Serve It Forth: 21 Questions About Parties and Entertaining The Kitchn's Best of 2012

One of the most rewarding aspects of cooking is sharing the food you cook with others. But whether you're preparing a romantic meal for two or a three-course meal for a crowd, entertaining can also be quite stressful. Luckily, our readers are always ready to help, fielding questions about Hunger Games parties, makeshift punch bowls, the best way to feed 150 wedding guests for under $2000, and more dinner party dilemmas.

PICTURED ABOVE
1 Help Me Stock My Fridge & Pantry for a "Courting" Kitchen
2 Fun Ideas for a Group Cooking Project?
3 Help Me Find a Celebratory (Yet Not Too Sweet) Treat for a Birthday Party
4 Help Me Plan a Full-Course Indian Dinner for My Girlfriend
5 What Should I Cook for a Holiday Party With Toddlers and Adults?
6 Help Me Throw a Dinner Party in Honor of the Hunger Games Film
7 Any Ideas for Toppings & Sides at a Pancake Party?
8 Cabin-Friendly Meals for a Big Group?
9 Help Me Cook an Amazing 3-Course Meal While on Vacation

GENERAL PARTY QUESTIONS
10 Ideas for Fun Non-Alcoholic Party Drinks?
11 How Much Wine and Cheese Should I Buy for My Party?
12 How Do I Keep Roast Chicken Warm Before a Dinner Party?
13 What Household or Kitchen Items Would Make a Good Punch Bowl for a Party?

HOLIDAY PARTY QUESTIONS
14 St. Patrick's Day: Can I Cook Bacon & Breakfast Sausage in the Oven?
15 Easter: Vegan Recipe Ideas for Easter Brunch?
16 Thanksgiving: Help Me Plan and Host My First Thanksgiving Dinner!
17 Christmas: Ideas for Christmas-Worthy Vegetarian and Meat Main Dishes?

WEDDING QUESTIONS
18 Homemade Wedding Favor Ideas?
19 What Are Good Make-Ahead Side Dishes for a Self-Catered Wedding?
20 Unique But Crowd-Pleasing Signature Wedding Cocktails?
21 How Do I Serve a Meal to 150 Wedding Guests for Less Than $2000?

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Welcome to The Kitchn's Best of 2012 roundup! From December 17 through January 1 we are rounding up some of our favorite (and your favorite) posts from the past year.

(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)

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We Want To Thank You. What Do You Want To Ask Us??? 2012 Holiday Party

A sketch for tonight's party at Salt Bar by our David Stark intern, Morgane Saout

This holiday we want to thank you personally for being our readers all year. How? We're having a big dinner party for all of the Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn staff tonight and we are going to film it and share a big, live thank you by everyone at once. Why? Because we love you, and because we want you to meet the staff and know what it looks like here at our work. We also thought it would be cool to try and answer any questions you have about our blogs in the video. So, if you have a really good question for ANYONE at Apartment Therapy or The Kitchn, please put it and who it might be directed to (if anyone specific) in the comments below and then we'll add it to our short film. And get ready to see our big Thank You Film next week!

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What Should I Cook for a Holiday Party with Toddlers and Adults? Good Questions

Q: We are having a casual holiday dinner party for friends and there will be 10-15 toddlers there. So I'm looking for recipes with a low mess potential (no chili or tomato sauce) that will appeal to both kids and adults, and are easy to eat while managing little ones. Any ideas?

(Bonus points if it can be made ahead not a must though.)

Sent by Hazel

Editor: Readers, do you have any ideas for dinner party dishes that will appeal to both toddlers and adults?

Next question?

Related: What Do You Serve Fussy & Picky Eaters?10 Recipes to Help Meet the Challenge

(Image: Faith Durand)

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Set the Date Now: Holiday Party Planning

We're already halfway through September and you know what that means, right? In moments visions of sugar plums will be on our doorsteps and with a single deep breath the holidays will have come and gone. The holidays! Sarah, the kids just went back to school! True, but it's still time to save the date!

We all lead busy lives and our schedules fill up quick. Each year it seems that it happens sooner and sooner and we're left saying no to more and more things with time being so short. There's nothing wrong with that mind you, but if you're looking to entertain this year, you don't want to be the one chiming in at the last minute and having your offer declined.

In the next month or so, what about sending out pre-party invites that let people save the date for a big event. That doesn't mean you have to be throwing the party of the century, it just means you're thinking far enough in advance to help your friends schedule in what's important you!

Send them an email, snail mail or even something silly to hang on the refrigerator to help them remember the date you're claiming on the calendar. Check local school schedules for plays or holiday events and other big social city gatherings. And remember: we're not advising you plan your holiday party like a full-on wedding just that it never hurts to think ahead! Happy party planning!

How far in advance do you schedule your soirees? Are we crazy to suggest looking at the calendar now?

Related: 5 Things To Start Now For Holiday Party Planning

(Image: Flickr member photosteve101 licensed for use by Creative Commons and Sarah Rae Trover)

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