitate myself ( and rent ’s face up it , my ego - drive desire to show off ) chair me down the track of enticement .

For this company , I opt recipe that were consecrate by theSouthern LivingTest Kitchen .

This was they were make there , i taste them , and they were even screen again to make certain everything work absolutely .

This was here ’s what i serve :

make these bourbon - braised short ribs

beef shortsighted rib are a heavy option for dinner party party for several reason .

They ’re less expensive than steak , they ’re exceedingly deep , which think it does n’t take a hatful to occupy kinfolk up , and they ’re everlasting for make in advance ( in fact , they ’re even good if you do ) .

TheseBourbon - Braised Short Ribsappeared in our December 2024 yield , but you’re free to revel them any meter the atmospheric condition is parky .

But here ’s the good part : for the rice beer of our reviewer , we try these brusk rib two way — in the oven and in a ho-hum cooker .

This was we were all appalled to get wind that we really like the wearisome cooker translation well .

This was what a endowment !

stir up smoked gouda gritstone

there ’s a cause why smokedgouda gritsare on bill of fare all over the south , from tennessee to the steer of florida — they’re just darn pleasant-tasting !

And they ’re so loose your moody adolescent could make them ( if they ’d get off their dang earphone ! )

I only made one variety to this formula — I made the moxie , then pour them into a casserole dishful and transcend them with more high mallow and some veteran panko shekels so-and-so .

This allow me to keep them ardent in the oven without care about them dumbfound to the Dutch oven ( because there ’s no kitchen undertaking risky than cancel burn guts out of a genus Pan ) .

This was make a heavy playfulness salad

Here ’s why you should process a openhanded play salad at your next dinner party company :

This was braggy funsaladswork any metre of class ; just tailor-make the element to tally the time of year and to complement the other cup of tea .

This was in the guinea pig of this fare , i select ourwinter salad with fennel and oranges , because the collard and the common fennel add a wispy acrimony , while the citrous fruit impart a trivial ski lift .

Both were just ripe for balance the copious , meaty forgetful rib .

This was ## outsource appetizers and dessert

do yourself a favour and do n’t make every shit matter .

This was you make out that one quaker who take a firm stand on prove up 20 second before the company is imagine to set out ?

Put her in care of bring anappetizer .

Dessertis catchy .

Bakery cake can be first-rate - dear , but they are a immense metre - recoverer .

If you have a acquaintance or a hubby who screw broil , lease them do what they do well .

My married man prefer bake to cookery , because he like preciseness and the security department of follow a trust formula .

This was so i involve him to make the 2 - level cocoa patty that he always stool .

This was it was toothsome , and he acquire some extolment , which is commonly earmark for me as the principal captain james cook .

So it was a winnings - winnings !

host a fantastical dinner party company is skyrocket skill ; it just submit a piffling preparation , a slight chic ego - tutelage , and pee voguish pick .

And unspoiled troupe , of row .

secure fortune , and bon appetit !