What are the top 10 things a hostess should do to make guests feel relaxed and comfortable?

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kitkat68

I am working on a blog about hostessing and would like to find out what most people look for when they go somewhere for dinner. A nicely set table? No paper plates? Hostess keeping your glasses full? Appetizers before the meal? Food quality? Please tell me what the top 10 most important things are to you when you are a dinner guest.

Answer
This top 10 would be for the hostess/ host, not from the visitor perspective.

1. greet everyone with a smile and always make eye contact
2. give them periodic updates if they have to wait. you should speak with them at least once during a 45 minute wait.
3. comment on their dress (if appropriate) on the way to the table.
4. tweak their table. straighten table cloth, adjust linens, - take that extra step to make them feel exceptional.
5. before leaving them after seating ask if there is anything you can do while you fill their water glasses.
6. always take a few steps back from their table before turning your back.
7. Keep an eye on all tables at all times. Be the first on the scene of any spillage, with appropriate replacements (napkins, glasses, etc)
8. keep your stand clear; even the reservation book should not be in plain view.
9. practice pouring water with ice to make sure you don't miss a drop while refilling at their table.
10. practice perfect posture; no strutting

What would be a good dessert for a Japanese dinner?

Shoshanna

I'm planning to make my parents dinner for their anniversary next week, and I was wondering what would be a good dessert for a Japanese dinner. I might make sushi, but I'm not entirely sure what I'll make. I was just wondering what would be a great and delicious dessert for a Japanese dinner.

Answer
I think it's sweet that you're making dinner for your parents for their anniversary, Shoshanna! If only I had the patience to make my dad dinner for occasions such as this, but I can't cook for crap. I suppose I could find easy recipes like the ones I searched for you. I found a few of them, which are listed below, and the link where I found them, which has more recipes, is in the Sources box, just to get you more variety.

STRAWBERRY JELLY YOKAN:

Ingredients:

3 (3 ounce) boxes strawberry Jell-O gelatin dessert
3 cups hot water
3 (1/4 ounce) envelopes gelatin powder (Knox)
1/4 cup cold water
1 (16 ounce) can red bean paste (Koshian)

Directions:

1- Soften gelatin in cold water.
2- Dissolve Jello in hot water, then add softened gelatin and mix well.
3- Add Kosian and blend well.
4- Pour into greased 8 x 8 inch pan.
5- Refrigerate until set about 4 hours.
6- Cut into blocks or rectangles and serve.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Strawberry-Jello-Yokan-345115

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BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BUBBLE TEA:

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons cream cheese frosting
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons sugar syrup
1 cup ice (16oz)
4 ounces frozen blueberries
4 teaspoons artificial sweetener
2-4 tablespoons prepared tapioca

Directions:

1- Place defrosted blueberries in food processor along with sweetener and puree until smooth.
2- Place ice into blender and crush until partially crushed.
3- Place cream cheese frosting in a small bowl and mix with milk thoroughly.
4- Pour cream cheese milk, blueberry puree, and sugar syrup over crushed ice in blender.
5- Blend on highest setting until all ice is crushed.
6- Pour over tapioca pearl in a tall glass and serve with bubble tea straw.

Note: large tapioca pearls can be purchased at Asian grocery stores

http://www.recipezaar.com/Blueberry-Cheesecake-Bubble-Tea-248528

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JAPANESE CREAM PUFFS

Ingredients:

For the cream puff:

6 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons sugar
1 cup water
1 cup flour
3 eggs

For the custard filling:

3 tablespoons flour, sifted
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups warm milk
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 egg yolks
powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:

For the cream puff pastry:.
2- Preheat oven to 375°F.
3- Beat eggs in a bowl. Set aside.
4- On a pan in low heat, mix butter, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil.
5- Bring back to low heat. Add flour and mix really quickly.
6- Turn off heat. Add eggs and mix very well.
7- Put mixture in a bag.
8- Squeeze in mounds of 10-12 on wax paper lined pan.
9- Bake for 20-30 minutes until the tips are a little brown.
10- Cool puffs on rack when done.

For the custard filling:

1- In a pan, mix eggs and sugar.
2- Add the flour and mix well.
3- Add warm milk gradually. Put on stove in low heat.
4- Stir constantly until it thickens.
5- Remove from heat. Melt butter and mix very, very well.
6- Cool custard.
7- If you have the injection, fill it with the custard cream and fill the puff pastry. If not, slice the puff pastry in half and fill lower half with the cream custard. Dust top with powdered sugar, if desired.

Enjoy!

http://www.recipezaar.com/Shu-Cream-Japanese-Cream-Puff-320577

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Good luck, and wish your parents a happy anniversary!
=)

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What do you do to save money?

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Q. I am pregnant with my second child and I am due in December. I have a job where at make about 1500 a month and my husband makes about 1200 a month. We spend about 2200 on everything in our house a month ( rent, cable, food, etc.). We also eat out about 3 times a week.I really want to have some money saved when I deliver this baby. How could I save some money?

Answer
Ingdirect is the best saving account right now for the most interst paid.

Things we do-
1. No cable- yeah you miss it but you don't need it to live. (We get netflicks for $22.00 a month).
2. Get rid of you home phone or your cell- cut back to one phone.
3. Lower your internet service- do you really need Fast speed DSL or can you live with something slower.
4. Cut out any fancy food or treat. Buy that cheaper chicken with the bone in it (yeah, I hate it too) and get a 25 pound bag of rice. Cut out Juice (it's just sugar anyways- or just buy it for you child- you and your husband don't need to drink it), soda, chips and any junk. Don't buy name brand- always get the X brand. Buy in bulk when there are good sales.
5. Make meal plans- figure out how much that meal is- and sub in a pasta once a week to keep it cheap.
6. No eating out- yes it sucks but you'll save lots. This is why you do meal plans- stick with them- you'll have a couple extra 100 in your pocket already.
7. Buy used before you buy new- yeah, you broke your purse but do you have to have a new one- or will that one from good will for $4.00 get you by? Your daugher needs new clothing but kids grow fast- check out a goodwill in a rich area around you. Look for bag sales when you can load a bag up for $10!
8. Don't decorate- come on the baby doesn't know what color his room is or what's on the wall- unless it's a gift, skip it.
9. Don't buy book- go to the libary. You'll need this now that you cut off your cable.
10. Learn how to say no, you can't go to every party and every trip and every birthday dinner- pace yourself and pick the ones that really matter because gas is money too!
11. Do you Christmas shopping NOW- keep it low key, look for sales and try outlet stores. This is when stores our at their cheapest because buying is down- it will go out in October.
12. Pack a lunch- never buy, resist buying afternoon coffees- starbucks can leave you broke!
13. Set goals on how much money you want to save!
14. Think about what you doing with your money. Compare, cut coupons and look for the better price. I need suits for work and I found buying them on ebay- I can pay $38 for a new or gently worn suit instead of $299!

My and my husband saved up $30,000 in one year but doing this. It's hard at first but you get use to it and then you don't miss the "things". Really think about what you need to live.

I also use the Discover card for EVERYHING and pay it weekly so I earn discover points- I then use those points for gift cards and Christmas presents. I earned over $350 in using my card within 6 months- and I am using that in combo with sales and coupons to buy all my gifts. For example- I went to the coach outlet store- found a purse on clearance special for $70.00- I used $40.00 in discover card points and only had to pay out of pocket $35.00 with tax. Not bad hu? And it's a nice gift.

And toys are cheap now- get the basic you know you'll need. I got 6 toys that would normally cost me over $250 for $45 since I bought them now- onsale at an outlet stores. Kmart also has a killer clearance- I have gotten dolls and hot wheels for less then $5 a pop for big sets. Then you'll only have to buy that one "special" toy they ask for at Christmas.

My cat chews on everything and is stubborn. Help?

RebelChik

My cat is 1 year old and a few months. She chews on everything: clothes, cords, plastic, corners of tables and other furniture.. She even tried to chew on my iPod. She also like to try and chew on Plastic shopping bags.

Secondly: she climbs on EVERYTHING. She will go on the table, the counters and knock off dishes, everything. Now, from the time we first got her, we have ALWAYS scolded her for doing these things.
Thirdly: shes always after any food that anyone is eating. We have to watch the dinner table before we sit down.. I cant leave any food unattended. I have had times where she keeps and keeps going on the the computer desk, and I just pick her up and put her down. I've had to do this up to 30 times before she gives up.

She steals laundry like pairs of socks, rags, even plushies, and ruins them.

I have NEVER owned a cat like this.. Cats i previously owned learned quickly not to do these things, and they were very well behaved.

We've tried water spray, spanks on the bum, yelling, putting her outside, using the spray that makes things they try to chew on taste bad, everything.

If this cat keeps it up, I'm going to have to bring her back to the humane society I got her from.. She was very expensive. Please help!

Answer
Your kitty is full of energy, bored, and likes to explore. Heres my advice: To help her liking to explore, u can get 1 or 2 (more the better) cat poles- these are carpeted poles with 3 platforms to sit or lay on, that extends from the floor to the ceiling, u can buy them from Walmart or Kmart from experience I recommend Kmart brand. Next, u can get some cat shelves to screw into the wall, I suggest putting them up like how stairs are designed, in which I mean like one shelf like 1-2 feet from the floor then the next shelf put 1 foot higher and at an angle then the next shelf the same way all the way almost to the ceiling just like how stairs are designed, u can buy these at Petco or Petsmart. And, if your kitty likes to look out the windows u could put padded cat shelves up for her to perch on, u can buy these at Petco or Petsmart too. Last, u can buy a cat tree or cat trees, they are like a jungle gyms for cats, they have scratching posts or carpeted posts with carpeted platforms with toys hanging from them, they set on the floor and some have multiple levels to play on, u can buy these at Petco, Petsmart, and Sears. These things will allow her to be able to play on, to explore, and get up high, which all cats love, and it will help keep her from wanting to get on your tables, counters, etc. Now, to help her run down all that energy she has, u need to get some toys, the kind of toys where the toy (one with feathers) is on a string and tied to a stick that u wave around and your kitty jumps around trying to get the toy (sorry cant remember the name of it), and get a cat laser pointer if u dont already have one u can find them at walmart in cat toy aisle it looks like a mouse, and Id get some mice toys that are stuffed with cat nip to chew on. Play with her with these toys for about 10-20 minutes like 2-3 times a day to run down her energy and tire her out, and this will help your bond with her to become stronger. And I recommend getting some S- shaped Emery (cat scratchers made of cardboard) items to scratch on. As for when your eating, I recommend putting her in a room or outside until your done with your meal because this habit is hard to break with cats, I know mine do it too. As for chewing on wires, u can buy this plastic hollow tubing that splits apart to cover your wires, but I cant remember what it is called sorry. Hope these tips help u and your kitty out. Your kitty just needs more of her own furniture to climb on and more playtime with u, u have got an energetic kitty who likes to explore and play alot, she just needs some of her own furniture to play on and more of your time to play with her. Shes a good kitty, give her another chance and try these tips! Good luck!

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