Don't  panic

First and foremost, don't panic. Your friends have come to see you and enjoy your company so don't spend hours fretting in the kitchen while they sit in the dining room, twiddling their thumbs.

Prepare

Prepare as much as you can in advance. If you're making a complicated main course, then it's probably better to have a simple starter and pudding.

Shop-bought: very good and extremely helpful

Cheat

Cheat where you can. Shop-bought pastry, stock and wine sauces can be very good and extremely helpful when time is tight.

Practice

If you have a really important dinner party coming up and want to cook a new recipe, practice beforehand, so you have the dish perfected.
Everyone in your house will
be thrilled to be recipe testers
in the few days before your party.

Ingredients

If a recipe calls for hard-to-find ingredients, don't despair. The internet has revolutionised the way we shop and, even if you live in a remote outpost, you can have samphire or some other delicacy delivered direct to your door.

Pace  yourself

Don't get hot and bothered. The kitchen can be a steamy place and, if you're doing something complicated, you might find tempers flare. Set aside more than enough time to cook your chosen dish, pour yourself a cup of tea or a glass of wine and enjoy the process.

Seating plan: ensures everyone gets to chat

Seating  plan

If you're inviting friends who haven't met each other, it's a nice idea to have a seating plan as it will ensure everyone gets to chat.

Lighting

Lighting is really important for creating the right atmosphere. If you've worked really hard in the kitchen, it would be a shame to ruin everything by having light that's too harsh or indeed too dim.

Show  off

Don't be afraid to show off. Use your finest china and best glasses whenever you entertain. After all, they'll only gather dust in the cupboard if you don't.

Relax

Don't fall into the trap of thinking every meal you cook for friends needs to be grand. Kitchen suppers are enormous fun and it's nice to relax sometimes.

Break  rules

Rules are made to be broken. If you want to serve red wine with fish, then do so.

Use  local  ingredients

Try to use ingredients that are organic, produced locally and are in season. They'll taste great and are better for the environment.

Flowers

While formal table decorations have fallen out of fashion, it's nice to have some flowers on the table, even if you've just cut them from the garden and arranged them haphazardly in a vase.

Think  numbers

It's better to throw two dinner parties than invite more guests than you can cope with in one go.

Everything you need: borrow expensive cookware from your friends

Equipment

Make sure, when planning a new dish that you have all the equipment you need. It's maddening to get halfway through and find you need a particular type of pan that you don't have.

On that note, if you're trying out a recipe that requires expensive cookware, it might be an idea to borrow it from a friend rather than invest heavily in something you may only use once.

Dietary  needs

Always check special dietary needs with friends well before the event. Vegetarianism, allergies and food intolerances are increasing so it's wise to find out what everyone eats so you can plan your menu.

Buffet

If you're having a large party, then a buffet might work well. It means you don't have to worry about timing as much as with a more formal dinner and buffets are great for picky eaters, as everyone can create a bespoke plate.

Getting  ready

Don't forget to leave time to get ready. What's the point in having a beautifully laid table and exquisite food if you're worried about your bad hair day?

Guests

Pick your guests as carefully as your ingredients. Think about how your friends will get on with each other. It's a recipe for disaster to invite, for example, a committed vegan and a pro-hunter for a cosy supper.

Menu

If you're cooking midweek, when time is tight, you can always serve bread and olives to start and really good ice cream for pudding. Then you only have to worry about the main course.

Enjoy  yourself

Lastly, but importantly, remember to enjoy the evening. Even if you've had a culinary disaster, these people are your friends and they won't hold it against you. In fact, it'll give you all something to laugh about together.

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