Easy dinner party cheats

There is nothing we love more than inviting friends and family over for dinner at home. However, we have all felt the pressure of hosting a dinner party, especially if you have a big group of foodies coming over and little time to prepare. Here, we've rounded up tips on how you can cheat your way to dinner party success.

Make things ahead of time!

Dishes such as lasagne, pies and curries can be cooked ahead of time or from frozen. Meaning, you can do all the hard work and heavy lifting the day before, or even the week before. The added bonus? It will probably taste even better as the flavours will have had time to develop. Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs before serving and your dish is ready to go.

Buy a cake from Spinneys.com and make it your own

Buying fancy cakes instead of making them is a lifesaver if you are low on time. Not only will you look like a world-class baker, but it will also save you the stress of measuring ingredients and a ton of washing up. The pleasure is in the decoration with endless options to personalise your cake. As a final touch, add fresh berries or chocolate shavings.

Use colour

There's nothing like fresh flowers to make an impression as your guests arrive, but we suggest pairing your main, floral centre piece with other easy options as well. Don't be afraid to use your food as the décor. The use of brightly coloured bowls and plates, as well as beautiful tablecloths, placemats and napkins can bring any table to life. You could also consider placing breadsticks in a vase to give your table some height. Make sure you pick up fresh flowers on the day from Spinneys.

Do an online shop the day before

The beauty of Spinneys is that you can find all your dinner party essentials in one destination – and what’s more, you can place your order from the comfort of your sofa. If you don’t fancy a trip to the aisles, or you have the kids in tow, just log on and click your way to dinner party success. With a less-than 24 hour turnaround, Spinneys takes the stress out of any dinner party preparation.

Boil the kettle

There’s nothing more tedious than waiting for a pan of water to boil. If you’re planning on cooking pasta, rice, potatoes or anything else that needs boiling, make sure the first thing you do is fill the kettle and switch it on. This is going to save you at least 10 minutes when it comes to crunch time.

Put foil on the base of your oven trays

If you are baking, grilling or roasting, tin foil is going to become your new best friend and will save you when it comes to post-dinner party scrubbing. Two things to remember - make sure the tin foil is lightly coated with oil or butter to avoid the food sticking and make sure you turn your food regularly for consistent cooking.

Invest in a slow cooker

It might seem counter-intuitive to use a slow cooker for a quick dinner but, actually, if you prepare your dish in the morning, it’ll be ready when your guests start to arrive, leaving you ample hours to prep and primp yourself rather than the food.