Oh, this is so much fun! Beverlyal, wow, thank you so much for all that work. That's a whole cookbook. I do think a tea sounds nice. I bet my friends will like it. I won't worry too much about leftovers. We can eat them the next day or so and give the rest to the shelter. Besides, it will be a pretty small group, so I can plan it so there won't be too much leftover anyway. I love little sandwiches! I will probably make more sweets and fewer sandwiches only because I can do the sweets way ahead and freeze. I want to be able to run around with FMTO and her mom, not be stuck in the kitchen for days in addition to what I'll be doing for Passover. As for tea ... How would you serve it? I do have a silver tea/coffee service (actually my mom's on rather permanent loan). But the tea and coffee get ice cold in them! I mostly use the pots for flower arrangements, but I use the sugar bowl, creamer, and "slops bowl" a lot (the last for artificial sweetener packets -- how tacky!). Anyway, I'm guessing more people will want wine than coffee or tea. The "tea" in "tea party" will be more an indicator of the type of party than of the beverage service, I guess. I will probably just have hot water and an assortment of tea bags available for the tea drinkers, coffee in the coffee maker, and a few bottles of wine; maybe sangria or one kind of cocktail in a pitcher. I love the champagne idea, too! Does anyone know about freezing petit fours? Would it depend on the type of icing?

We had Christmas dinner with Jimmy and Maartje, and so I have energy for New Year's Day. We went shopping at Ralphs today and found fresh okra, and so I decided to make seafood gumbo, which is one of my top five favorite dishes. It will include fresh frozen shrimp, Alaskan King Crab, and Maine lobster. I made some stock from the leftover Cornish game hen bones from Christmas dinner, but I may or may not use this stock, as I like for the seafood to dominate. I plan to start cooking early because I want to use as much of the seafood shells for stock as possible. I only add the seafood meat at the very last minute before serving, and I plan on freezing a few servings for later. We got the refrigerator cleaned out on Sunday, which was the first we had to go through and sort everything for the past month or so. I'm very happy with the new space that I recovered and pledge to keep it. Lars

Copious amounts of booze to make them forget food! Throw a few tri-tips on the barbie then slice it thin. It's like serving steaks without the need for 20 steak knives and a seat at a table. Another thing that works pretty well is to go to Wing Stop and get one of their bulk hot wing platters. All this helps to avoid the sit down all at one time for eating and people will forage over the dinner period. Makes for smaller plates filled with a course at a time and everyone seems to find a spot to sit. Believe me you don't want to spend the time placing tables for twenty people to sit. Over the years we've had many of pool parties and it helps to have folks bring a side or dessert. You know the whole thing about "what can I bring." We've found that people actually feel more comfortable when they bring something. I know this seems strange but they also seem to help with the layout and cleanup when they're making sure you try their green beans with funions and pickled kippers casserole all the while keeping tabs on their prize tupperware. Fish breath is a small price to pay for the help and a single cocktail will make it as if it never existed. I know we don't subscribe to the Martha Stuart book of party planning but if you don't want to spend a whole lot of time cleaning up and prepping so you can focus on the fun take em up on the "what can I bring." Partygoer:What can we bring? You:Well we have some hot dogs but we're a little short on chateau briand, filet mignon, and caviar. Partygoer:Maybe we can bring some potato salad. You:Wow that will be perfect!!! It will go so well with the hot dogs.

My SIL had Cinco de Mayo dinner for about 12 last night + one three year old who was very social and fun - daughter of a younger couple they had just met who had moved into the neighborhood. Stick on moustaches and straw sombreros. A warm bean dip, pico de gallo, salsa, chips. She served her mock chicken enchilada casserole (that I find acceptable but not wonderful). Carne asada (Costco's pre-marinated) with a make your own fajita bar, rice, refried beans. A blackberry dessert (mine), margaritas. I really enjoy Hispanic foods, this was not the best. But lots of fun, lots of laughing so all in all a good evening.