Entertaining!

Love it, absolutely love playing the role of hostess! Thinking up what I'm going to serve, and the alcohol to go with it... though considering my collection, it's durn near impossible not to find a food/alcohol match! Then heading off round the deli's, little grocers and if need be the big supermarkets (surprisingly enough the supermarket has the yummiest sun dried tomato bread!) to buy all the ingredients. Mostly try to do this the day before, though things like blackberries and bread are best purchased day of eating here!
On the big day it's all go, quick house clean and then getting low down and dirty with my hands in the food making it all... just love doing that, so relaxing and feeling like acomplishing something from scratch. Though if I can get something that saves a little time then I have no qualms about 'cheating'.... take ready rolled pastry for example, a blessing! Especially when I'm making home made sausage rolls as well as a tomato and mozarella tart! I do have to say though that this time I surpassed myself with a baked mousse cake (200g of chocolate and 5 eggs!) and have already been pestered with the receipe twice!
Of course the best part is sharing it with the guests, seeing the looks on their faces and the compliments my handy work receives. Don't do it often enough and I think that's something that ought to change... though with them living in London it is rather a hike to Woking, especially when four of us make our way through nine bottles of champagne and wine!